Title:  Life is Beautiful


Site:  Mosaic Living Center
7464 North Sheridan, Chicago

Artists:  Tracy Van Duinen and John Pitman Weber


Assisting Artists: Moses Ball and Catina Robinson


Community Participants: Mosaic Living Center residents


Sponsors:  Chicago Public Art Group and Mosaic Living Center


Year:  2003


Scale:  500 square feet


Materials:  Broken tile, glass, mirror, metal, and ceramic shards


Information:  This mosaic bricolage introduced a new technique of mosaic to the Chicago area. The bricolage technique allows for the inclusion of disparate materials (handmade ceramic tiles, glass tiles, mirrors, metal, and broken pieces of pottery or figurines) into the project. The technique makes mosaic as public art more accessible to the community and increases the number of people who can participate despite physical or mental impairments. The team of artists created a design to be carried out and installed along a concrete ramp leading to the front entrance of the center. As the work progressed, clients, staff and families, and area residents walked up to get instructions and laid their own section of the mosaic.