Concord's Mosaic 250 Project Reaches First Milestone

On June 6, when Concord 250 kicked off the year-long celebration of Concord’s 250th anniversary with a “Dancin’ in the Streets” party, Mosaic 250 made its debut. Less than two months later and after eight days of events, the first of four mosaic panels is finally complete.

During the three beautiful days of Concord’s 40th Annual Market Days, community members finished the first panel and some were even able to assist with grouting the artwork (the finalization process to fill in the spaces between the mosaic tiles).

The first panel features symbolic NH imagery including the famous Concord Coach, a white-tailed deer and a white birch tree. The artist, Lizz Van Saun of Kast Hill Studio, uses recycled glass tiles for the mosaics and will often incorporate unique pieces such as a real mirror for the Concord Coach’s mirror and real stones along the road. The road that the Concord Coach is riding on is made from vitreous tiles, imported from Italy.

Mosaic 250 is a community art project, presented by Lincoln Financial, JFogg Social Inspirations and Kast Hill Studio. Over the course of community events that take place here in Concord, NH, community members are invited to participate in the creation of four mosaic panels that will be presented to the City as a gift for its 250th anniversary in the summer of 2015. All four panels include imagery that is symbolic to Concord and New Hampshire such as a Concord Coach, the Capitol Dome, an Abenaki Indian, a Karner Blue Butterfly and other NH wildlife.

The mosaics will be installed publicly in downtown Concord for all residents and visitors to enjoy. Mosaic 250 is a truly community owned work of art that will live on in the Concord community for many years. The location of the final installation is still to be determined but organizers are working with downtown building owners to select the ideal location.

An additional benefit to this community art project is exposing people to art. With mosaic art, you don’t have to be an artist to participate. Many people - children and adults alike - have discovered the enjoyment of mosaic for the first time. One community member said “This is my first experience with art, ever, and I’m 60 years old!” Another participant claimed “This is like therapy; I could stay here all day.”

Mosaic 250 will be at the following community events and community members are invited and encouraged to participate.

Concord Arts Market, Saturday, August 2, 9am-12pm* Bicentennial Square

Concord Arts Market, Saturday, August 16, 9am-12pm*

Porkfest, Sunday, August 17, 12-2pm* Merrill Park

Concord Arts Market, Saturday, September 6, 9am-12pm*

Concord Multicultural Festival, Saturday, September 13, 1-6pm* State House Lawn

*Times that Mosaic 250 will be available at events. See event websites for actual event times

For more information about the project, please contact Jessica Fogg at 603.568.5740 or Jessica@jfoggsocialinspirations.com. Like Mosaic 250 on Facebook to follow the progress: facebook.com/mosaic250. To donate to the project (supporting artist and event fees), go to gofundme.com/baabag

About the artist

Lizz Van Saun, BA Visual Arts, member of SAMA (Society of American Mosaic Artists), NH Arts Learning Network, NH Art Educators Association, Mosaics New England, Contemporary Mosaic Art, NH Made, Women’s Caucus for Art NH, Instructor at Vermont Carving Studio and Sculpture Center. Lizz has facilitated community mosaic projects throughout New England and been an Artist in Residence in schools working with grades K through 12 since 2009. For her own work, her favorite style of mosaic making is called “pique assiette,” which translated means “thief of plates.” She uses recycled materials in the form of broken china, mirror pieces and found objects. When working on Community Mosaic projects, she uses recycled stained glass pieces. Lizz has been known to include visual puns, related images and the creative use of three dimensional objects within the mosaics, producing interesting effects or functional elements.

Lizz is passionate about sharing her art form with other people, teaching and building community. “The act of taking something that is broken and using it to create something whole and meaningful is for me, a symbol of healing, connection and making community. Everyone adds their pieces and has an important contribution to make. Everyone counts and feels included. When I facilitate a community mosaic project I feel I’ve accomplished something positive and hope it has a lasting positive impact on not only everyone who worked on the mosaic, but also on anyone who sees it.”

Submitted by Jessica Fogg.