Central Journal 12
Spring Break -

March 13th, 2004

Working, working, working towards laying the Mosaic in the ground...

The team came together again over the spring break weekend. Many long hours were spent getting the mosaic pieces all spaced just right "at least 1/8th of an inch apart from any other piece."

This was the most painstaking procedure as it seemed we had to keep doing it over and over each day. We spent all of Saturday refining pieces and spacing."

The mosaic really does look amazing. Each image has its own significance in the project, telling its own story and representing something very important.

Here are a couple of these amazing creations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Before any mosaic could be put on the ground, the surface needed to be prepared. Our master tile man, Mr.Leonard Stubel, showed us all the way.

First a bonding agent was put down, than a quick set cement was added to bring the floor level up, so the mosaic would lay flush with the rest of the floor. Len worked hard all weekend to prep the floor for the mosaic.

We snuck a group of our names on the ground, under the cement, to mark this very special moment. We could not forget to once again mention the School District masonry specialist Ralph Harvey

--and Jerry Holt, as he assisted and this is his last year after 25years in the district!, his name is also in the ground for all time :)

Cool image from upstairs, through the window, watching Len at work outside.

All weekend the team worked to get the project ready for Monday's big day- Laying the mosaic in place.

Finally the floor was prepped and now it needed to set up, about 24hours before it would be ready for the mosaic.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Sunday was all about the taping down of the pieces. After the spacing was precisely done we set the tape down in measured 8" pieces across the 29 1/2 inch width."

"It was very tricky and time consuming. We left the piece over night with tiles and books to secure any curling up that may occur with any changes in temperature.".

The project was now prepared for moving the mosaic down the three flights to the Fort Street entrance where it will be laid to rest.

Mrs. Beacham's youngest Zoe, hung out with us most of the weekend, keeping us all young at heart.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Monday March 15th- Getting the mosaic in the ground.

Slow, and pain staking was this day of work. Len worked very diligently to measure and mark out both the mosaic and the ground where it would rest.

He made a grid on the plastic covering the mosaic, to give us all reference lines to work from "We were shooting for 6" squares to be lifted up at any one time. This was critical to the overall success of laying the pieces specifically lined-up, with the correct distance between the pieces".

These reference points where then duplicated on the ground to aid us when we moved the pieces into place.

First we needed to make sure all the pieces of the mosaic were right side up and properly spaced. "Section by section we looked and looked to find the spaces that needed to be fixed and patched. We had a patch kit on hand for any stray pieces that may have somehow come loose".

Coby added the very last image to the mosaic. It is a special toque hidden in the fall tree.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Next was the most nerve wracking step of cutting up the tape and wood to remove the mosaic to the site. Mr. Piercy picked up the first piece and brought it down".

Then we carefully and slowly moved the mosaic, in three sections, down through the elevator to the first floor.

A big moment for all of us to see the project so close to in place. "We set up the entire mosaic on two tables downstairs beside the site."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Valerie and Shylene carefully scored and cut out small sections of the mosaic to be placed one by one in the ground.

Starting from the centerpiece, the school was the first piece to go into the mortar. Piece by piece, section by section the mosaic is starting coming together.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

More careful contemplation takes place before any placement is started.

Remember: Slow and Steady wins the Race

The first section of ground is mudded and ready for the mosaic. "The first pieces were rolled over some metal doweling (another ingenious little idea from Mr. Piercy.!) We laid each section bit by bit."

Funny that the first piece laid is the middle section, which was not originally part of the mosaic. All things happen for a reason :)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mr. Piercy took time lapsed photography of the whole process. Recording carefully as all the very special images were placed into the ground.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mrs.B is very happy to have her special butterfly land in the mosaic.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mr. & Mrs Bolding came to watch the progress and see their special creative addition make its entrance in to its final place in the summer tree part of the mosaic

.

Very heart wrenching moment for all of us, as most of us feel a sense of parenting and new life from this very special mosiac. .

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Stubel family was a huge part of the project as all but one of their children participated in this project. They are a super fun group of people with a catchable energy. They really were at the heart of this project. We loved having them around to share and learn from.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One half is completed and then it was time for a short break to enjoy the lovely mosaic in its place.

It was a very long day, and some of us needed a little rest :)

One of the best things about these project is to see how so many people's ideas and creativity came together to make such a wonderful and lasting work of art. This mosaic means so much to so many people. It has provided a learning experience for almost everyone who has partcipated. It really has been the most amazing project.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Side two got started. It moved much quicker than the first side, as we understood the method better. Ms.B was happy to learn all about this method of mosaic and is very excited to see mosaic art all around Central.

Within no time, we were at the end of side two, and the whole mosaic was in the ground!!! Mr. Piercy and Ms.Beacham fix some fine details in the castle part of the mosaic. The last opportunity to make it perfect.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

IT IS IN!!!