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“PLAY
ME I’M YOURS” IS AN INTERNATIONAL INTERACTIVE PUBLIC ARTS PROJECT INITIATED BY BRITISH ARTIST LUKE JERRAM IN 2008.
PIANOS EMBELLISHED BY ARTISTS ARE PLACED IN PUBLIC GATHERING SPACES ALL OVER THE WORLD AND ALL ARE INVITED TO PAUSE,
PLAY, AND ENJOY. FROM AUGUST 23RD TO SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2013 THE OMAHA CREATIVE INSTITUTE
BROUGHT THIS PROJECT TO THE OMAHA METRO AREA. PARTNERING WITH THE COUNCIL BLUFFS PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION,
OCI PLACED ONE OF THE PIANOS IN BAYLISS PARK, COUNCIL BLUFFS, AND I WAS INVITED TO DECORATE THIS PIANO. MINDFUL
OF THE LOCATION, I ADDED DETAILS PERTINENT TO THE SITE: A SCENE FROM BAYLISS PARK PAINTED ON THE LOWER PANEL, AS WELL
AS SCULPTED TREE TRUNKS, BRANCHES, LEAVES, NEST AND EVEN A BLACK SQUIRREL. THE PIANO ALSO INCLUDES ACTIVITIES FOR THOSE
WHO ARE NOT MUSICALLY INCLINED. ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PIANO IS A PANEL WHICH OPENS TO PROVIDE AN INTERIOR SPACE FOR WATERCOLOR,
AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PIANO IS A SPACE FOR DRAWING WITH CHALK.
CLICK TO SEE MORE PIANO PHOTOS
CLICK TO GO TO STREET PIANOS WEBSITE, BAYLISS PARK LOCATION
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THIS COMMEMORATIVE
DRAWING WAS COMMISSIONED IN MAY 2012 FOR THE HEALING GARDEN DEDICATION AND THE KICK-OFF OF COUNCIL BLUFFS ALEGENT MERCY
HOSPITAL'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. IMAGERY INCLUDES THE MERCY CROSS, HOSPITAL FACADE, STATUE OF MARY AND
FOUNTAIN FROM THE GARDEN, AND THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES FROM THE DEDICATION BUTTERFLY RELEASE.
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| watercolor, graphite, colored pencil, ink, collage |
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EIGHTH, SEVENTH, AND SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS IN OGALLALA MIDDLE SCHOOL (OGALLALA,
NEBRASKA) WORKED WITH ME FOR A WEEK IN APRIL 2012 TO CONSTRUCT A COLLABORATIVE MOSAIC FOR PERMANENT DISPLAY
IN THEIR SCHOOL. THEIR DESIGN REFERENCES THEIR SCHOOL, THE PLATTE RIVER, AND THE NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY IMPORTANT TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR COMMUNITY. STUDENTS LEARNED TO CUT GLASS, SHAPE AND ADHERE TILES, AND GROUT THE FINISHED MOSAIC.
BACKGROUND MATERIALS WERE FOUND PORCELAIN AND CERAMIC TILES, ROCKS AND GLASS NUGGETS; MIRRORED GLASS FOR ARROWS AND FEATHERS,
AND STAINED GLASS AND GLASS NUGGETS IN CENTRAL IMAGE AND LETTERS.
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| glass, ceramic, porcelain, rock, 2012 |
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DEMONSTRATING GLASS CUTTING
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IN APRIL 2012,
I CONDUCTED A THREE-HOUR MOSAIC WORKSHOP AS PART OF THE "WINGS" PROGRAM (Weekend Institute for
Gifted Students, a partnership with University of Iowa's Belin-Blank Honors Center). DURING THE WORKSHOP STUDENTS WERE
INTRODUCED MOSAIC HISTORY , DESIGN, TILE PLACEMENT, CHARACTERISTICS OF GLASS, AS WELL AS LEARNING HOW TO CUT
GLASS, SHAPE TESSERAE, AND ADHERE AND GROUT TILES. EACH STUDENT CREATED AN INDIVIDUAL 4" X 6" GLASS MOSAIC
IN THE CLASS.
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DURING A MARCH 2012 SCULPTURE RESIDENCY AT ST. BONAVENTURE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL IN COLUMBUS, NE, STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADES CREATED PAPER RELIEF SCULPTURES--EACH
GRADE LEVEL EXPLORING A DIFFERENT COLOR SCHEME AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE. THE FOURTH GRADE CORE GROUP FOCUSED ON SCULPTURE-IN-THE-ROUND.
AFTER VIEWING AND DISCUSSING MANY EXAMPLES INCLUDING LOCAL PUBLIC SCULPTURE, STUDENTS CONSTRUCTED SCULPTURES FROM RECYCLED
CORRUGATED CARDBOARD.
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IN FEBRUARY 2012, KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS AT STOWE
ELEMENTARTY SCHOOL IN DES MOINES WORKED WITH ME IN A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP TO CREATE INDIVIDUALGLASS TILE MOSAIC PANELS WHICH
WERE COMBINED TO CREATE A COLLABORATIVE MOSAIC ILLUSTRATING WARM AND COOL COLORS.
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WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE NEBRASKA ARTS COUNCIL AND GIRLS, INC. (Omaha), I WORKED
WITH SEVERAL GIRLS TO CREATE THE MOSAIC ORNAMENTS WHICH WERE DISPLAYED ON THE NEBRASKA STATE TREE FOR THE
NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, DECEMBER 2010
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SOME OF THE
ORNAMENTS
(front and back) 
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"TARA HEIGHTS IS GOLDEN" IS A SCULPTURE MARKING THE 50th ANNIVERSARY
OF TARA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PAPILLION, NEBRASKA. IT IS A CONCRETE SCULPTURE CONSISTING OF THREE COLUMNS WHICH INCLUDE
5 MOSAIC SEGMENTS REPRESENTING EACH DECADE OF THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY. 5TH GRADE STUDENTS RESEARCHED AND CREATED INDIVIDUAL
GLASS MOSAIC PANELS REFLECTING SCHOOL, LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL HISTORY AND EVENTS. ADDITIONALLY,
THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY AND STAFF CREATED INDIVIDUAL DRAWINGS ON GLASS TILES. ALL OF THESE WERE COMBINED
AND ORGANIZED INTO EACH DECADE'S MOSAIC SEGMENT.
THIS YEAR-LONG PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY
THE NEBRASKA ARTS COUNCIL. THE SCULPTURE WAS INSTALLED IN JULY AND DEDICATED ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2010.
(THIS PROJECT AND THE ACCOMPANYING RESIDENCY BUILT UPON A PRECEDING PROJECT AND RESIDENCY WHICH RESULTED
IN A GLASS RELIEF MOSAIC FOR THE SCHOOL'S BUTTERFLY GARDEN.)
TO SEE PROCESS PHOTOS CLICK HERE.
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| mosaic--1960 decade |
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| the artist--during installation |
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COMMISSION:
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| acrylic on canvas, 12" x 9", 2010 |
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COMMISSION:
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| copper and glass, 37" 34.5" x 4.25", 2010 |
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THE ARTWORK BELOW, TITLED "ARTSPACE ICON: RECLAIM, REPURPOSE,
REINVIGORATE" WAS CREATED ON REQUEST FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE HARVESTER ARTSPACE LOFTS,
AN INNOVATIVE ARTISTS' LIVE/WORKSPACE BUILDING CURRENTLY BEING CONSTRUCTED IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA. ARTSPACE PROVIDED
THE 18" X 18" STEEL PLATE. THE ARTIST ADDED GLASS, BARBED WIRE, ALUMINUM, MASONITE, MDF, SILVERLEAF AND ACRYLIC
PAINT. TEXT INCLUDES STAMPED WORDS ATTACHED TO THE NEST AREA, AND PAINTED QUOTES FROM ARTISTS/WRITERS/PHILOSOPHERS
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF ART AND CREATIVITY.
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I WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN "THE LANDFILL ART PROJECT" -- A GLOBAL ARTIST RECLAMATION INITIATIVE.
THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE 1,041 ARTISTS WORLD-WIDE AND HAVE A TARGET COMPLETION DATE OF 2012. EACH ARTIST RECEIVES AN
OLD METAL HUBCAP (FROM THE 1930'S THROUGH THE 1970'S) AND TRANSFORMS IT INTO ART, THUS KEEPING IT OUT OF THE
LANDFILL. SINCE I OFTEN WORK WITH FOUND OBJECTS AND DISCARDED MATERIAL, I WAS IMMEDIATELY INTRIGUED. THE PIECE
I DID (BELOW) CONTINUES RECENT EXPLORATIONS WITH NEST - EGG - FEATHER IMAGERY. THE TITLE REFERS TO THE CYCLE OF LIFE
AS WELL AS THE IMPETUS FOR THIS PROJECT.
(The text painted in the center of the hubcap is from "Spring" from
WALDEN by Henry David Thoreau.)
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| Mixed media, 25.5" x 21" x 5", 2009 |
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CLICK TO GO TO "LANDFILL ARTS PROJECT".
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THE MOSAIC BELOW WAS INSTALLED AND DEDICATED
ON APRIL 23rd, 2009, AT TARA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PAPILLION, NE, TO HONOR ANN DANNER, THE OUTDOOR EDUCATION TEACHER.
IT HANGS ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING ABOVE THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN WHICH SHE INITIATED. IN A RESIDENCY FUNDED
BY THE NEBRASKA ARTS COUNCIL, THE ARTIST WORKED WITH KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS AND STAFF TO CREATE INDIVIDUAL
CERAMIC FACE TILES WHICH COMPRISE THE WINGS AND BODY OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY. THE SIXTH
GRADE STUDENTS DID RESEARCH, PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS, AND DETERMINED THE THEME. THEY ALSO ARRANGED AND ADHERED THE CLAY
TILES AND GLASS NUGGETS IN THE MONARCH WINGS AND BORDER DESIGN.
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TARA HEIGHTS MOSAIC
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| glass, stoneware ceramic, copper wire, 43.75 x 61" x 2.5", 2009 |
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MOSAIC DETAILS:
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THREE CULTIGEN SCULPTURES
WERE INCLUDED IN "GROUNDS FOR ART" PUBLIC SCULPTURE PROJECT IN CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA. THEY WERE ON DISPLAY
2008 THORUGH 2009, WITH A BRIEF HIATUS DURING THE CEDAR RAPIDS FLOOD.
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| cement, glass, 2007 |
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THE SCULPTURES ARE SITED IN GREENE SQUARE PARK, CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.
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IN 2008 OMAHA WAS THE SITE OF THE OLYMPIC SWIM TRIALS. MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE
COMPANY INITIATED AND FUNDED THE "REACH FOR YOUR DREAMS" PROJECT WHICH PAIRED THREE DIFFERENT ARTISTS WITH
THREE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS IN OMAHA TO CREATE COLLABORATIVE ARTWORK BASED ON THIS THEME. I WAS SELECTED TO WORK WITH
THE YOUTH AT GIRLS, INC. TO CREATE TWO 72" X 72" MIXED MEDIA CANVAS PANELS.
I MET WITH SIX DIFFERENT
AGE GROUPS, AGES 5 THROUGH 18, TO CREATE INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF "MY DREAM" IN A VARIETY OF MEDIA AND TECHNIQUES.
THEN A CORE GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BRAINSTORMED A DESIGN, PAINTED THE BACKGROUND, COLLAGED THE
INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS TOGETHER AND ADDED PATTERN, ORGINAL POETRY, AND TEXT. THESE PANELS WERE ON DISPLAY DURING
THE SWIM TRIALS AT THE QUEST CENTER AND WERE LATER INSTALLED AT GIRLS, INC.
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| mixed media, 72" x 72" (each panel), 2008 |
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| mixed media, 72" x 72", 2008 |
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| mixed media, 72" x 72", 2008 |
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AQUAZONE AT THE
QUEST CENTER |
MUTUAL OF OMAHA BOOTH
AT THE SWIM TRIALS
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WORKING ON THE PANELS
AT GIRLS,
INC. |
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THE FOLLOWING DIPTYCH WAS CREATED FOR THE OMAHA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WHILE THE ARTIST
WAS IN RESIDENCE. VISITORS AND STAFF CREATED THE FACE TILES AS WELL AS ADDING SIGNATURES ON THE BACKGROUND
SPACES.
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GILL IN GOLD: OCM ICON (DIPTYCH)
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| glass, brass, sculpey,acrylic, permanent marker, gold leaf, 24" x 16" (each panel, unframed), 2007 |
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| Gill in Gold: OCM Icon -- Detail 1 |
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| Gill in Gold: OCM Icon -- Detail 2 |
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| Gill in Gold: OCM Icon -- Detail 3 |
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| cement, cast & fused glass, & glass mosaic, 11' x 4' x 3', 2004 |
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"MISSOURI
RIVER TRANSIT" IS PART OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK ICON INTERPRETIVE SCULPTURE PROJECT. IT DEPICTS THE VESSELS
USED ON THE JOURNEY AND THE PAST AND PRESENT RIVER CHANNEL. IT IS LOCATED AT DODGE RIVERSIDE GOLF CLUB IN COUNCIL
BLUFFS.
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| cast & fused glass & glass mosaic, 23.5" x 56.5", 2004 |
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SENTINELS
(LAURITZEN GARDENS)
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| Sentinels at Lauritzen Gardens |
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"SENTINELS" ARE A SERIES OF 13 CEMENT AND GLASS MOSAIC SCULPTURES RANGING IN
SIZE FROM 77" X 12" DIAMETER TO 14" X 7.5" DIAMETER. 9 WERE EXHIBITED AT "ELEMENTS: AN ENVIRONMENTAL ART EXHIBIT" AT FONTINELLE
FOREST NATURE CENTER (Omaha, NE), 2003, AND 3 WERE EXHIBITED AT "ART IN BLOOM", LAURITZEN GARDENS (Omaha, NE) 2003.
SENTINELS
(FONTINELLE FOREST)
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| Elements Art Exhibit, Fontinelle Forest, Omaha, NE |
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| winterstone, cement, glass mosaic, 70.5" x 24" diameter, 2002 |
"DILUVIAN" WAS
EXHIBITED IN "ELEMENTS: AN ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS EXHIBIT" AT FONTENELLE
FOREST, (OMAHA, NE)
IN 2002.
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PHOENIX HOUSE COMMISSION--RELIEF
SCULPTURE ON DISPLAY IN THE LOBBY OF PHOENIX HOUSE WOMEN'S SHELTER, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA
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| mixed media, 81.5" x 48" x 7.5" |
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| mixed media, 74" x 30" x 30" |
"EMERGING"-- PART OF OMAHA'S J. DOE PUBLIC ART PROJECT.
SPONSORED BY AND EXHIBITED IN FRONT OF THE INDIAN OVEN RESTAURANT IN THE OLD MARKET. MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER, 2001.
NOW ON DISPLAY IN THE ART CENTER, IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
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| on site in front of the Indian oven in Omaha's Old Market |
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"The Garden Series: Peripatetic
Suite" is a series of drawings begun prior to my daughter's trip to England and France in 1998 which coincided
with a sculpture residency I had scheduled in Harrison County, Iowa. Intially we joked about the symmetry of our
experiences--she would be in Paris when I was in Pisgah, she'd be in London when I was in Little Sioux....
From those musings came the notion of creating small original works of art that would be left behind in atypical places to
be discovered by unsuspecting passers by--more or less a reverse souvenir. My daughter would visit new locales and leave
behind a memento, while I would be doing the same thing in all the sites of my residency. What resulted was a series
of 47 images, with 2 or 3 unique drawings of each image. All are 2" x 2", done in watercolor, colored
pencil and graphite, encased in acetate with an explanatory label on the reverse. I have kept one of each image as documentation
and the rest have been distributed. Over 50 original drawings have been left in cafes, post offices, churches, museums,
castles, airports, telephone booths, train stations, parks, hotels, etc. I am intrigued by the idea of people finding
a gift of original artwork, and the unexpectedness and directness of their encounter with art. (Though my contact
information was on the reverse, I have only had a response from two people in the states who found the
artworks.)
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All represented artworks and all images on this site are protected by law.
No image displayed on this site can be used, duplicated, or copied without written consent from the artist. ©MARCIA JOFFE-BOUSKA, 2009 |
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