Talbot Senior Center mosaic unveiled by artist Stockman
By Kelley L. Allen Staff Writer
Friday, May 15, 2009
EASTON— After placing broken pieces onto the mosaic for more than five weeks, local artist Susan Stockman and her muses unveiled the finished piece at the Talbot County Senior Center Wednesday afternoon.
Seniors gathered around the mosaic, installed on the east wall of the center at 400 Brookletts Ave. Pieces of broken ceramics combine to make the 36-inch-by-60-inch piece, filled with colorful images.
At the bottom, near the center, is a red high-heeled shoe. That represents Naomi Reed, a senior center advocate who died in 2005.
"That's Naomi's shoe," one woman said at the installation.
The face in the center represents no one, but the other images represent the seniors.
"They wished to include the water of the Eastern Shore, the importance
PHOTO BY KELLEY L. ALLEN
Seniors at the Talbot County Senior Center line up under their finished mosaic Wednesday afternoon. From left to right: Jessie Mae Faulk, Amelia Bowser, Beverly Lewis, Edna Poney, Susan Stockman, Brenda Brown, Doris Potts (back), Catherine Dudley (front), Irene Hunter (back), Jean Miller (front), Virginia Blackwell, Betty Ann Morris (back), Betty Blythe, Talbot County Arts Council President Jane Bollman and Easton Town Councilman Len Wendowski. Charlie Beach is not pictured.
of sharing meals, their religious faith, their travels, their family trees, their love of music and art and games, and their recollections of loved ones gone before them," Stockman said.
Stockman gathered recycled, broken pieces of things like wedding plates and tiles and brought them to the center on Mondays, where she and the seniors worked on the piece. They glued the last piece onto the mosaic Monday.
As they worked, the seniors shared stories with Stockman. Those stories came alive in the mosaic, which is filled with images of paintbrushes, musical notes, games and other colorful symbols that represent the seniors, their lives and what they do at the center.
The mosaic embodies the wisdom, beauty and worth of our elders, Stockman said, and she titled it "Sharing Stories."
"There is a parallel between taking things that have been discarded and creating beauty," she said. "It's about honoring our elders and them not feeling discarded."
The Maryland State Arts Council awarded the Talbot County Arts Council a $1,250 grant to support the creation and installation of the mosaic. The Talbot County Council provided matching funds.
Gerry Early from the Talbot County Arts Council and County Councilman Len Wendowski attended the installation, along with more than 20 people, mostly seniors from the center.
The center is set for dedication next month, and is still raising money for furnishings.
The Capital
My Time: Students create mosaic mural
February 19, 2009
From left, Annapolis Elementary School third-graders Rahmier Chase, Serenity Myers, Michele Holmes, I'esha Johnson and Fredy Salmoran create a mosaic with artist Sue Stockman. With funding from grants and the school's Parent-Teacher Association, Stockman spent last week at Annapolis Elementary as an artist in residence. The mosaic mural will hang in the school's media center.
Students at Annapolis Elementary School worked the State House into their Annapolis mosaic last week, along with local wildlife like terrapins and blue crabs.
Photo by Paul W. Gillespie - The Capital
Evergreen Cove's Handmade from the Heart
Star Democrat 11/25/2008
Star Democrat, Wednesday May 28th
Piecing it together
CDES fifth graders create fourth mosaic mural, decorate school hallways
Published: Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Story and photos by KATIE SULLIVAN Community Editor
CORDOVA—In 2005 it was a cheetah. The next year it was an eagle, followed by a rockfish. This year Chapel District Elementary School fifth-grade students completed a mosaic depicting a terrapin diving into underwater grasses. The mural was dedicated May 22 in ceremonies at the school.
"Adults have been told as kids that they aren't good at art and it carries with them," said local artist Susan Stockman, who planned and supervised the work. "Kids are more open and less afraid of failure."
The student artists working on the mural are from the classes of art teacher Vaughn Volungis, who coordinates what has become an annual project. Although Stockman completes the pattern for the children and gives them suggestions, she also uses Volungis as a guide.
"Sue has a natural talent for working with students," Volungis said. "She really gets them involved and keeps them busy with her well-organized activities."
The project was completed in five days and keep on the stage in the school's cafeteria during its construction.
"The medium is so simple to do and the results are always spectacular," Stockman said. "I teach adults (mosaics) and I tell them, I have fourth and fifth graders that do this."
This year's mural dedication included principal Elizabeth Cassidy and school manager Hester McNeil, as well as Stockman and Volungis. Special guests were Talbot County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Salmon, TCPS Arts Coordinator Kathy Dill and Monica Heinsohn of the Talbot County School Board.
The Talbot County Arts Council, which helped sponsor the project using funds allocated by the Talbot County Council, was represented by board member Rima Parkhurst. The project was also sponsored by the CDES PTO.
"It's important for our kids to learn about the environment and what an important tool art can be," Stockman said.
