Galavanting Through Latvia, Lithuania and Poland
July 6, 2026
In spring of 2012, through an effort funded by the Olympia PBIA (Parking & Business Improvement Area,) I began coordinating my very first community mosaic project for the beloved Artesian Well.
First, a drop-off site was established downtown, where locals contributed items for use in the mosaic: tiles, broken dishes, stones (and, honestly, a whole lot of unusable discarded items.) My intern, Lisandro, and I spent weeks sorting, cleaning and chopping usable materials.
I created a selection of fishy drawings to use as templates, and we set out bins of color-sorted, pre-cut tiles at Spring Arts Walk in late April. The response was overwhelming! The City had to bring more tables, chairs and tents, and Lisandro quickly created more templates and a sign-up sheet so that folks could wait for a spot to open up. About 175 fish were made – more than could fit on the structures.
Next, we installed the fish onto the concrete forms, then began to fill in the background. Soon, people from all walks of life were joining us at the well, helping to create the mosaic.
We spent 6 weeks slowly finishing the project. Everyone was welcome to participate, which had its challenges, but it truly brought the community together.
Musicians began showing up with instruments to serenade the art-makers. Local businesses sent food and coffee. Friendships were formed, preconceptions dispelled, and I saw someone rise out of housing insecurity through their involvement in the project.
Over time, and for reasons no one can agree on, the lot where the well is located was closed off and the mosaic art was neglected and abused. One of the structures had been hit by a car. Some pieces had been smashed and chiseled out. Finally, in 2026, a mosaic restoration was undertaken.
Over 4 days, a small crew cleaned the mosaic, chiseled broken areas, re-applied mosaic, and re-grouted. The mosaic has new life and will endure for at least another decade, and many community groups are currently advocating for revitalization of the entire lot.
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