Post Workshop
Saturday November 6th, 2004
Hanging and Press……

Written By Shylene Schlackl

What a great day..

 

We headed up early to "Glencree Center for Reconciliation" in Wicklow County. We were met there by a handful of the week's participants, really showing who is interested in helping move this project forward.

The first piece we hung was the mosaic going to Canada.. very fitting that it was the first piece to be mounted.. Very moving moment for me to see this work going up in a gallery..

We all worked together to hang the show.

It was quiet the job to line up the holes in the mosaic, with the mounts in the wall.. but teamwork got it done.

Final details of the Canadian Maple Leaf are added. By the way, Gail took this red tile off her bathroom wall… just for a little extra touch.

How exciting to create, design, build, grout, celebrate and then hang the final mosaics in a gallery all in the space of 6 days. What a week!

The mosaics look great… if you stand back and admire from a far you can't see the issues within the grout and the mosaics really are fabulous.

Deborah being interviewed about the Tallaght Tent project.

The Tent:
Tallaght Community Art Centre Project:
Casa Kais Kena na ciniocha

"This is a type of mantra created from four different languages (Romanian, Swahili, Shelta (The Cant) and Gaelic and translated means: Home, home, home of the tribes"

The press was there and they interviewed the center's administrator Philip, Deborah and myself. It will be great to see what is actually covered on the program when it's run next Sunday.

The group at Glencree then presented Deborah and I with two hand made clocks. They were made by the local groundsman from pieces of slate tiles off the roof, circa 1840, original to when the building was erected. Awesome!!

It was a lovely gesture of friendship, partnership and true Community Unity. I can hardly wait to take mine back to Canada and put it in my new home.

I bought my self the most lovely hand loomed woven stole. It is so lovely and made by the traveling women's group in Wicklow Town. "Shuttle-Knit Limited"
I love it!!

Project Partner: Tallaght Community Arts Centre
Journal Entry Deborah Moon - Director

Mosaic the City in Ireland

When I search for partners and opportunities in Ireland, all I need is my phone and my car. When I search for partners and opportunities on a global level I have my values, my creativity, and my belief in my gut feelings (and yes, all the tools of modern technology).

Human nature dictates that we have expectations. Expectations can set one up for disappointment or absolute delight, if all expectations are exceeded.

It is not cynicism, but creativity, love, risk and interconnectedness that moves mountains and touches hearts. Shylene, her husband Jonathan, her partner John and her initiative, Mosaic the City, have delivered on every facet of this belief, and more. Their professionalism, their willingness to share their skills, experience and knowledge have layered this project with value after value. This team arrived in Ireland with a huge bunch of keys which have opened door after door, all sign posted with prospects.

All we need do now is to embrace the gifts they have brought us, nurture the friendship they offer and move forward with a new tool box, courtsey of Mosaic the City, Canada.

Thank you Shylene, Jonathan and John, your commitment to your passion brought you to Ireland, it is rare that people are willing to travel so far for so little.