glass mosaic
objective: students will familiarize themselves with glass cutting tools and techniques, creating a glass mosaic in the theme of peace.
history:
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It is a technique of decorative art or interior decoration. Most mosaics are made of small, flat, roughly square, pieces of stone or glass of different colors, known as tesserae.
Mosaic has a long history, starting in Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC. Pebble mosaics were made in Tiryns in Greece; mosaics with patterns and pictures became widespread in classical times, both in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.
Modern mosaics are made by professional artists, street artists, and as a popular craft. Many materials other than traditional stone and ceramic tesserae may be employed, including shells, glass and beads.
Modern Mosaics
Noted 19th-century mosaics include those by Edward Burne-Jones at St Pauls within the Walls in Rome. Another modern mosaic of note is the world's largest mosaic installation located at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, located in St. Louis, Missouri. A modern example of mosaic is the Museum of Natural History station of the New York City Subway (there are many such works of art scattered throughout the New York City subway system.)
Mosaics as Popular Craft
Mosaics have developed into a popular craft and art, and are not limited to professionals. Today's artisans and crafters work with stone, ceramics, shells, art glass, mirror, beads, and even odd items like doll parts, pearls, or photographs. While ancient mosaics tended to be architectural, modern mosaics are found covering everything from park benches and flowerpots to guitars and bicycles. Items can be as small as an earring or as large as a house.
Mosaic has a long history, starting in Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC. Pebble mosaics were made in Tiryns in Greece; mosaics with patterns and pictures became widespread in classical times, both in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.
Modern mosaics are made by professional artists, street artists, and as a popular craft. Many materials other than traditional stone and ceramic tesserae may be employed, including shells, glass and beads.
Modern Mosaics
Noted 19th-century mosaics include those by Edward Burne-Jones at St Pauls within the Walls in Rome. Another modern mosaic of note is the world's largest mosaic installation located at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, located in St. Louis, Missouri. A modern example of mosaic is the Museum of Natural History station of the New York City Subway (there are many such works of art scattered throughout the New York City subway system.)
Mosaics as Popular Craft
Mosaics have developed into a popular craft and art, and are not limited to professionals. Today's artisans and crafters work with stone, ceramics, shells, art glass, mirror, beads, and even odd items like doll parts, pearls, or photographs. While ancient mosaics tended to be architectural, modern mosaics are found covering everything from park benches and flowerpots to guitars and bicycles. Items can be as small as an earring or as large as a house.
steps:
First, sketch out your design onto a sheet of paper. It'd be wise to make your paper the same size as the board or material you will be creating your mosaic on. This can be a premade geometric shape or it can be a free-form shape.
Glass Cutting Rules:
Always wear gloves and safety goggles.
Never break glass without using newspaper or some form of tray so glass does not get into the work-space of others.
Should you get pricked with a piece of glass, be sure to tell someone right away and clean and bandage the wound.
If you cannot follow the rules for glass cutting, you will be given the same assignment with another material, for example a mosaic made out of plastic bottle tops.
The video below is an excellent resource which shows you and describes the proper ways to cut and handle glass.
Always wear gloves and safety goggles.
Never break glass without using newspaper or some form of tray so glass does not get into the work-space of others.
Should you get pricked with a piece of glass, be sure to tell someone right away and clean and bandage the wound.
If you cannot follow the rules for glass cutting, you will be given the same assignment with another material, for example a mosaic made out of plastic bottle tops.
The video below is an excellent resource which shows you and describes the proper ways to cut and handle glass.
Once all your pieces are secure you are ready to use the grout to seal your glass down. The fun part about grout is that you can stain it a color instead of keeping it white. See me in class for explanation!
You will end up wiping grout over the entire piece and letting it dry that way for 1 day. The next day, you are permitted to begin washing the grout off. The areas resting on top of the glass will disintegrate while the other areas will hold the in-between pieces of your glass together!
You will end up wiping grout over the entire piece and letting it dry that way for 1 day. The next day, you are permitted to begin washing the grout off. The areas resting on top of the glass will disintegrate while the other areas will hold the in-between pieces of your glass together!
When finished, dry off and fix any parts that are not perfect. You may need to scrap excess grout off or re-glue a piece of glass. Finally, follow directions for handing in your assignment and rubric.