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Light and Color Study in Amsterdam and Belgium with Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode

24 Jul

Light and Color Study in Amsterdam and Belgium
with Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode
May 15 – 26, 2015
$2975

Mosaic Art RetreatsHouseboat lodgings, canal cruises, visits with international mosaic artists, and a flower festival — how can you go wrong? Timed to coincide with the floriferous color inspiration of southern Holland’s most famous blooms, this retreat will be a delight for the senses as well as a networking mecca.

Mosaic Art RetreatsAMSTERDAM

We’ll dive into the artistic, architectural, cultural and culinary heart of Amsterdam, wandering among the 165 waterways (more than Venice!), discovering art, neighborhoods, hidden courtyards, local mosaics, and charming cafes. Amsterdam’s museums and private art collections feature stunning work by Rembrandt, a host of Van Goghs, and the light-drenched masterpieces of Vermeer.

Mosaic Art RetreatsWe’ll couple an art walk with a canal cruise, a trip to the museums with a mosaic session, visit the Anne Frank House, and tiptoe through the seven million flowers of the world-class Keukenhof Gardens.

Mosaic Art RetreatsWe’ll enjoy Amsterdam the way the locals do, with houseboat and apartment accommodations in the charming Jordann neighborhood. Fall asleep to the gentle rocking of calm waters and wake to the sound of ducks and swans paddling towards breakfast.

Shopping at Dam Square, floating flower markets and a skip through the legendary Albert Cuyp market (with multi-cultural street food) will fill our afternoons, and an evening will be spent visiting the lovely canals, Gothic-Renaissance architecture, and action of the Red Light District.

BELGIUM

Art TravelBelgium, famous around the world for the highest quality chocolate, beckons us to Brussels for a chocolate walking/tasting/making tour. We’ll tour Grand-Place, considered one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Europe, and revel in sumptuous Art Nouveau of the tree-lined and fountain-y Squares District, considered a laboratory of late nineteenth-century architecture, and the Magritte Museum.

Mosaic Art RetreatsDay trips to Bruges and Ghent will deliver two of Flanders’ most picturesque countryside havens. We’ll see Bruges’ Lake of Love, Beguinage, Our Lady Church, Market Square and lunch at a cafe close to Town Hall Square (Burg) — food lover’s dream and a beer lover’s heaven. We’ll also wander through architecture from the Middle Ages and head for a stroll along the North Sea. A highlight will be an afternoon spent with Belgian mosaic artists, talking shop over tea and chocolate.

Logistics

To make the most of our time, we’ll fly into Amsterdam, travel by high speed train to Belgium, and return home via the Brussels airport. Local transport will be via train and tram.

Included

Double Occupancy Accommodations in Amsterdam and Belgium
Transfer from Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (AMS) to City Center
Amsterdam Tram Tickets
Kukenhof Gardens
Sunset Canal Cruise & Dinner
Mosaic Workshop with Greet Weitenberg at Amphora Art
Ann Frank House Entrance & Self Guided Tour
Red Light Walking Tour
Two Museums: Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh
Train to Belgium
Chocolate Making Tour & Workshop
Day Trips to Ghent & Bruges
Transport to Brussels Airport (BRU) for Return Flights

 Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Meals
  • Personal Expenses
  • Travel Insurance

About Carol and Pam

Carol and Pam have many years’ experience traveling the world both separately and together, having teamed to lead several international art retreats. Limiting the tour to 10 adult travelers will allow us to form friendships and bonds that last a lifetime. Learn more about Carol here. Learn more about Pam here and here.

For More Information or To Register:

Registration forms are available; just email Carol or Pam. A detailed itinerary will be available shortly.

 

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Phoning It In from Abroad

18 Jul

Phoning Home from AbroadWhether it’s a real-job deadline or a much-needed reconnection with Honey/Mom/Daughter/Doggie, easy access to our phones and those on the other end can be hard to do without, and even harder to pay for. Before you sign up for that overseas plan at Verizon (the Ouch! comes on the other end of your travel), take a look at this suggestion from National Geographic Traveler’s Christopher Elliott. Also chirpily parroted by my son, who knows these things.

“Don’t purchase a pricey international plan from your wireless carrier. For example, AT&T’s least expensive rate costs an extra $30 per month and charges $1 a minute for your calls in Scandinavia [or Narnia — you get the idea]. Instead, when you get to your destination, buy a SIM card or a phone that offers cheap data and make all your calls on Skype, Google, or Viber, which won’t cost extra.”

I used this trick on my recent trip to Barcelona, stopping in at the ubiquitous Vodaphone a couple of blocks from our apartment as soon as I arrived. For $15, the tech popped a brand new SIM card into my iPhone (cheaper for other brands), gave me a fancy Spanish phone number, and I was good to go. I had downloaded Viber (free) before leaving the US, and was able to call home on a whim at no additional cost. If you exchange your nifty new Spanish phone numbers, it’s also a great way to stay in touch with other members of your travel party. Just make sure that Honey/Mom/Daughter/Doggie had downloaded the same free calling program on their end too.

Travel TipsMy son also clued me in on easy re-entry: packing a small paper clip in your carryon. Open the clip by pulling an arm open, and it fits right into the tiny iPhone hole to open the SIM card holder. Slip your US SIM card back in the slot, and slide that Spain card somewhere safe for your next trip to Barcelona.

Can you say Cheap?!

 

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Mosaic Kaleidoscope: Exploring Color, Inspiration and Creativity with Laurel True

16 Jul

Mosaic Kaleidoscope: Exploring Color, Inspiration and Creativity
with Laurel True
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
November 9 – 15, 2014
$1850

Mosaic Workshop MexicoIn this five-day workshop artist Laurel True will guide students through an inspirational week of creative exploration as they create a colorful, kaleidoscopic, radial mosaic that reflects their personal style and inspiration.  A kaleidoscope in its traditional form creates a symmetrical pattern of color and radiance through the placement and reflection of mirror and glass. Students will repurpose this concept under the guidance of True, as they design and create a 18” round kaleidoscopic mosaic using their choice of colored and stained glass, mirror, fused glass elements and more. True will demonstrate the use of various tools to achieve desired cuts and shapes, and offer tips for precision setting techniques for grouted and non-grouted mosaics. Various exercises will encourage students to stretch their creative potential and run with their inspirations as they explore color, materials and texture.  This unique workshop will focus both on mosaic creation and identifying and bringing into form our creative desires, opening participants to a more cosmic approach to art-making.

Mosaic Workshop MexicoThe final day of the workshop will include the group-creation of a Global Mosaic Project with participation by workshop participants and Hacienda Mosaico staff. The class will create a small mosaic kaleidoscope mural to be installed at Hacienda Mosaico, thus giving students a chance to experience personal and collective mosaic-making, as well as mosaic creation on both intimate and larger scales.

Optional Excursions Include:

Trip to Syulita, a celebratory dinner on the beach, a gallery stroll, and fabulous dinners out in Puerto Vallarta.

All levels. No art or mosaic experience necessary.

Cost: $1,850

Mosaic Workshop MexicoCost Includes:

  • 6 nights lodging at Hacienda Mosaico (based on double occupancy)
    Breakfast and Lunch Daily
  • 5 Days Mosaic Instruction
  • Participation in Global Mosaic Project

Not Included:

  • Airfare
  • Dinners
  • Personal Expenses

Mosaic Workshop MexicoLearn More:

Learn more about Laurel here. Learn more about Hacienda Mosaico here.

For Information and Registration:

Contact Sam: info@haciendamosaico.com

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Mosaics on the Marsh, Pawleys Island SC with Pam Goode

15 Jul

Mosaics on the Marsh with Pam Goode
Pawleys Island, SC
October 4 – 11, 2014
$375-550

Art Retreat Pawleys Island SCNothing soothes the soul quite like the lapping of tides against weathered docks, the tempered sunlight glinting across fields of watery grasses that thrive on the most tentative silts, the cry of majestic herons and hungry gulls, and a gentle fall breeze. Join us at iconic Pawleys Island for an old-style retreat in old-style surroundings.

Art Retreat Pawleys Island SCOur site will be a three-story “cottage” with double wraparound porches and ample work tables facing the marsh. The golden month of October features magnificent skies and a softer light, with average highs in the 70’s and lows around 60. Nine bedrooms, five baths, two living rooms, two kitchens, and indoor/outdoor dining areas offer plenty of space for spreading out or working as a group.

Art Retreat Pawleys Island SCOur workshop will consist of a quick-sketch technique overlaid with a modified-watercolor technique to create designs using fauvist or realistic colors depicting life on the marsh. We’ll churn out an array of sketches, paintings and photographs the first day, giving you ample possibilities for your mosaic. We’ll also talk about color, mood, cutting methods, and finding your own style. If you prefer, you’re more than welcome to use the space to work on your own projects in any medium.

An assortment of boards will be provided. This retreat is designed for stained glass, however, you are welcome to bring other materials if you prefer.

Art Retreat Pawleys Island SCThe retreat will be structured loosely, with a group session each day, as well as one-on-one time with the instructor and group studio sessions. You are welcome to work throughout the day or take time off for local exploration. The wide sand beach is just across the lane, and the island is ideal for biking, as well as canoeing on the inlet. Across the bridge on the mainland, you’ll find plenty of cute shops as well as local restaurants (both island casual and casual gourmet). Meals will be on your own or as a group, either on the mainland or self-catering. We’ll have plenty of kitchen space!

Art Retreat Pawleys Island SCA barrier island, Pawleys is one of the oldest resorts on the East Coast, measuring  just over 3 miles long and 1/4 mile wide, and a whopping population of 138. Flip flops and shorts are the norm.

An optional sidetrip to Pearl Friar’s Topiary Gardens in Bishopville, SC is available for those caravanning for the return to Charlotte is available on Saturday, October 11

Costs per-person for five-day mosaic workshop and accommodations:

$375 shared dormitory room (1 double and 5 twins)
$475 shared room (2 twin beds) (1 available)
$500 shared room (1 queen and 1 double bed) (1 available)
$550 single room (1 double or queen bed) (4 queens and 1 double available)

Cost for non-participating guest sharing your room: $250

Room selection is first come, first served with full payment.

Cost Includes:

  • 7 Nights Accommodation
  • Mosaic Instruction and/or Retreat Workspace
  • Substrates, Use of Tools, and Adhesives

Not Included:

  • Transportation to the Retreat Location
  • Meals
  • Glass

More information about Pam is available here or here. For more information or to register, contact Pam.

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Treasures of Barcelona and Madrid with Maverick Mosaics

19 May

Treasures of Barcelona and Madrid
Maverick Mosaics
September 12 – 21, 2014
$2995

Travel Abroad with Maverick Mosaics as Adult Art Camp goes International!

Mosaic Art Retreats SpainOur second international trip will be to the colorful country of Spain to pay homage to three of Spain’s most important native sons: Pablo Picasso, Antonio Gaudi and Salvador Dali.

Introducing the trip of a lifetime for anyone with a sense of adventure. Get ready to enjoy a long week of culture, history, contemporary art, great food and a hands-on project. You’ll experience the splendor of Spain in the spirit of Maverick Mosaics’ successful Art Camp format: learn, create and laugh.

Take in the magic and beauty of Spain with like-minded and adventuresome companions. Your trip will be filled with fun adventures and designed to entertain while providing unique learning experiences. We offer hassle-free travel, wonderful accommodations, and street-level cultural engagement based in the world of art and architecture. We plan at least two hands-on workshops including making mosaics.

Mosaic Art Retreats SpainOur adventure begins in Madrid as we spend our first day discovering the wonders of the Royal Palace and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, where Picasso’s masterpiece “Guernica” is enshrined. With Madrid as our home base, you’ll make day trips to Segovia and Toledo. In Toledo our day includes time at the cathedral Santo Tomé to view an El Greco masterpiece and a visit to Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca. We’ll visit internationally recognized potters and renowned Toledo sword makers whose blades have been sought after from around the world (think Zorro, swashbuckling Earl Flynn and Samurai warriors!).

En route to Segovia, a must-see stop at El Escorial is planned. The building is the most important architectural monument of the Spanish Renaissance. After a magical day in Segovia, where architecture dates to Roman times, we’ll train to Barcelona.

Mosaic Art Retreats SpainOnce in Barcelona you’ll have a series of fabulous art filled experiences: The Picasso Museum, a guided tour of Gaudi’s Bascilica de la Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and La Pedrera. You’ll make your own mosaic in the spirit of Gaudi and revel in the magic of the city as we make our way touring its famous sights. Topping off our time in Barcelona, we’ll visit the Salvador Dali museum, one of the most unique and multi-sensory museums in the world.

Professionally led wine tastings, fine food and dancing are also scheduled along the way. We wrap up our trip with a day at the beach in breathtaking Sitges. Just a short drive from Barcelona, this is “The Jewel” of the Catalan coast.

Maverick’s inaugural Art Camp trip to France in June 2013 was amazing, thanks in large part to the expertise and planning of our travel and logistics partner A La Carte Travel. A La Carte Travel is the nation’s leader in exclusively providing educational institutions with affordable access to learning opportunities abroad, and Maverick Mosaics qualifies as an educational institution. Hassle free travel is paramount, ground transportation and transfers are included, no waiting in lines for scheduled tours and we have a full time English/Spanish speaking escort traveling with us. A La Carte Travel promotes the values of understanding the world we live in through experiencing and learning about different cultures. With over 16 years of experience organizing educational tours, A La Carte Travel is the perfect partner with Maverick Mosaics for this unique travel and learning adventure.

For more details, trip itinerary, workshop details and costs please click here.

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Wine, Chocolate and Mosaics in Provence with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze

12 May

Wine, Chocolate and Mosaics
with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze
Provence, France
August 31- September 6, 2014
Cost: $2700

Provence Wine and Chocolate Tour

Immerse yourself in this specifically curated trip and tour that will inspire your senses, taste buds and your creativity. Enjoy the late summer light and earthy pigments of Provence, farm to table food, wine tasting, exploration of local markets and exhibits, and time to create at Esprit Mosaique Studio in the heart of the wine-growing regions of southern France.

French wine and chocolate are the perfect accompaniments to creative exploration, and this trip is a creative and gustatory journey into the heart of Provence. Spend a week with like-minded seekers interested in insider-track travel and experiencing the hidden gems of the region, guided by locals showing you their home.

This retreat combines world class wineries and purveyors of fine chocolates, medieval villages, Provencal markets and private gardens with art. We’ll spend relaxing mornings or afternoons in the studio with espresso or wine, and all things chocolate. Each participant will work according to their experience level.

Laurel Provence Wine Chocolate 3

All materials will be provided, as well as one-on-one guidance from bilingual teaching artists with a combined 35 years experience, Laurel and Valerie. Students will enjoy a guided exploration of materials and color through the creation of small mosaic projects to take home. No experience with art or mosaics is required for this workshop!

This is a wonderful opportunity spend time in community with others passionate about experiential travel and creative expression. Participants will leave Provence feeling like family, having shared food, wine, stories and community creation. We’ve intentionally included plenty of time for socializing, celebration and time to enjoy the moment.

The tour will include  the spectacular medieval architecture of Gigondas in the Dauphine Region, the breathtaking views at the ancient aqueducts of Pont du Gard, and the Provincial market of Uzez and to Carrieres des Ocres, where we’ll immerse ourselves in the breathtaking earth pigments of these former ocher quarries and shop for natural pigments to use in the studio during a lesson specially focused on the use of earth pigments and mosaic. Also included are visits to world-famous Chateauneuf de Pape and Tavel Wineries for special educational wine tastings and a special private tasting. We’ll end our time together with a final afternoon meal eating local, Provencal food in the middle of a vineyard.

Laurel Provence Wine Chocolate 2

Details:

Cost: $2700
Location: Esprit Mosaique, Villeneuve de Avignon, Provence

Includes:
Mosaic workshop instruction
Accommodations for 8 nights (based on double occupancy, we can help coordinate)
Breakfast and lunches
Tuesday night family BBQ
Thursday night couscous dinner
Transportation from train station or Avignon airport and to and from workshop
All touristic visits to markets and exhibits
All wine tastings

Cost Does Not Include:
Flight, dinners (except Tuesday and Thursday) and personal expenses.

To Register: Please e-mail Valerie Nicoladze at espritmosaique@free.fr. For more information, contact Valerie or email Laurel.

Laurel Provence Wine Chocolate 7

Group Leaders:

Valerie’s 40 years living and creating in Provence give her a unique insider view that she is offering exclusively to participants of this first-time offered tour. She has created a welcoming and colorful studio, Esprit Mosaique
Studio, where participants will spend time exploring color, texture and the inspirations of Provence.

Laurel (on left) is a world traveler, teacher and professional mosaic artist with 25 years experience, who brings her unique style of exploring the world through art and culture to participants. She is co-founder of the Institute of
Mosaic Art in California, Principle at True Mosaics Studio and Founding Director of The Global Mosaic Project.

Itinerary:
Sunday, August 31
Participants arrive and get settled in Hotel de Atelier
Studio Orientation and Intros at Esprit Mosaique Studio.
Evening: Free (get over your jet lag and gear up for a great week ahead!)
Monday, September 1
Morning: Mosaic Session at Esprit Mosaique Studio
Lunch at Restaurant La Strada
Afternoon: Studio Instruction and Work Time; Evening: Welcome Dinner in Avignon
Tuesday, September 2
Morning: Carrieres des Ocres: Color Study of Natural Pigments in the Landscape
Lunch at Roussillion Restaurant
Afternoon: Visit Village for Natural Pigments at Local Market; Evening: Free
Wednesday, September 3
Morning: Mosaic Session, Lesson in Use of Natural Pigments with Mosaic
Lunch at Restaurant La Strada
Afternoon: Atelier Wine and Chocolate Tasting; Evening: Wine tasting at Taval Winery
Thursday, September 4
Morning: Wine Tasting Tour, Visit to Chateauneuf du Pape
Lunch at Cave Chateauneuf du Pape
Afternoon: Visit to Gigondas Beaumes de Venise;  Evening: Free
Friday, September 5
Morning: Visit to Uzes and UNESCO World Heritage Site Pont du Gard
Lunch at Restaurant Pont du Gard
Afternoon: Last Studio Session and Wrap Up;  Evening: Wine and Cheese Garden Party at Valerie’s
Saturday, September 6
Morning: Visit to Village de Provence for Last Minute Shopping
Lunch: To conclude our week together we will enjoy an incredible late lunch in the middle of a
vineyard, enjoying the outdoors and each other with champagne, chocolate, French cheese,
charcuterie and more. Goodbyes and departure!

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Barcelona and Morocco with Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode, May 2014

25 Jan

GaudiCultural Tour: Barcelona + Optional Morocco
with Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode
Barcelona: May 24 – June 1, 2014
Morocco: June 1 – June 4, 2014
$2350 Barcelona Only
$650 Morocco Add-On

Join Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode for a blissful eight days in Barcelona getting up close and personal with Gaudi, Picasso, Dali, some local tapas, a little cava, a little Costa Brava, and a few Benedictine monks. And since we’ll be so close to Morocco, we’re offering an optional four-day add-on to Fes, a vibrant world heritage site with a medieval section of 9000 narrow pedestrian streets. This mosaic art retreat does not feature a daily class, but will feed you with ample inspiration for your next mosaic evolution.

BARCELONA

Casa Mila, BarcelonaSaturday May 24: Transfer to Apartment and luggage storage; Cafe for coffee and pastries; Tour of neighborhood; Check-in and Siesta/Shower; Red Bus Tour/Welcome Dinner

Sunday, May 25: Stamp and Coin Market Gothic Quarter; Picnic in Park Guell, tour of Gaudi House/Museum; Casas Mila and Battlo

Sagrada Familia, BarcelonaMonday, May 26: Mini Mosaic session with Martin Brown using ceramic a la Gaudi; Picasso Museum

Tuesday, May 27: Montserrat, the famed mountaintop Benedictine Monastery and Black Virgin; Sagrada Familia

Wednesday, May 28: Market Visit and Cooking Class; Afternoon on Your Own

Salvador Dali HouseThursday, May 29: Els Encants Flea Market and Vintage Shopping; Afternoon on the Beach

Friday, May 30: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM Private Coach and Guide to Dali House/Museum, Lunch on the Costa Brava, including several Mediterranean villages and Dali’s home

Saturday, May 31: TBD; On Your Own; Farewell Dinner

Sunday, June 1: Airport Transfer

BARCELONA ACCOMMODATIONS

We’ll be staying in a large, light-filled apartment in the heart of Barcelona near Plaza Catalunya. The flat has seven bedrooms (several are dorm-style), wifi, a fully equipped kitchen, table space for 17, lift, washing machine, and a lovely terrace. This will provide a common gathering space as well as ample room for food storage and the possibility of eating-in on quiet nights if desired. The apartment is two block from the metro, and very close to shopping and dining options.

MOROCCO

Join us as we travel to Fes, founded in the 9th century and the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities.  Within Fes is the walled medina, known as the “the city of ten thousand alleys.”   Twelve thousand years old, the huge medieval medina is a bustling time capsule. Known as “the city of 10,000 alleys,” the New York Times describes Fez as ‘faded but stately, crumbling but proud, the walled city of Fez might well be the largest and most enduring medieval Islamic settlement in the world. It is indisputably Morocco’s spiritual and cultural heart.”  Artisans still practice traditional techniques, and the market is renowned for ceramics, zellige mosaic, spices, leather, textiles, and cuisine. Read more about Fes here.

Mosaic Fountain
Spice and Flower Market
Mosaic-Making
Patterns
Ceramic Tile
Guesthouse Courtyard

Sunday, June 1: Arrival by air, train to Fes

Monday, June 2: Tour of medieval medina with English-speaking guide; visit to artisan workshops

Tuesday, June 3: Workshop TBD (zellige mosaic, Moroccan cuisine, belly dancing, calligraphy are among the possibilities); ceramic workshop visit

Wednesday, June 4: Train to Casablanca for flights home

MOROCCO ACCOMMODATIONS

In Fes, we’ll stay in a traditional guesthouse, or riad, consisting of several rooms surrounding a central courtyard. A Moroccan breakfast will be included each day, either in the courtyard or on the roof terrace, offering panoramic views of the medina and/or surrounding hills. Rooms may be single or double occupancy, with private bath.

LEADERS

Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode are professional mosaic artists, instructors, and travelers. Read more about Carol here and Pam here. The two have most recently led a workshop in Costa Rica, and have another planned for 2014/15 focusing on local culture and mosaic outreach.

TO REGISTER

To register or for more information, please email Pam. Deposit of $1500 is due March 1. Full payment is due by April 25. Suggested airline schedule is a multi-leg ticket NYC to Barcelona to Casablanca to NYC. Preferred schedules will be emailed to participants.

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Mosaic Artists Take Over Touchstone Retreat Center!

12 Jan

Mosaic WorkshopsTouchstone, a craft and retreat center in the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania, has invited a full slate of mosaic artists to teach in 2014.

Instructor: Rachel Sager
May 16–19
Building Stories in Stone: Contemporary Mosaic in a Geologic Medium (Intensive)
All Levels | $300 Plus Selected Housing/Meal Plan
Extended Weekend Workshop

Instructor: Rachel Sager
August 10 – 16, 2014
Building Stories in Stone: Contemporary Mosaic in a Geologic Medium (Immersive)
Instructor: Rachel Sager
All Levels | $500 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Weeklong Workshop

Rachel Sager WorkshopAre you ready for adventures in the creeks, hills, and valleys of Touchstone’s woodland campus? Join award-winning and internationally exhibited mosaic artist, teacher, and speaker, Rachel Sager, in her journey into the magic of sourcing local Southwestern Pennsylvania stone and transforming it into elegant tesserae, the building blocks of mosaic. This extended weekend intensive will cover building a sturdy substrate, mixing and applying high-quality thin-set mortar, cutting with hammer and hardie, the classic tool of the Italian mosaic maestros, and learning the nuances of andamento, the flow and pathways of mosaic. The field trip part of the workshop will include Rachel’s singular process of hunting and gathering for her material. This will be a challenging but also contemplative workshop, and students will learn valuable cutting skills along with mosaic philosophy. You will leave with a 12 x 12-inch mosaic, but more important, you will take home specific knowledge of an ancient medium translated into a contemporary format.

Rachel’s bio and class schedule can be found here for the May Intensive, and here for the August Immersive. Learn more about Rachel’s work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

May 23–26
Realistic Flower Mosaics
Instructor: Yulia Hanansen
All Levels | $300 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Extended Weekend Workshop

Yulia Hanansen WorkshopLearn to translate images of flowers into realistic and powerful mosaic statements in this extended weekend workshop. To create flower mosaic, students may work in a traditional mosaic layout or master an exciting and visually effective “brush-stroke” technique that Yulia uses for her own flower portraits. Materials and techniques are discussed in-depth with demonstrations given in groups and individually. Stained glass is used as a primary material for this project with instructions provided on how to cut, shape, and lay out the pieces. Students also explore color and composition in mosaic arts. The workshop concludes with instructions on grouting and a group discussion on the made pieces.

Yulia’s bio and workshop schedule can be found here. Learn more about her work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

May 30–June 2
Exterior Mosaics
Instructor: Bonnie Fitzgerald
All Levels | $300 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Extended Weekend Workshop

Bonnie Fitzgerald WorkshopThis workshop covers everything you need to know about creating professional permanent mosaics to withstand moisture and freeze-thaw cycles in exterior environments. Workshop lectures will include important information about selecting appropriate materials, substrates, and fixatives that will endure weather year round. We begin Friday evening with a picture presentation and lecture covering technical considerations and design principles. We will spend a portion of the workshop experimenting with both stained glass and ceramic tiles suitable for exterior use. You will make 2 small experimental/prototype pieces, one in glass and the other in ceramic. These exercises are a valuable experience in cutting and designing. We will then embark on our larger project on Saturday.

Bonnie’s bio and workshop schedule can be found here. Learn more about her work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

July 27–August 2
Strata Chroma: Mosaic High (Relief) and Deep (Color)
Kelley Knickerbocker & Erin Pankratz-Smith
All Levels | $500/+ Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Weeklong Workshop

Erin Pankratz Smith WorkshopThis workshop is geared to interest and challenge students of all levels of mosaic experience.

You will first learn to build and rig your own durable, lightweight 2D mosaic substrates, incorporating pigmented cement in an adventurous exploration of color merging, layering, and texture. Next you will learn to recognize/create/exploit ideal joins of angle, height, size, and shape of a wide variety of black materials – both natural and manmade – for various visual effects, and then experiment with setting each into colorful cement mortars. Finally, using the strata format as a compositional framework, students will incorporate all they’ve learned into the construction of a small mosaic on their handmade substrates.

Their first collaborative artwork, I’m Pervious, built-in 2013, combined Kelley’s achromatic leanings and stratified-high-relief-materials approach with Erin’s saturated color aesthetic and birthed the idea for their ”Strata Chroma” workshop. 2014’s ”Strata Chroma” workshop marks the beginning of their collaboration as educators.

Kelley and Erin’s bios as well as a schedule for the workshop can be found here. Learn more about Kelley’s work here and Erin’s work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

Instructor: Carol Shelkin
September 5–7, 2014
Tempered Glass Mosaics
All Levels | $200 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Weekend Workshop

Carol Shelkin WorkshopLearn how to create glittering mosaic art mixing collage with mosaic techniques using “Tempered Glass.” Tempered glass – also known as “Crash Glass” and “Safety Glass” is used to create mosaic art and architectural installations. A presentation showing examples of some of the finest works in Tempered Glass will be shown. You will learn to develop a jewel-like surface for both interior and exterior installations; and you will complete a mosaic using an overlaying technique with metallic papers, tissue, foils, glitter, photos, wordage, and more. You are encouraged to bring a variety of small paper images, photos, embellishments, and/or text to include in your mosaic. This is the perfect medium to permanently incorporate printed imagery!

Carol’s bio and workshop schedule can be found here. Learn more about her work at here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

Instructor: Cynthia Fisher
September 19 – 21, 2014
Glass Mosaics
Cynthia Fisher WorkshopAll Levels: $200 + Selected Lodging/Meal Plan
Weekend Workshop

Mosaics are a medium one can readily learn at a workshop, and then continue with at home with minimal investment in tools and materials. You will learn about (1) the rich history of mosaics materials, (2) tools and substrates, (3) a variety of methods of mosaic assembly with the major focus on the indirect method, and (4) color and the mosaic palette and how tile shape creates visual texture. Lecture time will be kept to a minimum, and there will be an emphasis on one-on-one guidance, maximizing individual interests.

Cynthia is eager to share her considerable knowledge and experience working in the medium of glass mosaics, from artistic considerations unique to mosaic to architectural installations. Cynthia’s bio and workshop schedule can be found here. Learn more about her work here. Lodging/Meal Plans here.

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Mosaic Retreat in Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art

11 Dec

Mosaic Retreat: Todos Santos, Mexico
Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art
March 16 – 22, 2014
$1599 (Double Occupancy)

Mosaic Art Retreats

Spectacular ocean views? Beautiful gardens? Pools? Personal chef? Mosaics? Yes please!

Spend one full week creating mosaic art in one of the most creative and peaceful settings on the Baja Peninsula, the pueblo magic of Todos Santos. Accommodations will be at the beautiful boutique hotel, Los Colibris Casitas. Los Colibris has 4 wonderfully inviting casitas, each with comfortable beds, great bathrooms and private patios to enjoy the scenery and ocean views. The infinity pool and hot tub are ideally suited for star gazing and observing the humpback and grey whales that often visit.

Mosaic Art RetreatsParticipants will work on a flat 3D shape, using your own found objects, sentimental pieces, millefiori, mirror and stained glass. We’ll learn to work with tinted mortar/thin set and grout, embedding colorful tesserae into mortar to create a color gradation, with an edging of tinted grout. Once mastered, this process is easy to reproduce at home.

Todos Santos is an artist colony on the Tropic of Cancer, just one hour north of Cabo San Lucas, but an entire world away. Nestled next to 70 miles of pristine, undeveloped beach, Todos Santos is famous for the remarkable quality of its light, which drew the first American artists from Taos in the 1980s. Since then artists of all stripes and nationalities have populated the town, which is a charming reflection of their passions with wonderful restaurants, art galleries, and shops. The people of Todos Santos are warm and welcoming, and love sharing the pleasures of their hometown with visitors. The beaches of nearby Pescadero and Cerritos are added bonuses.

The minimum attendance for this retreat will be 4, with a maximum of 8.

Mosaic Art RetreatsRetreat Price: $1,599.00 (based on double occupancy) includes:

  • Airport transfer on arrival and departure (within time frames)
  • 6 nights lodging at Los Colibris
  • Sunday evening welcome reception
  • 5 full breakfasts & 5 lunches pool side by local chef Iker
  • Refreshing agua fresca throughout the work day
  • Evening transportation into town
  • Partial materials for mosaic piece
  • Airfare NOT included
  • Room selections will be made in order of full payments received

Instruction: 5 days from 10:00 AM -2:00 PM. More work time will be available if desired.

Optional Activities: You’ll have plenty of free time to explore Todos Santos and its surrounding areas. Popular activities include hiking, beach walks, whale watching, gallery strolls, shopping. There will also be excursion options that can be booked through Todos Santos Eco Adventures. Massage and yoga are offered at Los Colibris (Los Colibris’ yoga deck sits at the highest point of the property on the tropic of cancer, and has one of the most amazing views of the pacific).

Read more about Los Colibris Hotel here.

Read more about Todos Santos Eco Adventures here.

Read more about Todos Santos Eco Adventures Facebook Page here.

Read more about Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art here.

To Register: Please email Tami with name and contact info or call 805.703.4291.

Fine Print: Deposit of $799 (1/2) may be made through PayPal or check. Materials list, tool list & instructions on packing will be sent after registration. Payment in full must be completed by January 30, 2014.

Cancellation and Refund Policy: All cancellations are subject to a 20% handling fee. For reservations canceled less than 90 days before the workshop, 50% is refundable. If canceled less than 60 days before the workshop, 25% is refundable. If canceled less than 45 days before the workshop, fee is non-refundable. Should the retreat be canceled for any reason the entire amount paid will be refunded within fourteen days after the retreat’s cancellation. Instructors have no obligation regarding any additional costs or fees related to the issuance and/or cancellation of airline tickets or other travel reservations. Instructors and Los Colibris accept no liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket or for canceled flights. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended. All workshop participants should consider purchasing Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Baggage, Accident and Medical insurance from a reputable insurance company. A Travel Insurance Guide is here.

Mosaic Art RetreatsTami Macala, Artist and Instructor: I am a professional mosaic artist and teacher. I have been creating art all my life, and mosaic art for almost 20 years. In 2009 I started the Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art based on my love for mosaic art and desire to share my passion with other creative people.

I have vacationed in Todos Santos several times in the past two years and have stayed at Los Colibris each trip. I love the rustic and quaint feeling of Todos Santos, and Los Colibris is the perfect location for the accommodations and creating a wonderful environment for this mosaic retreat.

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8 Days in the Rainforest

2 Dec

Just back from the Costa Rica Flora and Fauna Workshop, and thought we’d share a few highlights. The week was transformational start to finish, from the eager, supportive and talented group of mosaic artists assembled to the serene and endlessly surprising rainforest and biodynamic farm at Finca Luna Nueva, to the kind and generous Costa Ricans who embraced us and taught us, to the fresh organic food, and the so-not-your-average-day adventures. More fabulous photos by super-lens Susan Walden here. We’ll definitely be back. If you’re interested in the next session, please let us know in the comment section. Pura Vida!

Click on the first photo and scroll through for descriptions.

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