On February 25, I headed to Auburn, WA to lead a mosaic project with kids in the after school program at the Parks and Rec Department. What a great program! Every day from 2-6pm, local kids gather at the Teen Center to hang out. There is a big screen tv with movies playing and couches in a “living room” area, tables with board games and cards, and a craft room where the community has access to vinyl and laser cutters, computers, and a kiln. People can receive training to use this equipment, and awesome examples of the things they make are all over the center.
But on the 25th, with help from mosaic artist Christina Loro-Hunter (who drove 2.5 miles to volunteer!) the craft room was laid out with three different templates under clear contact paper, which the kids slowly filled in with colorful glass tiles from Maryland Mosaics. All of the mosaic designs were completed by 5:00 and I loaded them into my car, ready for the next step: putting them into a mold, one-by-one, and pouring concrete. When the concrete sets up, I flip it over and the design is permanently embedded in the surface. I’m also pouring legs for the benches, and I’ll deliver the three completed benches back to the City for installation.
The kids did a great job, and I have the second mold poured already, though I had to order a new mold for the 6 legs, and it will take longer to pour those.
We were all very pleased with the process, and the kids who helped were excited to know that they were contributing to public art for Auburn.
Christina, my intrepid assistant. 
