Purple Pickle Cafe

I study and work at the Australian National University, and although I havn’t seen as much mosaic as I would expect (there is what I call tile art in the main square, but I don’t consider this to be mosaic – and the Uni has some of the most perfect walls for it!) the Purple Pickle Cafe has a wall hanging and the floor is mosaiced. It’s nothing really fancy, but I like it and it’s a great example of functional, architectural mosaic. It makes use of broken ceramic tile, and it’s really great to see it as it does cover a large area (my photos don’t do it justice…) plus the coffee is good and their baklavas are to die for!

Curtin Shops

I was visiting my Dad in the hospital recently and needed to go buy him a toothbrush as there were a change of plans and for some dumb reason there are no toothbrushes available in a hospital!!! Anyway, I asked the receptionist at the hospital where the closest shops were. She told me that there were two local shops to choose from: Deakin or Curtin, which would I prefer? Not really caring, I just asked her to tell me how to get to the closest shops… So she sent me over to Curtin. Well, I never venture to that side of town normally and would never have known about the mosaics there. They are there adorning side tables, sitting next to the benches. They’re quite lovely. All made of stained glass, bordered by ceramic tile that looks to me like they were handmade specifically to suit these works, but I know they have these rounded tiles at other shops too…

I have not found out who the artist is – this concerns me as it has happened all too often. Makes me wonder about our views of each artist… – but I do know that it was overseen by the owner of the Milk Bar, Vince Kalokerinos, who has since passed away. He was central to the committee that got together to spruce up the shops. So it was a community project, where the artist obviously has a background in leadlighting. I’m hoping to get more information about who the artist is from Vince’s wife, and if I do I will certainly post it.

As you can see, the theme seems to be Australian Birdlife: the rosella, kookaburra, magpie,  cockatoo, galah, etc…

                                    

Belly Casting

originally uploaded by Bredette.

I love this!!!
First of all, it’s mothering and memoribilia and secondly it’s mosaic!!!
I have made belly casts for all my kids, 2 for Rory that my sister painted and one each for Liam and Molly. In fact, I almost didn’t make Liam’s. I was in some pretty serious labour whilst making his! But I figured it was now or never!!!
They have been placed (lovingly) under the house, where I have been thinking of them and wanting to mosaic all this time and now that I’ve seen this pic, it has me inspired to just get it done!!!
I’ve been looking for an excuse to mosaic something for me and here it is!
I just love it!!!

Vaulted Ceiling – David Jones, Civic

At the entrance to David Jones in Civic (fountain side) is a mosaic by renowned Australian artist Frank Hinder. It was created as part of the building in 1963 and is all made from glass and gold.

It is really very subtle, I wouldn’t have known it was there if I was not into mosaics, and blends really well with the building. This is really all I found out about this piece. Hinder certainly had an interesting life: well worth the short read!

More Peter Crisp Mosaics…

I just can’t help it… I was thinking about all the mosaic Peter Crisp has done on his property and my initial post just didn’t do it all justice… So I thought I’d put more up 🙂 In the gardens he has had these two walls built out of besa blocks which then have the 2 main murals I posted back in December. The rear of these walls, that must be well over 12 feet tall, have mosaics aswell but they remain unfinished. On the sides he has mosaiced some medallions too, unfortunately most of them are hidden behind a huge pittosporum hedge. Well, of course being the mosaic maniac that I am, it didn’t stop me which in hindsight would’ve been hilarious to witness! 🙂

Being a glass artist, he has used all glass with the odd glass gem thrown in here and there.

So here they all are, in all their glory! Just click on the photo to see the full size.

                                                      

In the entrance to his gift shop he has mosaiced part of the floor and put an iron pergola over the top weighted down by mosaiced concrete blocks. From memory his shop has a lavendar theme which is also portrayed in the floor.

      

So much work, but so very inspiring too! It makes me want to get to it and go crazy in my garden!

Manuka Pool Mosaics

My sister’s friend, Kacy Grainger, is a mosaic artist and an absolute riot to boot. I went to school with her husband, yes Canberra is a small town… She’s been mosaicing for a while now and has done some public work, her most notable being at the Manuka Pool here in Canberra. Although her website is still under construction, you can read a little about her at Muse Mosaic. Her work is great, I particularly love the seahorse!

The mural spans probably around 15 metres in length, if not more, and maybe a metre high. She did say it was a long time of dining table mosaics… I think we all know about that! 😉 There’s alot of work here and I do remember her saying she got half way through it and wondered why? haha! When you manage this on your own it really is alot of work!

For this mural she’s used all vitreous glass and what I call glass gems. Fantastic huh!?

The Rex Hotel

The Rex has been home to a mosaic installation since it was built 45 odd years ago. It is located on Northbourne Ave and again, attempts at finding who the artist was has gone nowhere.

It is made from vitrified ceramic from what I can tell, although I think there may be some glass in there too. I’ll have to go back some time to have a good squizz.

When the proposal to demolish the hotel was in question, this mural was to stay and building to take place around it. I’ve since found out that the hotel is now staying put and they plan on renovating it.