The Austin Mosaic Guild was founded a little over a decade ago in the heart of Austin. A dedicated group of students took a dream and turned it into a reality. Today, the Guild boasts numbers in the hundred and regularly participates in local and out of state community projects. I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of it’s founding members and Communications Director, Dianne Sonnenberg, and Susan Ribnick, Co-President.
Mosaic is so intricate and beautiful- tell me more about this ancient art.
Mosaic has been used for thousands of years. It’s made from extremely durable substances. You usually saw it in cathedrals or homes of the rich as it is an expensive and labor intensive art. Artists created massive designs from floor to ceiling. Now you have seen a resurgence of Mosaic from contemporary artists inching into the scene. They’ve begun using mixed materials such as broken china, stone and unique items. We believe this new style has gotten people excited about Mosaic again. Glass will always be a coveted material in Mosaic. It was mainly used in the Mediterranean area because of it’s ability to withstand the salty air from the sea.
When and how was the Austin Mosaic Guild formed?
I (Dianne) have been teaching an art class at Laguna Gloria for approximately 12 years. Four or five members of one class I was teaching decided to take the Mosaic fun one step further and form the Guild. Everyone originally met at a small art shop off Burnet, “The Art Pad,” that has long been closed now. The group quickly grew to 12 growing to 250 mailing list members at one point. Meeting on a monthly basis to discuss new projects, the Guild also offers tours of different studios as well as workshops.
Tell me about some of the projects that Guild has organized or participated in?
One of our recent local community projects was creating mosaic designs on a bridge over Shoal Creek. In the past we’ve done larger events, such as working with Dell Children’s Hospital. Tis year, we created s mosaic bra that worn during Austin’s annual Art Bra fashion show. The Guild recently came together and sent some artists to participate in a large scale project for the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh after the deadly anti-semantic shootings there.
The Guild has teamed up with ACC in the past. We worked with the Mockingbird Garden Club to create Mosaic stepping stones for the Northridge Campus. We also have a table at International Fest which was a hit: It by chance drew in the math majors of all people! They were fascinated by mosaic and the correlation with geometry. It was an amazing merging of two worlds.
Note from the Author: Meeting with these two women was such an amazing experience. They are truly passionate about their work and the art of Mosaic. Dianne recently returned from Europe and brought a few beautiful pieces of glass and stone back for Susan, which she promptly designed into an intricate design on the table. We met at Little Deli in the Crestview neighborhood. This small eatery borders a historic Mosaic piece in Austin: Wall of Welcome. This 120 foot long wall boasts an amazing array of mosaic art that took five years to finish in 2008. I highly recommend stopping by.
Feel free to contact The Austin Mosaic Guild to learn more about membership, taking classes or commissioning your own custom art.