 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
|
About Joni West's Fine Art Mosaics |
|||
| I
create mosaics simply because as a visual artist, I fell in love with
all aspects of the art form from the history, to the processes and especially
the colorful raw material, smalti. I express painterly movement and atmosphere
through contemporary glass imagery inspired by an ancient and organic
art. I hope each of my works create a place that takes the viewer on an
inspirational journey, just as a book or film can. My work falls into three main categories: atmospheric, animated and color charts. The atmospheric style pieces are relaxing and contemplative in nature while the animated style pieces are full of energy and take you on a new path with each visit. The color chart style comes from my lifelong love of paint swatches. When I was a child, I was unable to leave a hardware or an art store without a pocket full of color chips. To me, the colors presented this way are at their most inspirational as they can become anything we want them to be. Colors provide endless opportunities in this way. I feel we become richer by simply adding a new color to our lives. I began my artistic career in photography. Today's digital advancements have replaced much of the hands on creation process that originally attracted me to that genre. Mosaic fine art provides a perfect, tangible art form in which I am able to explore the power of color and shape by selecting and carefully positioning little chunks of pure color. The process of creating a mosaic is very meditative for me and I often become aware of how strong a metaphor mosaic art can be for a life or an experience. |
|||
|
Smalti |
|||
|
Smalti is the name
given to the building blocks of mosaics. These beautiful little pieces
of colored glass come from traditional, family-run manufacturers still
operating in Venice, Italy after hundreds of years. Made to closely
guarded recipes, the authentic product is highly valued and unmistakable
in quality.
The painstaking transformation from sand to smalti results in a virtually limitless color palette. As the basic elements liquefy, metal oxides such as gold, copper, nickel and cobalt are added slowly to ensure evenness in pigmentation. This stage, known as "drawing out the color," is where the secrets or "anime" lie. Here the artisan patiently coaxes subtle nuances into the molten glass using secret methods that are generations old. Poured into small disk shapes, the glass is allowed to harden before being hand cut into tiny rectangles or squares in a way that maximizes the reflective qualities of the material. These gem-like pieces are then referred to as tesserae. With colors ranging from the subtly shaded to
the stunningly vibrant, smalti captivates the imagination of both
artist and viewer alike. |
|||
Joni West was selected to join the ranks of "Master Crafter" by Gumps in 2005. Her mosaics were featured in the "Master Crafter 2005" exhibition at the gallery at Gumps along side work by other internationally renowned craft artists. Joni's mosaics continue to be available for sale through Gumps of San Francisco. Gump's San Francisco was founded in the city by the bay in 1861. As Solomon Gump's good taste guided his store, his discerning eye guided the Gold Rush days and the decades to follow. Gump and his emporium grew with this 19th century city, introducing the burgeoning gentry to the graces of decorative arts from all over the world. Today, Gump's is an eminent purveyor of unusual, exclusive and high quality merchandise. Gumps is located at 135 Post Street in San Francisco,
California. Phone: 415-982-1616. |
|||
|
© 2004 Joni West. All rights reserved
|