Exhibitions and Shop:  Tue - Sat; 10 am - 5 pm | Studio Barn:  Mon - Sat 10 - 5; Sun noon - 5 pm |  828-526-4949 | Get Directions 

  • GUEST CURATOR(S): Paula Smith

Mosaic: A picture or pattern produced by arranging together small colored pieces of hard materials such as stone, tile, or glass. It is a name of English origin meaning pattern of pieces. A combination of many different parts forming one thing.

Mosaics have a long history dating back 5,000 years. The earliest known examples appear in Mesopotamia. These early examples were primarily floors and pavements made using ivory, seashells, and stones. In the Byzantine era, mosaics covered the ceilings and walls of most churches. The glass tesserae created the illusion of a painting. Both of these historical examples were decorative, and the materials were used for their permanent long lasting qualities. 

Craft vs. Art is a topic that is often debated. Looking back into the history of visual decoration or functional objects, there was a distinction between the two. Art tended to be paintings and sculpture. Today, the line is blurring, and art can be almost anything. Mosaics that were once primarily made from glass, stones, and various natural objects installed onto 2 dimensional flat planes are now pushing the boundaries with a host of materials being used including: postage stamps, found objects, apples, trash, and even toasted bread slices imitating digitalized images.  These modern mosaics can cover three dimensional forms creating sculptures and other three dimensional objects. 

Two of the rule breaking 20th century artists that inspired me to work in mosaic are Antoni Gaudi and Niki de Saint Phalle. Gaudi was a Catalan Architect and artist. He created architectural mosaic facades.  Parc Guell, in Barcelona, Spain is one of his masterpiece environments. It is a mosaic paradise, with animals, benches, and buildings clad in broken ceramic tiles. Saint Phalle created her Tarot Garden in the southeastern region of Tuscany, Italy. It is also a garden of fantastic, monumental mosaics. Like many mosaics, these works are site specific and not portable. 

The works I chose for this exhibition are portable pieces that range in material use and explore a more modern approach to the mosaic medium. Creating a mosaic is like solving a puzzle. They involve design and a mastery of skills.

Thank you to the Bascom for letting me share my love of mosaic with you. I hope you enjoy the show. - Paula Smith, Guest Organizer 

 

Exhibiting Artists:

  • Pam Goode
  • Ashley Knight + Central Piedmont Community College Students
  • Paula Smith
  • Grace Stott 
  • Tom Thoune
  • Susan Wechsler
  • Laurie Beth Zuckerman
  • GALLERY: Thompson Gallery
  • ARTIST(S): Various
  • ON DISPLAY: September 18, 2021
  • THROUGH: December 23, 2021
  • MEDIUM(S): Mosaics

Current Exhibitions

Emergence: A Survey of Southeastern Studio Programs 2024

Emergence celebrates the role of teaching and mentoring in artistic development, highlighting works by faculty mentors and their students. The 35 pairs of artists presented...

Selections from our Permanent Collection: Legacies

Drawn from The Bascom’s permanent collection, works exhibited this year celebrate the visual legacies of 20th century artists who practiced in the Southeastern US, including...

Satellites & Salamanders IV

Through sculptures, films and cut text works, Satellites & Salamanders IV attempts to re-member hidden and lost parts of artist Walker Tufts’ legacies. The installation...

Outdoor Sculpture 2023 - 2024

In April 2023, five new works were installed on the Horst Winkler Sculpture Trail, marking the third year of our outdoor sculpture program on The Bascom campus. Two...

THE BASCOM WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR 2024 EXHIBITION SPONSORS


Claire and Alex Crumbley
Kathleen and Christopher Hohlstein

Cathy and Bob Fisher
Ann Sullivan

Vance and Willis Willey
Woodcrest Foundation

For information about sponsorship opportunities, please call: 828.526.4949

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Opening Hours

Exhibitions & Shop:
Tuesday - Saturday; 10 am - 5 pm

Studio Barn Hours:
Monday - Saturday; 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday; Noon - 5 pm

Find Us Online:
      

base-logo

Visit: 323 Franklin Road
Highlands, NC 28741 (Map It)

Call: 828-526-4949 (Main)
828-787-2892 (Ceramics Studio)

NCAC50 Logo White

This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Learn more at http://www.ncarts.org.

TBS SouthArtsLogoTBS NEALogo

 

Funded in part by a grant from South Arts
in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.