jeudi 8 septembre 2016

The Beauty And History Behind Mosaic Tile

By Debra Murphy


When using different artwork in home decor and landscaping, there are often a number of choices. One of which is that of using Mosaic tile on top of stone walkways or garden stepping stone. In other cases, small tiles made from glass and beads, or glass pieces and beads can be used to decorate plates, pots and serving trays. In all cases, it is important to use an epoxy or glue such as superglue to hold the pieces in place.

Most often, the smaller pieces which are to be laid in a pattern on an object, are quite small. Like with a puzzle, each piece must fit together against one another so as no aspect of the larger piece is showing. In most arts and crafts, these pieces are going to be square, circular, rectangular or octagon in shape. Whereas, there are also floor and garden stones which are large circular or square tiles.

While there are also larger art projects which use mosaics on stone garden tiles and steps, these can be rather daunting. In addition, when creating a piece that will be left outdoor in the elements, it is always good to spray some type of waterproofing on the finished object. Otherwise, the elements such as rain, wind, sleet and snow can have a negative impact on the completed piece.

In either case, mosaics have a long history. Having first been discovered in the third millennium B. C., in Greece, the art and different historic prints have become widespread in more classical times. As early as the 4th century, mosaics began making a way into ceiling and wall mosaics at Christian basilicas.

After a short collapse, the art then resurfaced during the time of the Byzantine Empire, and up until the 15th century. After which, even with the style waning, Raphael and other master artists began incorporating the design into paintings while also experimenting with the media.

Whether found in the windows of buildings, palaces or temples, or on top of floor tiles, mosaics were popular once again. In fact, the style became so popular it was used at the Dome of The Rock In Jerusalem, one of the most Holy of Islam establishments. Then, the popularity waned again up until more recently when it was brought back into style by a number of arts and crafts enthusiasts and street artists.

One of the best and most amazing modern pieces to display this style art can be found in San Francisco, California. For, the 16th Avenue Tile Steps Project is a good example of this newly revived art form. The project, which began in 2003 to place designs on each of the 163 steps at the corner of 16th Avenue and Lenox Drive, has been no small undertaking.

As shown by this recent project, modern artists still work with mosaics on a regular basis. Many mixed-media artists absolutely adore bringing mosaic color and design into play with other forms. Whereas, professional artists, arts and craft enthusiasts, and street artists who design mosaic art to purchase on the spot have all seen somewhat of a renaissance in the 21st century. Although, the current trend is to use glass, bead, shells and other materials not generally found in earlier styles or pieces.




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