Chryshellis
Inside Chryshellis’ dusky white oyster shell, the sun rises above a
golden ocean horizon on the right, while high above in the left half of the shell a
crescent moon simultaneously sets above a silvery-blue ocean. And like a butterfly
coming out of a cocoon, a new day dawns in Ocean View.
Chryshellis was an opportunity to literally dance with my hotwire bow to create the organic rippling substrate form for the mosaic in the EPS block. The angles of the open shell halves added some complexity but with lots of straps to hold it all together on the steel until the glue set, the results were exactly what I was looking for which included the impression of a butterfly shape when viewed from the back, hence the name Chryshellis.
The mosaic shell exterior was created with materials representing aged beach area construction materials (brick, wood, plaster and wallpaper, cement) while the inside shows a sunrise beach scene with the sun rising as the moon sets created using both glazed porcelain and glass tile. It’s become a selfie magnet with visitors posting their photos in Google maps – fun!
Site-Specific & Architectural Art Segment (Site-Specific Mosaic)
108 x 72 x 48
Materials List
Expanded Polystyrene and steel armature with acrylic cement and mesh substrate, glazed porcelain and glass tile mosaic, urethane grout.
Installation Location
Ocean View Beach Park, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Artist Statement
With my mosaics, there is first inspiration (what a rush), art design (focus that rush) and then the engineering involved (Yes Eileen, there is gravity and you’d better plan for it). I love that once the problem solving and planning is in place, I can take flight and become the doing of the work. Probably one of the reasons I love this medium is the physicality of it – I form my art and my art forms me. We’re a team. And the best times? When I forget what I’m doing while I'm doing it and surprise myself.
Each art installation offers new and exciting challenges that I look forward to and thrive on as an artist. Considerations for the environment and any special needs such as ADA requirements are part of what I factor into my mosaic installation designs.
My approach for each public art project is to get to know as much as I can about the site: the history that I need to honor, the commissioning body's thoughts for the work, the geography around the site, the natural inhabitants in the area, the intended use of the site, and any community input, as well as my own response to the project site. All those elements are part of the mix that my go into my artistic interpretation. Every installation is meant to be a touchable, welcoming part of the site in a way that seems to the viewer as if it's always been there.
As a public artist since 2002, I have successfully created mosaic panel and sculptural installations sited both indoors and outside in a freeze thaw climate within budgets of up to $167,000 while successfully working with architects, public agencies and stakeholders on all of my installations. I consider all to be my teammates working towards the same goal; a successful public art installation.
