On Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Luther Burbank Playground mosaics took place. The weather was beautiful and it was so wonderful to reunite with so many of the children, parents and volunteers that were such an integral part of this project. Together we created and installed nearly 250 square feet of mosaics in the Luther Burbank Park Playground.

Thank you for this opportunity!

Libby and Samantha sharing the HUGE scissors

Carole contemplating the ribbon cutting

MI Councilmember Jeff Sanderson and Mayor Bruce Bassett cutting the ribbon

Sandy and Jose posing with mosaic

Love these women!

We are grateful for the opportunity to create something beautiful for our community playground – Thank you to the Mercer Island Arts Council, and also to the Mercer Island Community Fund and a private donation that filled a gap when we decided to do more of the project with Mercer Island students.

And a HUGE thank you to all the parents who volunteered in our workshops, the volunteers/friends who came to my home studio to help with behind-the-scenes preparation and volunteers who helped with the installation. A call-out to Carole for sharing Turkish coffee on those rainy June installation days — keeping as caffeinated! This project truly has been a community effort and we feel grateful for this opportunity that brought our team of 3rd – 8th grade students, MIHS teens and community volunteers together to create these mosaics!

This mosaic mural began with a sketch

This mosaic “Birds in Flight” is 5 feet high and 38 feet long. Shown above are some preliminary sketches created by Jose Orantes.

Elise and Sandy

Sadie

It was so special to reunite with some of the creative and hardworking students that helped create the mosaics, now nearly a year older than when we first met.

♥