Mosaic Fernwood - Phase I
Project Planning Journal - Page 6
Writing by Shylene Schlackl
July 20, 2004
Today I met with Len(dart) Stubel to learn about wet saws and to get some advice on the project. Artisan Tile has become Mosaic the City's technical consultants. Len has already helped us a lot with this project.
Len at the wet-saw
I hung out for the morning with Len, while learning about wet saws and getting the slate tiles all cut for the Fernwood Street Mosaics.
Shylene cutting hardboard for the mosaic panels
Shylene cutting hardboard for the mosaic panels
Slate slabs
Both of Fernwood Street mosaics will be framed with the slate tiles, each one with a family name carved on them. For a minimum $5.00 donation we will put a families name on the tile. It's a new way to encourage participation on the projects.
All tiles are ready
Artisan Tile donated all these beautiful pieces of slate to the project. Great.. Totally great.
First carving
I then practiced with the dermal and a stone bit how to carve names in the slate. Man it works great J I can hardly wait to see all the family names surrounding the mosaics.
Thanks for the advice, support and encouragement from Aristian Tile - Len you rock!
Later that day...
The time has come to get the shapes cut out.. I decided no time like the present. So in hopes of walk by traffic I set up beside the wall and got to it.
At the wall setup
I made sure the drawn shape would fit on the wall and the cement board was the right size too. I started with the image of the man under the tree, as it will be first on the wall.
Man taped down
Then I taped down the paper and traced out the image. Unfortunately the wind was knocking the paper around, and made the tracing onto the board very hard.
Cut with wind
Once the image was traced on the board I didn't stay next to the wall, as the wind was too much. I moved back up to the studio and go to cutting out the first shape.
Man drawn out
First cuts!
With the jig saw, a dust mask and glasses I started to cut out the shape.
Shylene ready to cut
Slow and steady. This new board I found at a local wallboard dealer - Win Rock- cuts like a dream. Its called Hardiboard and I think I love it. Unlike the cement boards I have used in the past, this stuff is amazing. I think we have found a new material for all MtC projects.
Man starting to take shape...
Once the piece was totally cut out, I took it back to the wall to see just how well it would fit. It looks great I can hardly wait to get all the images on the wall. Such a cool look.
Man and the tree cut out...
Man and tree on the wall!!