Thursday Jan 16th
Today is an uninterrupted day of
mosaics. I am attempting to get all my
mushrooms completed so I know what printed tiles I will have surplus and can
give away. I had duplicated many of the
pieces, thinking they would be nice to leave behind as gifts. Bruno Sirota –https://www.facebook.com/mutate.argentina?fref=ts my friend from Argentina
comes and ask if he may have one of my spare tiles to use in his own work. I happily give him a copy of my favourite
Jimmy Hendrix quote’s ‘ When the power of love, overcomes the love of power,
the world will know piece”.
In response to the worries of the
officials, Isidora walks around the project with the Mayor. Apparently there is still concern about
showing a bottle of wine on a Government building. The artist Kim Wozniak https://www.facebook.com/WitsEndMosaic explains that her reasoning behind
the bottle was that Chile is famous for its vineyards and she wanted to show
this in her work. The Mayor appears to be someone who
appreciates art and beauty and the concept of the International cultural
exchange that is in process here on the walls of the town hall. But I guess he still has his constituency to think of and he tells
Isidora that my 3 3D skulls must go as
they might offend. As a deeply Catholic
country, he believes that they might be interpreted as something to do with the
devil or upset people. Isidora tells me
to wait before removing them and try to speak with the Mayor myself, and to
explain to him my reasoning behind them.
The artists to my left – Nat Lee, Tammi Lynch - Forrest and
Robert Markley http://rmarkey.blue-fox.com/ all offer to down tools and come out on strike if my skulls are
removed. They are more than willing to
fight for us to have total creative freedom. Robert I discover is a political
activist artist himself - my elder and a person who has worked on community
mosaic projects across the world.
All around me the walls are being covered
in wonderful mosaics. It is clear that each artist has come with the intention
of leaving a gift of the best work they can create in the time available. Many
like me have brought their own artefacts to include in their work. There are
special tiles, glass, mirror, metal, ceramics, natural rock, beads all being
added. You can feel the love that is
being bestowed upon this building. I
think it comes from the deep gratitude of those present to be able to take part
in such a unique and wonderful project.
I have hope that the Mayor can be persuaded
and that nothing is removed from this magical garden.
In the evening Isidora takes us to meet her
grandfather – Eduardo Martinez Bonati.
http://www.artistasplasticoschilenos.cl/biografia.aspx?itmid=535He is a well respected and well known Chilean artist and it is a real
treat to see his work and hang out with him.
Stephanie Roberts from Wales work.
Kim Wozniak from USA work.
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