Community art projects are collaborative public art initiatives that involve and reflect the communities in which they are situated. Through murals, sculptures, mosaics, and interactive events, art becomes a communal activity, that enriches both the aesthetic and social fabric of neighborhoods.
Take a look at the projects that Blue Ridge Mosaic Artists have completed!
May 2017: Bower Center for the Arts
Three floral mosaic panels were designed, created, and installed on the exterior wall to the right of the Bower Center for the Arts main entrance. The dedication of the panels in May 2017 honored Fred Duis, who served as board president of the Wharton Foundation under which Bower Center operated for several years. Sara Braaten former Bower Executive Director helped facilitate this project with the selection of flowers from the Wharton Garden next door to the Center.
October 2017: Bedford Domestic Violence Services
Seven mosaic panels were created for the Bedford Domestic Violence Services Memorial Garden on Bedford Avenue (at N Bridge St intersection) and dedicated at the organization’s 20th Anniversary annual vigil on October 24, 2017. The panels were designed by Mitchell Bond based on design elements requested by Heather Jones, former director of BDVS. Mitchell Bond, Janet Chalker, Bonnie Kinnaird, Pat Malotte, Perri Mason. Marjie Milligan, Dotti Stone, and Sergei Troubetzkoy created the five 2’ square and two 3’ square panels. They were installed by Bower Center board members.
October 2019-January 2021: Centra Bedford Hospice House Garden
Sixteen mosaic steppingstones for the redesigned garden at the Centra Bedford Hospice House were created by nine members of BRMA. Some will be in groups of two or three, and others placed singly around the garden as decorative elements. Dana Garrett and Anita Lowe of Centra assisted with design ideas and coordinated this garden addition donated by BRMA.
2020-2021: Bedford Sphere
The Bedford Sphere is a mosaiced ball with area sites that include: The National D-Day Memorial, Bower Center for the Arts, Big Otter Mill, Poplar Forest, an apple barn to represent the apple orchards, Wharton Garden, Elks Home, a grape cluster to represent local Virginia wineries, Abbott Lake and Peaks of Otter Lodge looking down from Sharp Top Mountain, the N Bridge Street Railroad Bridge, circa 1900, Smith Mountain Lake, and a view of the Peaks of Otter.
BRMA members who created mosaics for this project include: Sophie Adams, Sally Carter, Karen Cavanaugh, Janet Chalker, Jane Garland, Pat Malotte, Perri Mason, Marjory Milligan, Dotti Stone, Sergei Troubetzkoy, and Andrea Wild-Gingeleski. Desmond Black, Past President of the Bower Center Board of Directors, designed and built the rolling base for the sphere.
The Bedford Sphere belongs to Bower Center for the Art in Bedford VA. To arrange for it to be displayed off-site contact Executive Director, Susan Martin, s.martin@bowercenter.org.
Blue Ridge Mosaic Artists 