Last year, CBA member, Laurel True was working with Art Creation Foundation For Children in Jacmel, Haiti. During four trips she trained 75+ youth and artists in mosaic making techniques for both murals and small, salable objects, eventually stepping out as facilitator and becoming more of a consultant/ advisor and cheerleader as the mosaic wall progressed. Together, True and the community dedicated the almost 300 foot long Jacmel Memorial Mosaic Wall on January 12, 2011, the 1st anniversary of the earthquake. A mosaic team of ACFFC kids has grown out of this project and has received two architectural mosaic commissions to date in Jacmel, has started documenting their work for future portfolios and have made over 60 mosaic bottles, which will be on display at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this month and sold through Brandaid!
This year, True is really excited about her next project in Haiti, which will be with public health organization, Partners In Health. PIH has been doing good work in Haiti for almost 25 years and True says she is “proud to be working with them”. PIH is in the process of building one of the largest hospitals in Haiti (in Mirebalais) that will serve the very poor in Haiti’s central region.
True will be working with PIH and their sister organization in Haiti, Zanme Lasante, to bring mosaic artwork to the hospital, offering a creative respite for hospital patients, visitors, and staff. “We have developed concepts for four mosaic projects that will have high visual impact in and around the busy hospital. The design process will heavily involve community feedback and I’ll be training a team of Haitian adults to work with me on these projects” says True. The training will include precision setting techniques that True employs on professional commissioned work and specific sculptural and mural making techniques that she teaches to adult artists and students in the States.
To come full circle, she’ll be bringing several teenagers from Jacmel who are part of the core ACFFC mosaic team up to Mirebalais to assist and to learn these advanced techniques!
There is a major fund raising effort going on to raise money for the creation of the hospital mosaic projects through the Artwork Fund for Mirebalais Hospital. “We are currently about a quarter of the way to our funding goal and are actively seeking sponsors and tax- deductible donations for the Mosaics at Mirebalais” says True.
True has put together an inspiring lecture tour as a fundraiser for the Mosaic Artwork Fund for Mirebalais, called “The Power of Art: Building Creative Capital through Community Mosaics; Laurel True’s Community Mosaic Projects in the US, Africa and Haiti”, which will be in several US cities including New Orleans, Charlotte, Philly (at the Magic Gardens!), Oakland and Seattle so far. If you live in one of these cities go hear True, take a workshop, and support the cause. When you think of good that is happening on the planet, think of these communities in Haiti and please consider a tax- deductible donation to the Mosaic Artwork Fund for Mirebalais Hospital.
*Starred locations will also host the weekend workshop Facilitating Community Mosaics Locally and Internationally with Laurel True
New Orleans*
May 20th, 2011 Friday Evening
Location: New Orleans School of Art and Craft
Contact: NolaArtandCraft@aol.com
Charlotte, NC*
June 10, 2011 Friday Evening
Location: Ceil Gallery/ Studio
Contact: pam@cielcharlotte.com
Oakland, CA*
July 29, 2011 Friday Evening
Location: Institute of Mosaic Art, Oakland
Contact: Info@instituteofmosaicart.com
See the True Mosaics Blog for up to date info on confirmed dates and locations. More information coming soon for Boston, DC, Austin, Tucson, LA, San Diego, Houston and Seattle, Portland and St. Paul.