Client: Rockville City Hall

Overview

Installation consists of two separate works of art that relate to each other: a 170 square-foot multi-layered mosaic of a spinning nebula and an 8 ft. tall sculpture of a young girl looking to the heavens through an old-fashioned telescope. A National Call for Artists. The commission came about after stakeholder meetings attended by all three “finalists”. It was clear the City wanted a unique installation that saluted their past and looked to the future. Utilizing unique and cutting-edge fabrication and installation methods, both of these artworks are highly durable yet lightweight. The mosaic surface treatments are crafted from glass tiles, hand-cut stained glass, and glass fusions made from recycled materials.

Goals

This artwork was designed as a commemorative piece saluting the 150th Anniversary of Rockville, MD. The RFQ specifically asked for a contemporary design that reflected the town's cutting edge technology sector while giving a salute to its rich history.

Process

Maverick Mosaics team of Bonnie Fitzgerald and Ali Mirsky jointly fabricated the artwork. The original design idea was by Fitzgerald, the Nebula is an image she had created for a NASA executive a few years prior. The nebula design's layered approach was both practical and beautiful. Built on a lightweight substrate, the "layers" cleverly hide the washers and screws holding the largest parts in place. This method gave artists complete control over the mosaic setting, with 90% of the work done indoors, ensuring the adhesives cured properly without weather concerns.

Originally designed in clay by Fitzgerald and brought to life as an 8-foot sculpture with Sherri Warner Hunter's help, the piece involved a unique process. Hunter sculpted polystyrene over a welded armature, treated the surface with AR mesh and concrete slurry, making it "tile ready" for the mosaic.

Additional Information

This is a breathtaking installation to see in person. Photos will never do it justice. It was an awkward space, not a particularly attractive building, and the budget was modest. But I knew the proposal 2 artworks would tell an important story is a fundamentally relatable way. The choice of glass materials brought the surfaces to life in an unexpected and beautiful way. A long overdue dedication, and the contract promised brass marker, was held in 2019.