California artist and Ciel exhibitor Christine Brallier led a 72-hour mosaic marathon at the Society of American Mosaic Artists' annual Summit in Lexington, KY. The mosaic, which features a family of goldfinch amid the branches of a blooming tulip poplar, has been donated to The Nest, a Lexington facility supporting families in crisis. Please click the link above to view the mosaic and learn more.

Two of the Ciel Partners, Pam Goode and Vicki Hanson-Burkhart, will spend this week in full mosaic immersion during the annual conference of the Society of American Mosaic Artists. Highlights of the week include the opening of the Mosaic Arts International 2012 juried international exhibition, which will include Vicki Hanson-Burkhart's richly storied smalti mosaic, Day Five. Pam will serve as workshop assistant for Israeli mosaicist Ilana Shafir. In addition to the exhibition, two full days of workshops and two days of presentations, the conference features a vendor show of fabulous materials, a mosaic salon silent auction, and a mosaic marathon as SAMA attendees pull their talents together to create a large-scale piece for a local organization. This year, five glorious days amid the rolling hills, white fences, thoroughbreds and whiskey distilleries of Lexington, Kentucky. Next year: Tacoma/Seattle! Plan on it!

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Fall Classes at Ciel!

Deadline September 19, 2011

Read the press release featuring bios of our new partners and brand new location!

Classes and Exhibitions

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Take a look at what we've got coming up: Garden Mosaics!

Late Bloomer, a moss and carbuncle-covered mosaic cocoon will be featured in Mosaic Art International 2010, Smith Museum of Stained Glass, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, March 1 - July, 2010. Slated for a two-month period, the exhibition has attracted so many viewers that the dates have been extended for an additional two months. Goode's 3-D mosaic, created from hand-poured glass, precious gems, minerals, metals, and mirror, is among 48 mosaics juried from over 500 entries.

The Community Mosaic has functioned as a way to bring the community together for one collaborative art project. More than 300 volunteers, from the occasional passerby to the participants from Goodwill Industries, Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC) of Mecklenburg, Charlotte Outdoor Adventures and the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs, have been an integral part in bringing this project to life.

The installation was conceived and directed by CAL member and Ciel Gallery owner Pam Goode & CAL members Joan Vitale and Diana Arvanites. The concept originally began as a means to bring visual awareness to the
Charlotte Art League’s building, and soon morphed into a large-scale community project.

How big? This vivid mural is composed of 24 panels, covering 200 square feet, containing more than 1,125 pounds of material, and is the result of approximately 5,000+ volunteer hours. Based on the Color Wheel, the all-volunteer project began in August of 2007 with brainstorming and fundraisers, continued through design submissions and community-wide tile-creating sessions, open workshops for children, adults, and various groups, marathon grouting days, and culminated in two men on a ladder with bolt-drivers. Many thanks to all participants, and especially to Todd Albee of Charlotte for installing this fabulous project!