Julia Alpers

Julia Alpers has been an artist all her life. In 1999, she began to focus her energy on large -scale public murals. It wasn't long before Julia realized if you want the art to last, tile is the only way to go. In 2002, after receiving her degree in public art from CSU Monterey Bay, Julia upped the ante and moved to the Bay Area seeking more exposure in the public art circle and to apprentice with a respected tile setter to hone her installation chops. A desire to pursue her artistic goals on her own terms led Julia to go out on her own and form Bullnose Tile Design in 2006. Today, Julia's work can be experienced in private and public spaces in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and throughout the Bay Area. http://www.bullnosetiledesign.com

Rhiannon Alpers

Rhiannon Alpers, transplant to the bay area, has an MFA in Book Arts from Columbia College Chicago and a BA in Book Arts from UCSB, College of Creative Studies. She has taught workshops/classes at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Kala Printmaking Institute in Berkeley, The Center for Book and Paper in Chicago, San Francisco Center for the Book, and Santa Reparata in Florence, Italy. She is a papermaker, letterpress printer, book artist and graphic designer. For more information visit http://www.rhiannonalpers.com.

Jim Bachor

A graduate of the Center for Creative Studies in downtown Detroit, former Michigander Jim Bachor has lived in Chicago now for 18 years. Jim started his career in 1989 as a graphic designer for Words&Pictures Inc., a creative marketing communication firm. By 1991, he was co-owner and Principal Creative Officer of the firm. In 2000, he joined the Chicago advertising agency FCB (Fooote, Cone & Belding.) As an Associate Creative Director, Jim's worked on a variety of clients, including Kraft, Boeing, SCJohnson, Brookfield Zoo and John Deere. Jim Bachor's fervor for mosaic art was born in 1998 when he first traveled to Europe and enveloped himself in the culture of London, Rome and Paris. Then for two months in 1999, Jim rented a house in Rome, exploring the ancient sites of the city and surrounding countyside. Inspired to learn more about his newly found infatuation, later that same year Jim went back to Italy and took classes in Ravenna on the demanding and meticulous art form. During subsequent archaeology-based trips to Greece, Turkey and even a dig in Pompeii, he was amazed by the various examples of the 2,000 year-old art buried deep in the ground. As the color of marble and glass doesn't fade, the mosaics look exactly as intended by the artist who originally produced them. Jim has adapted this ancient art form to contemporary American life, capturing everyday scenes in a way that, centuries from now, will open a window onto life in the 21st century. To see his works visit: bachor.com

Madeline Behrens-Brigham

As a child, Madeline was fascinated with leaves, twigs, fabric, buttons and other emphemera found on her Grandmother's farm during summer visits. Resourcefulness was learned early and using what was at hand seemed natural being the daughter of a high school agriculture teacher. As her life unfolded, there was a party planning business, a catering business, a retail store, and most recently, design clients who avail themselves of many ideas from exterior house colors to actual rug making for the exact color and size required. Oh, what about the four husbands before the age of forty? What was that '64 Pink Thunderbird about? Why California at the age of nineteen? Life is an art. Art is her life. It's all about design. It's all about color. It's all about creativity. Her personal art has been exhibited at many shows, galleries, and Open Studios. Collectors are scattered around the planet with New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Paris, London and Montpelier, Vermont among some of the locations. The form of the art has been paintings, ceramics, jewelry, weaving, mail art, rubber stamp art,color xerox art, collage, fabric dolls, hand-painted silk, Dada performances, publication of a Dada Daily for several years, performance art, dioramas and last but not least: mosaics. Personally, Madeline loves to share stories, resources and ideas. Her teaching manner is gentle, encouraging and honed to the individual with a liberal amount of "Follow your heart" lessons added. Students are encouraged to trust their inner art voice and will be shown how seemingly disparate items can work together.

Nicole Bertoline

Mosaic artist and instructor Nicole Bertoline received her BFA from Pratt Institute in New York in 2002, majoring in art education and fine arts. Nicole studied stained glass at Colorado Mountain College and moved to the Bay Area in 2004. Nicole has been a production and studio assistant at True Mosaics Studio since then and has worked on large scale mosaic applications, public art and private commissions under mosaic artist Laurel True. Nicole has been teaching both youth and adults for 8 years and specializes in youth projects and exterior applications.

Emma Biggs

Emma Biggs graduated in Fine Art from Leeds University in the UK. She initially worked as the designer Vivienne Westwood's assistant, then ran a tour management company, touring with 80s bands like the Human League, the Gang of Four, and ABC. In 1987 she set up Mosaic Workshop, the UK's biggest mosaic studio, making new and original work for clients as diverse as Westminster Cathedral, the Sultan of Oman and the Spice Girls. She has written a number of books on mosaic, amongst which is the best selling Encyclopaedia of Mosaic Techniques. She is senior mosaic tutor at West Dean College. Her work combines a strong design sense, with a passionate interest in history and the community. Her recent work Made in England is testament to this enthusiasm, and was created for the internationally renowned collection of industrial ceramics ™ the Potteries Museum, in Stoke-on-Trent. In addition to her mosaic making, Emma makes collaborative paintings with her husband, the artist and critic Matthew Collings. Their work is in national and international collections, and was shown at Basel Art Fair earlier this year. Emma exhibits her fine art widely and lectures internationally on the subject of mosaics. For more info on Emma Biggs: http://www.mosaicworkshop.com http://www.made-in-england.net http://www.emmabiggsmosaic.net

Donna Billick
	Donna Billick is a twentieth century Cave Painter, hence her company, "Billick Rock Art." Rock Art uses the mediums of mosaic, terrazzo, cement, ceramic and stone to create large-scale public art. Donna Billick offers twenty eight years of sustained creative activity in integrating art into community sites around the world. The sites range from light-rail stations, library's, courthouses, city halls, floors, fountains, murals, sculptural forms, private homes to civic municipalities. Her vision is to create expressive surfaces in public places. There are over 600 of these sites around the world. California sites in the last 5 years include: Frank Ogawa Plaza, City Hall Oakland Huntington Beach California, Four major plazas, BART Millbrae Light-Rail Station, San Francisco Airport, Redding, Mayor's Plaza; Turlock, Downtown Renoivation Sacramento, New Juvenile Justice Center, Sacramento Zoo, Carol Miller Justice Center and Meadowview Light-Rail Station Additionally, Donna has shown her work in many museum and gallery exhibitions.

Ellen Blakeley
	For information on Ellen Blakeley go to: www.ellenblakeley.com.

Tracy Broback

Tracy Broback has always been interested in making things. From a young age she collected, created and re-invented. A practical nature, however, got the better of her. Tracy earned her BS in Psychology at UC Berkeley and a multiple subject teaching credential from Saint Mary's College in Moraga. Tracy found many ways to incorporate art into all subject areas in her classroom and taught art classes in summer school. Tracy also enjoyed mentoring fellow teachers in mathematics, assessment and technology. Tracy continued the practice of infusing art into all areas of her life as she started a family of her own. Tracy's house and garden are full of her creations. As the children grew, Tracy studied quilting, ceramics, drawing, painting and sculpture at the local junior college and civic arts department. Her children provide designs and inspiration and collaborate with and work alongside their mother. Tracy's interest in mosaics and sculpture flourished after she started taking classes at IMA in 2005. After two years of sharing what she has learned with students at IMA's Friday Lab and continuing her own study of mosaics, Tracy is excited to expand her teaching time at The Institute of Mosaic Art.

Bill Buckingham

Mosaic artist and rock-hound, Bill Buckingham, is the founder of Mosaic Rocks!, an online store specializing in natural stone tesserae for mosaic artists. His journey in mosaic began with the more traditional materials but it has taken him in the direction of stone where he specializes in representational and abstract fine art mosaics primarily using marble and other exotics natural materials. Bill is also the founder of the Mosaic Atlas website and publisher of the yearly Mosaic Yearbook CD, a compilation of mosaic art from artists throughout the world. More recently, Bill was a co-curator of the first all mosaic exhibition of New England artists held in the Boston area in 2007. His is also the editor and publisher of the magazine, Mosaic Art Now. Bill lives in Wakefield, Massachusetts.

Irina Charny
	Award winning mosaic artist Irina Charny grew up in Russia and emigrated to the United States in 1975. Her unique style has brought her much attention in the media and she has exhibited her fine art mosaics nationally. Irina has been featured in such respected publications as Mosaic Techniques and Traditions by Sonia King, Mosaic Art and Style by JoAnn Loctov and San Diego Home and Garden Magazine. As a child growing up in Russia, Irina created collages from pieces of broken glass found in the street, rocks, paper, seashells, and bits of crockery, even before she knew her creations were called mosaics. Through the years she experimented with various media for artistic expression but has now returned to her origin - mosaics. This medium gives her a chance to explore color, shape, pattern, and texture, and to satisfy the passion to integrate unrelated small bits of material into a single work of art. Irina is a self-taught mosaicist. In addition to traditional mosaic tesserae she incorporates unusual materials in her work - mirror, pebbles, found objects, beads, buttons, wire, handmade ceramic pieces, and broken plates. She never returns home empty handed from a walk on the beach or a trip. Beach glass, pebbles from a path on Hampstead Heath, a bit of bone from the shore are special little bits that are inserted into each mosaic to give it a special, personal meaning. Irina has created commissioned mosaic panels, mirrors, decorative objects, and murals for private clients and shows her work nationally. She is a member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists and received the prestigious Members Choice Award during the exhibition Opus Veritas at the Museo Italo-Americano in San Francisco in 2004.

Dot Edwards
	Professional mosaic artist Dot Edwards has worked for the State Board of Equalization for 10 years and is fully versed in the ins and outs of sales tax issues for artists. Her experience as a mosaic artist allows her to specifically tailor this lecture to the mosaic field and the nuances of what mosaic artists embarking in their art as a business need to know! Dot moved to Sacramento, CA in 2001 by way of Houston, TX and Louisiana. She started doing mosaics in her early teens becoming seriously involved in the medium in 2000. She has worked with metal casting/jewelry making and glass fusing, experience gained from taking art classes at the American River College, as well as basic ceramics, which she would love to explore further. Dot has also studied with other mosaic artists and sculptors. Dot is a member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) and the owner of the Mosaic California Yahoo group. http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_3484_profile_portfolio.htm

Dmitry Grudsky
	Dmitry Grudsky is a skilled artist who is passionate about creating art for public spaces. Dmitry brings over thirty years of successful practice to his art designs. No stranger to collaboration, Dmitry has worked with designers, architects, community leaders and landscapers to develop unique pieces that enhance the specific attributes of a variety of sites, including gardens and parks, community centers, theaters, restaurants and office buildings. Educated in Russia, Dmitry holds a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from Tashkent Art Institute. This intensive training exposed him to a broad range of artistic styles, building on a strong foundation in classical Western European art traditions with stylistic infusions from Asia Minor. Ever graceful, Dmitry's work combines Nature motifs with modern abstraction in art works that are spare yet sophisticated, playful yet elegant. He uses mixed media and blends ancient Byzantine mosaic techniques with stained glass, mural painting and relief components in pieces that are visually stunning, strongly sculptural, and surprisingly practical. Dmitry views public art as a mirror that reflects the attributes of each individual site, enhancing its public use and enjoyment. Dmitry's sculptures are inspired from forms in Nature such as mountains, water, trees and animals. His mosaic paintings often express archetypal cultural myths, such as Romeo and Juliet, the clown, the archer, or the eternal garden of life. For Dmitry, art is a multi-dimensional poem expressing the feelings of people and the feel of place. While living in Russia, Dmitry primarily worked on large-scale public art works. Since immigrating to the Bay Area, Dmitry has combined artwork with teaching. He has created art for community projects, commercial offices, schools and a church as well as for private collectors. He instructs adults in a variety of art forms such as mosaic, wire sculpture, ceramics, painting and collage. His strongest enthusiasm is reserved for public space sculptures and mosaics, and he continually seeks new venues to enhance with his environmentally sensitive art.

Delaine Hackney
	Delaine is known in the mosaic world as "the dog girl". She has taken her absolute love of dogs (and sometimes cats and occasional humans) and created a niche in mosaic pet portraiture. Her works are whimsical, usually include lots of green and are very representative of the subject's likeness and personality. Delaine's teaching style is easy going yet attentive, lending support to mosaic artists of any level. Please visit her website at: http://www.delainemosaic.com/

Lois Keller
	Lois Keller is an active artist and illustrator living in Los Angeles. She worked nationally as a successful scenic artist for eleven years, painting sets for theatres throughout the country for companies such as The Milwaukee Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, and Connecticut's Goodspeed Opera. She painted, murals for places such as Great America, in Illinois, Summerfest in Milwaukee and Disney stores in Japan and Europe, as well as restoring decorative paint in landmark buildings throughout the U.S. She recently relocated from Chicago to Los Angeles. Scenic art has given her structure and painting experience which she now refers to for her own art work. She spent her time in Chicago studying and developing her own painting and drawing style, as well as getting used to painting drastically smaller. An average theatrical backdrop can be 30' x 60'. She has been exhibiting her own work actively now since 2000. http://www.caconline.org/cacartists/kellerl/kellerl.html

Josef Norris

Josef Norris has been doing community mosaic murals for almost ten years. As a muralist and designer, Josef transforms urban settings with public and community art. Josef has done commissioned murals for Starbucks Coffee Company, the City of San Francisco Department of Parks & Recreation, the City of Oakland, and the City of Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program. He was a recipient of the California Arts Council Artist in Communities Grant from 2000-2003. He has supervised youth arts programs for the California Consumer Services Agency, ZEUM, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (Young Artists at Work Program), and the Marin Arts Council. As a muralist, he is best known for the 4-story mural on the side of the Performing Arts Garage in downtown San Francisco, featuring four dancers created in mosaic tile. He recently completed a 3-story painted and mosaic mural overlooking the Kid Power Park on Hoff Street in San Francisco's Mission District. Josef Norris is Director and Founder of Kid Serve Youth Murals. Since 1999, Kid Serve has conducted 45 mural residencies through out Bay Area schools and after-school programs. These projects create a valuable opportunity for young people to transform their neighborhoods through the creation of public art. You can learn more about Josef Norris at www.josefnorris.com or www.kidserve.com

Tammy Lee

Tammy Lee grew up in Alameda, Ca. As far as art goes, she was a late bloomer! She tapped into her creative energies and took some mosaic classes in her early 30's. After falling in love with the medium, she apprenticed with Laurel True and Lillian Sizemore, learning everything she could about mosaic art. After a 2-year apprenticeship, she decided to leave her corporate life to do mosaics full time in 2003. She now has her own mosaic company where she creates mosaic artwork for commission and local galleries and shops. Tammy has a passion for mosaics. She creates her artwork from a love of color, reflection and texture. She is attracted to the different material options that can be used, complexity of the art, and the permanence of the medium. Tammy draws her art from a myriad of life experiences and finds inspiration in many things from her every day life. She especially loves to make art that makes a statement, has a purpose or just speaks to the observer in some way. For her, mosaics are very meditative. She puts lots of love and attention into every single piece. She teaches and attends classes in various styles of mosaic application. The possibilities of mosaic are endless and she enjoys sharing her experience and creations with others.

Sonia King

Sonia King's first contact with mosaics was as a child when her mother worked in the medium. Her fascination with the color, texture and surfaces of mosaic art has remained constant. Sonia received a BFA from California College of Arts and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. After a successful business career, Sonia returned to the arts, working on a contemporary interpretation of the ancient art of mosaics as a fine art medium. Sonia creates one-of-a-kind, contemporary mosaics for gallery, architectural, community and home settings. Mosaics are produced using the finest materials gathered from sources around the world: smalti, gold, marble, vitreous glass, ceramic and more. She recently completed four large mosaic walls for Children's Medical Center of Dallas that were featured on the cover of Healthcare Design magazine. Sonia's award-winning art is exhibited both nationally and internationally and is represented in private, public and corporate collections. Fortunate to have an extensive travel background, Sonia has visited ancient mosaic sites and studied with modern mosaic artists around the world. She is a founding member and past President of the Society of American Mosaic Artists as well as instructor in mosaics at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas. Sonia has been granted membership and serves as a director of the Associazione Internazionale Mosaicisti Contemporanei (AIMC) in Ravenna, Italy. She has spoken on mosaic art in England, France, Australia and Brazil and teaches advanced classes internationally. Sonia was featured on HGTV's popular show, Modern Masters, and her art has been included in numerous mosaic books. She is the author of the Sterling Publishing book "Mosaic Techniques & Traditions" and is currently writing "Mosaic Master Class: The Advanced Techniques".

Laurie Mika

"I am a mixed-media artist with a passion for combining and overlapping a variety of mediums creating an original style of mixed-media mosaics and assemblage using handmade tile. My love of travel to far off places and experiences of living abroad (East Africa) have shaped the way my art looks today....especially since my work is embellished with the many little treasures found during my travels. I recently started teaching at nationally recognized art retreats like ArtFest and Art and Soul and have loved sharing all of the discoveries I've learned along the way in a journey that is still evolving." "My mixed-media mosaics have been included in many group shows and galleries and I have commissioned pieces in private collections. My work has also been published in magazines, Expressions and Somerset Studio and in books, 400 Polymer Clay Designs, Mosaic Art and Style and New Techniques for Wearable Art. I was featured on both HGTV's, Crafter's Coast to Coast and on DIY networks, Craft Lab. I also have my own book being published by North Light Books called, Mixed Media Mosaics, due to be released in July, 2007." For more information: http://www.mikaarts.com.

Pippa Murray

Pippa Murray is a classically trained artist who has been working in the medium of mosaic for well over a decade. She specializes in large-scale stone, glass and ceramic site-specific mosaic installations. She has completed numerous commissions for private individuals and institutions locally and as far a field as Greece and Spain. She has received much critical acclaim for the 800 square-foot stone floor mosaic she created for the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito, including profiles in the San Francisco Chronicle and Marin Independent Journal. Her most recently finished commission is a 1000 square foot stone mosaic floor for a private home in Marin. Pippa was educated at Columbia University in New York where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree as a dual major in Visual Arts and Art History in May of 1996, Cum Laude. Specializing in Greco-Roman mosaic technique and design, she achieved a Masters in Science in Classical Archeology by Research from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in May of 1998, with distinction. She received her Masters of Fine Arts from the California College of the Arts, formerly the California College of Arts and Crafts, in May of 2005. Pippa maintains her studio in Sausalito, CA.

Lillian Sizemore

Lillian Sizemore has been a professional artist for nearly 30 years and has worked in mosaics since 1994. In conjunction with the J. Paul Getty exhibition, Stories in Stone: Conserving Mosaics of Roman Africa, Masterpieces from the National Museums of Tunisia, Lillian was invited to offer a series of hands-on mosaic workshops and public mosaic demonstrations. Her work is featured in several books and magazines, including Mosaic Techniques and Traditions by Sonia King, and Mosaic Art and Style by JoAnn Locktov. Lillian is interested in mosaic history and has traveled widely, photographing and studying sites around the world. Her travel book, A Guide to Mosaic Sites: San Francisco is a walker's guide to publicly accessible mosaic sites. She is a frequent visiting artist and instructor at the Institute of Mosaic Art, in Oakland, California. Her popular, original workshop, "Mosaics from the Mind's Eye: Connecting to your Creative Power"™, combines meditation with mosaic making and the mandala form. She also lectures and teaches workshops about Roman geometric patterns. She is a graduate of Indiana University, with double degrees in Italian and Fine Arts Printmaking. She has studied an extensive variety of mosaic techniques including: a 10+year collaboration with Laurel True. Apprenticeship with Denis O'Connor, master muralist. Ceramic tile-making with Eric Rattan. Byzantine mosaics training with Luciana Notturni, Ravenna. Tempered Glass with Ellen Blakeley, Advanced Techniques with Sonia King, and more. Learn more about Lillian, her work and upcoming classes at http://www.sfmosaic.com.

Laurel Skye

Laurel Skye first began tiling in 1969. She then went on to pursue her interest in mosaic design in Montreal, Canada in the early 1980's. She furthered her education by studying mosaics in Ravenna, Italy under renowned instructor Luciana Notourni at Scuola di Mosaico in the classical Byzantine method. Laurel has been teaching mosaic courses in her "Skyelab" studio since moving to Arcata, California in the late 90s. Her studio, Laurel Skye Designs, does professional mosaic installations and teaches a wide variety of mosaic courses. Laurel exhibits her mosaic work locally and internationally. She specializes in mixed media, using such materials as milefiori, smalti, 24 K gold and Italian glass. Her mosaics resemble rich tapestries and bring together traditional and modern materials and techniques. Laurel is a member of SAMA and has been widely published, most recently being featured in the acclaimed book Mosaic Art and Style— Designs for Living Environments by JoAnn Loctov. Laurel Skye has also been featured on television, both locally and nationally, including HGTV's hit show "Offbeat America." M&M Productions has just finished a short DVD on Laurel, entitled: Laurel Skye: The Art and Soul of an Artist, followed with a bonus feature of the HGTV segment. Laurel is a visiting instructor at the Institute of Mosaic Art in Oakland, California and is currently writing a book on, what else? Mosaics. Laurel is a Faculty member at Humbolt State University, where she teaches millefiori mosaics and it's history. For more information on Laurel Skye go to: http://homepage.mac.com/laurelskye/Menu21.html

Brent Sumner

Brent Sumner has been designing and creating sculptured artworks for the past 10 years. He began by building sculptured earth buildings, woodwork and performance art pieces. Brent works with a variety of medium in his sculpture work, including steel, wood and darjit. Brent has been commissioned to build several large scale sculptures including a 12 foot Dolphin for a site at a festival, and a 30 foot floatable whale for a perfomance in Doubtless Bay, New Zealand. Brent developed the architectural sculpting compound darjit, as a sculpting medium. Darjit is made from recycled paper and a by-product from clay mining. The development of darjit influenced his approach to sculpture building as it is lightweight and very versatile. A wide variety of effects and fine detailing can be achieved using darjit. In 2002 Brent formed the company Alchymia Ltd to develop and produce Darjit and wood-fired ovens. His ovens are a beautifully sculpted and integrate outdoor kitchen and entertaining areas as aesthetic sculpted works of art. Brent has since been commissioned to build several large scale sculptures, using darjit and steel for entrance ways, stand alone art pieces, and installations for art shows and exhibitions. His commissioned works also include: "Dragon gate": an entrance with two large dragon-entwined columns, framing an intricate steel gate. He has created several sculpted "walls" that organize and enhance outdoor living space, these walls incorporate fountains, plantings, intricate lighting, fireplaces and intermit communication areas. Other works include: a series of Nikau palm trees, which stand at the entrance for a sculpture park/art gallery in Taupo, New Zealand, and large vertical garden sculptures, for the Live Artists at work event, also in Taupo. Brent tutors sculpture workshops, using darjit on steel skeletal forms in both New Zealand and Australia. For more info on Brent and Darjit: www.woodfiredovens.co.nz or www.sculptureparty.com.

Laurel True Founder and Executive Director of the Institute of Mosaic Art

Laurel True is an artist and educator specializing in the mosaic arts. She is the founder and executive director of the Institute of Mosaic Art in Oakland, California. Over the past 11 years, True has taught hundreds of students of all levels who are interested in the mosaic arts. She teaches courses of all levels at IMA in Oakland's Jingletown Arts District, as well as at Esalen Institute in Big Sur and at New Orleans School of Glass. True has been working in mosaic media for over 15 years. Her studio, True Mosaics Studio, specializes in architectural mosaics, public art and community mosaic projects. Laurel has created, directed and facilitated hundreds of projects across the country. Her permanent artworks are sited in commercial spaces, hotels, hospitals, civic buildings, parks, schools and in residential and public settings. True received her BA in African Art and Cultures and has studied at Studio Arte del Mosaico in Ravenna, Italy, Parsons School of Design and the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been a guest presenter at California College of Art, The Crucible, Ghana College of Art and Design and at many conferences and special events. She has been featured on HGTV and KQED's SPARK and in many print publications. Her work is featured on the cover of Mosaic Art and Style by JoAnn Loctov as well as in many other books. True travels widely to lecture and teach and spends many summers in Ghana, West Africa facilitating community mosaic projects with local youth as well as providing job training for young adults. True is a proud member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists, British Association of Modern Mosaics, Tile Heritage Foundation, Community Built Association and Jingletown Arts and Business Community. Please visit her website at www.truemosaics.com.

Sherri Warner Hunter

Sherri Warner Hunter has exhibited her award winning artwork across the country. Since moving to Bell Buckle, TN in 1994, Hunter has concentrated on large scale public commissions and community built projects. Her work is included in numerous private collections and can be viewed publicly at the Tennessee State Welcome Center, Tiftonia near Chattanooga; the Nashville International Airport, TN; the Memphis/Shelby County Pubic Library, TN; and the Tiger Town Shopping Center in Opelika, AL. Hunter is a board member and former president of the Community Built Association, a national organization of professional designers, architects, and artists who work with communities to design and develop volunteer based projects. Her participation in community based projects includes the mosaics at Turtle Grove, Albany, GA; the Salvation Army Area Command Center in Nashville, TN; "The Gathering" for the Oasis Center, Nashville, TN; as well as numerous projects with schools and hospitals. Hunter is known for her concrete workshops and has written two books on the subject; Making Concrete Garden Ornaments and Creating Concrete Garden Ornaments for the Garden.

Saundra Warren

I have always wished for an artistic life and casual mosaic work has filled much of my leisure time. Six years ago I discovered clay and since then, my mosaics have been made from ceramic tiles I make by hand in my studio. For the past three years, I have made a vocation of creating works for the garden and for the garden-style home. My business, In Saundra's Garden, is located in the Jingletown district of Oakland, CA where I have a live-work studio in an old warehouse. Here I complete commissions for tiled table tops and fountains for clients in addition to making ceramic sculptural pieces, notably greenman fountain heads. Much of my work is sold at quarterly shows in the gallery space at the front of my studio. Although my degree and masters work was in history, for the past dozen years I have been taking classes in art: ceramics, mosaics, cement fabrication as well as screen printing, picture framing and a lot of art history. Currently active in the Jingletown Arts and Business Community I curate a rotating show of Jingletown artists at the Voila! Juice Bar and Cafe Gallery. I am an artist member of ProArts and have participated in their annual EastBay Open Studios the past two years. For more information go to www.insaundrasgarden.com.

Isaiah Zagar

Isaiah Zagar received his BFA from Pratt Institute of Art in New York in painting and graphics. He has been working on a city wide mosaic environment for 35 years in Philadelphia, PA and is considered a visionary outside of the traditional art world. He has completed over 70 large scale installations and has exhibited his work internationally. "In 1959 when I was 19 years old I was introduced to the folk art environment of Clarence Schmidt, My Mirrored Hope, Woodstock, NY USA. Soon after in 1960 there was a groundbreaking exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, NY USA. Because that exhibition included assemblages of artists like Pablo Picasso, Jean Dubuffet, Curt Schwitters, Antonio Gaudi along side of untrained brickaleurs Clarence Schmit, Simon Rodia and Joseph Ferdinand Cheval that gave me as a trained artist the rationale to include their concepts as manifestations of fine art. At a crucial time in my life it allowed me to begin what could be called a life's work making the city of Philadelphia PA USA into a labyrinthine mosaic museum that incorporates all my varied knowledge and skills." http://www.isaiahzagar.org/about.html

Dana Zed
Dana Zed recieved her MFA from Brown University in Providence RI, studied philosophy at Oxford University in Great Britian, then moved to San Francisco in 1980 and picked up glass. Her completely unique and original style has been collected by the Corning Museum of Glass in NY, The Renwick Museum of The Smithsonain Institute in Washington, DC, The Pilchuck Collection in Washington State,The Oakland Museum, and the San Francisco Pacific Gas and Electric Executive office building among others. Dana Zed has been published frequently in the United States and also in Germany and Japan. She shows throughout the U.S. and is represented in San Francisco by Ruth Braunstein of Braunstein/Quay Gallery. Her work can be seen there or on her website: danazed.com. Zed teaches regularly at Esalen Institute in Big Sur. Esalen has permanently installed three of Dana's sculpture on their grounds. Dana Zed has created architectural glass for August Co. for four homes in the Oakland hills; one of which was published in the magazine “New Beautiful Homes”. Dana has recieved awards from the Gerbode Foundation, The San Francisco Bay Guardian and Pilchuck Glass School.