"Nature Therapy" mosaic series

Is there anything more soothing than scenes from nature? For us, like so many artists, nature is the siren call of art subjects. Whether it's to remind ourselves of the everyday beauty that surrounds us, or to connect with others so they might more strongly feel the call to protect our environment, nature is a subject that is at the heart of who we are and what we do.

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This series I call “Nature Therapy” was an unplanned, spontaneous journey. "Leaves" was the first piece to arise, driven by a need to create something green and lush, and inspired by my talented friend Emily Herr's Thrive series, especially some of the leaf shapes in this piece and the colors in this one.

"Trees" and "Mountain" came next, designed with the simple, graphic shapes and similar color scheme of the first piece. As with all unplanned journeys, this one took me to unexpected places. When I got to the end of this series, I realized that the point-of-view moved further out with each consecutive piece, from leaf to tree to forest.

As I worked on this series, I thought about the idea that time spent in nature heals and nurtures us, even nature viewed through a window. The political climate during the Trump administration had me thinking of the inequities of this idea, the fact that access to nature has become a privilege for some rather than a right of all, that the lives of some populations are unduly burdened by their lack of access to clean nature. So a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this series will go to Green for All, whose mission is to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.

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"Domestica" mosaic series

It all started with a teapot.

Looking back over some older work, Johannah came across this teapot and thought, "Hmmm. That was fun. Where could this go?" (The most satisfying series are always unplanned journeys.) Remembering a photography project she did a few years ago, she thought a return to the topic of mundane domestic objects might be interesting.

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At the time of the earlier project, I was forced by the circumstances of being the primary care-giving parent to two very young children to mostly shoot items around the house. But as the project went on, I found it piqued my feminist interest in domestic objects. Many of these items are kitchenware, associated with the traditional work of women. True, they are mundane, everyday objects. But might it be their very everyday-ness that gives them their power? We need these items, we keep them close to us because of their necessity or utility in our lives. Many of them we come to love, because they were passed down from a great grandmother or because they bake the perfect batch of ginger snap cookies.

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So I devoted this series to portraits of individual pieces of kitchenware. Set alone in silhouette, we can admire the shape of the objects, consider their use, appreciate their utility in our lives and yes, even their beauty.

And while I worked, I thought further of other domestic items or happenings we might take for granted. Eventually I couldn't help but associate "taking for granted" and "domestic" with the idea of domestic abuse. I suppose it doesn't hurt that with the political temperature of the nation during the Trump administration, I'm more aware than ever of the changes I want to see, and striving always to do more toward that end. The result in this case is that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the pieces in this series will go to a group like the Virginia Anti-Violence Project for survivors of domestic abuse, especially those in the LGTBQ+ community

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Six Hook Custom Coat Racks

We've made quite a few six hook mosaic coat racks this year, each with its own special twist. We thought we'd share a few photos to show you the steps to creating a custom piece like this. 

{Click any image to enlarge.}

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This first group of photos shows the process of creating the mosaic itself.

In the first three photos, you can see:

• creating a color gradient based on photos submitted by the client.

• an example of the reclaimed material we use for all our mosaic supports. This particular board's former life was a template for a railing.

• a blue mosaic celebrating the couple's anniversary with mementos from their relationship.

Next three photos show:

• a mosaic with found objects.

• Johannah's mid-process studio mess.

• a mosaic featuring coins left over from the customer's travels.

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This group shows what happens once the mosaic is complete. First the mosaic is glued into the reclaimed wood frame made by Kyle. Next the mosaic is grouted, a process that often requires plenty of blue tape to protect the frame and some found objects and mementos. Last the hooks are installed. We love seeing the texture and shine of mosaics in raking light. The way mosaics change in the light is a big part of their magic.

And the completed coat racks! Whether you are celebrating a special memory or looking for a unique way to hang your jackets in style all while complementing the room, our mosaic coat racks are the perfect thing. We offer them in three sizes: two hooks, four hooks, and six hooks. We love working with our clients to create a one-of-a-kind piece of functional artwork just for them.