jiskander : journal - feed http://www.jiskander.com/journal/ montereau chapel mosaic http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2011/10/28/montereau-chapel-mosaic montereau chapel mosaic. montereau is an upscale retirement community here in tulsa, ok, currently in phase II of its development. part of phase II is the addition of a chapel, which will include an 8' x 7.5' mosaic with a cross.

this project, currently in progress, is moving along nicely. i have finished the cross and gold circle, and will begin work on the arch. below, you can see the preliminary design, and 2 images of the the cross and gold circle. the 2nd image shows the textured surface of the cross.


]]> Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:30:00 -0500 oaipp | neo a&m college installed! http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2011/10/28/oaipp-neo-a-m-college-installed northeastern oklahoma agricultural and mechanical college, which was managed by oklahoma art in public places, was installed on time with absolutely no complications. although a bit of an ordeal, considering the height at which the 100 lb. panels were to be installed, everything went according to plan.

below, the first 2 images are of daytime; the next 2 images are of dreamtime; the last image is me with Dr. Jeff Hale, the president of the college.

]]> Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:14:46 -0500 sold! night life http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2011/04/18/sold-night-life i'm really happy that this piece, night life, has sold!

bye bye, night life...]]> Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:34:23 -0500 mai 2011 - sold! impromptu in blue http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2011/04/18/mai-2011-sold-impromptu-in-blue the 2011 american mosaic summit, also known as the society of american mosaic artists (sama) conference, was in austin, tx this year. i was thrilled to have my piece, impromptu in blue accepted for the mosaic arts internattional 2011, the international juried mosaic art exhibition held in conjunction with the annual conference. and i was even more thrilled that this mosaic sold on opening night.

bye bye, impromptu in blue]]> Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:25:39 -0500 progress on oaipp project http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2011/04/08/progress-on-oaipp-project about 3 weeks ago, i reached the halfway point on this project when i completed the 2nd panel of the first diptych. now, the 3rd and 4th panels are well underway. the veins/branches and red sun have been installed, the green element, which is primarily on the bottom panel but extends into the blue element on the top panel, is also complete. as well, the green element sections for the bottom panel have been installed and edged with chipped porcelain.

today, i start mosaicking the blue element of the top panel. i am hoping to finish the blue in 2-3 weeks, or before i leave for europe on may 6. hopefully, when i return from europe, i will have only the backgrounds to complete. with an august 15 installation estimate, i will have about 6 weeks for those backgrounds.

as for the europe trip, i will be attending italian language school in sorrento for 2 weeks, then traveling to udine for a month of mosaic school with maestro menossi, and finishing up my travel with about 10 days in serbia visiting my mosaic friend, andjelka. whew! a big trip!

you can see more photos and details on this project by visiting my oaipp project portfolio.]]> Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:23:31 -0500 oaipp project http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2011/02/05/oaipp-project oklahoma art in public places (oaipp) project for northeastern oklahoma a & m college (neo). the project is very big... 58 sq. ft. of mosaic art to fill 2 spaces above a double-sided fireplace in the newly renovated student union.

i started work around mid-late november and as of today, i am about 2 weeks away from the halfway point. you can find out more about the project and follow my progress in oaipp project in my portfolios.

and here is the link: oaipp project]]> Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:55:16 -0600 MENOSSI: i mosaici is published! http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2010/09/13/menossi-i-mosaici-is-published
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 13, 2010
Contact: Jacqueline Iskander Mosaics, Publisher
Phone: (918) 704.0205 (CST)
E-Mail: mosaics@jiskander.com
Website: www.jiskander.com


Giulio Menossi’s book, MENOSSI: i mosaici, is published!

Udine, Italy. . . . Giulio Menossi and Jacqueline Iskander Mosaics are very pleased to announce the publication of MENOSSI: i mosaici, which commemorates Maestro Giulio Menossi's artistic evolution and career of over 35 years.

More than 60 mosaics representing the depth and breadth of the artist's expertise are presented. Maestro Menossi has chosen 34 original feature works to chronicle his artistic evolution from 1974 through 2009. Interspersed amongst the art works are the musings and reflections of the artist, in his own words. An anthological section exhibits an additional 24 original and commissioned works. 

Included are written contributions from Udinese author Paolo Maurensig, critic and gallery owner Sergio Colussa, and former étoile of the Teatro alla Scala, Elisabetta Armiato. 

80 pages. In Italian with complete English translation, and available in two hardcover formats.

What are people saying?

“Giulio Menossi, a master mosaicist of Udine, Italy, creates poetic magic to stir the soul, and deeply, with both his art and his words. This lovely eighty page retrospective is a celebration of both... With a heart-thumping array of exquisite photographs, this book is sure to satisfy visually, and the fulsome detail shots provide enough eye candy to quench the most gluttonous sweet tooth.” - Pamela Goode, artist and gallery owner

“The value of this type of book is that you can see a complete body of work by the artist and follow the development of his or her work over time. It gives you a unique insight... Seeing [Menossi’s dynamic mosaics] in one place has helped me to understand what Menossi is trying to communicate, and I must admit that he has changed the way I look at the natural world – a testament to the power of great art.” - Bill Buckingham, artist, supplier, and publisher

Please visit www.menossi.tumblr.com for book previews, reviews, and purchasing information.]]> Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:18:16 -0500 giulio menossi's new book - menossi: i mosaici http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2010/04/15/giulio-menossi-s-new-book-menossi-i-mosa

I am very pleased to announce the upcoming publication of Maestro Giulio Menossi’s book, “Menossi: I mosaici,” which will commemorate his 35 years as a professional mosaicist. The book will present a total of 58 works through more than 80 images. Maestro Menossi has chosen 34 works from the years of 1973 - 2009 to chronicle his development as a mosaicist and artist. 24 other works will be presented, in smaller format, which represent the depth and breadth of his expertise in a variety of original and commissioned works over the course of his career. Through the pages of this book, Maestro Menossi will share his thoughts and reflections, as recorded in his hand-written notes of the last 35 years, on his life and work as a mosaicist. In Italian with English translation, “Menossi: I mosaici,” is scheduled to be available in October, 2010, which will mark his 35th anniversary as a professional mosaicist. (Publisher, Jacqueline Iskander Mosaics)

]]> Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:45:28 -0500 My Visit to Udine for the first course of Mosaico - Scuola Menossi http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2010/02/08/my-visit-to-udine-for-the-first-course-o may i share with you my experience in Giulio Menossi's 2009 workshop? what can i say? you simply must meet this sweet, gentle man and experience him for yourself! his skill and talent are awe-inspiring... but his warmth and humility will make you feel like he is someone you have known for some time.

"it is my job" he says in response to all the oohs and ahhs he receives. for 35+ years, giulio menossi has worked in solitude, on commissions and, when there was time, on his own original creations. he has worked away day after day, heeding the advice of his maestro, to at least cut one tessera each day. he is a mosaicist. and he is a master mosaicist.

i'll stop now, because i really could go on and on and on and... well, you get the picture. if you want to find out more about my experience in giulio menossi's 2009 workshop, let me share with you My Visit to Udine for the first course of Mosaico - Scuola Menossi!.]]> Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:17:12 -0600 Portraiture in the Venetian Double-Indirect Method http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2010/02/08/portraiture-in-the-venetian-double-indir

would you like to know a little more about maestro giulio menossi's venetian double-indirect method? while the experience of working directly under the attentive eye of this wonderful teacher cannot be adequately expressed in a few pages and photographs, perhaps you can find out more about this process.

maestro menossi was very excited for me to record and photograph the completion of one of his portraits in the double-indirect method and the installation of that portrait. it is a testament to his very generous nature that he desires to share his knowledge and expertise with the mosaic community, in the hope of passing on his own learning, passion, and dedication to the art of mosaic as he understands it and as he has served it for more than 35 years.

so, for a very informative and fascinating look at maestro menossi's portraiture work and its installation, check out my article, The Venetian Double Indirect Method in Action, featuring the Installation of Maestro Giulio Menossi's Portraiture. ]]> Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:29:21 -0600 a little news... http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2009/10/06/a-little-news mosaico - scuola menossi. i consider myself fortunate to know both giulio and pam, and to be involved in the fledgling school. i created a logo for the school website, and also a logo for some print materials. then, i got to create the print materials... a tri-fold brochure and a postcard. recently, i put together a one-page web flyer.

i enjoy this kind of creativity... laying out, organizing, etc.... faster than mosaic art, that's for sure... so instant gratification i suppose.

just explaining where some of my time and energy has been going... when it isn't going to family or italian. i am also working on a very exciting project with maestro menossi, but i won't say what it is yet. it is in its very earliest stages, and i won't have anything to announce about it until sometime next year.

this is all very exciting stuff, and i feel like it is worth doing... over my own personal mosaic work... for now. i still have a little time for mosaic work, but it is not the priority that is has been, and that i know it will be again... next year. its interesting.... although i have made the decision and commitment to ease off of my mosaic work, and though i feel that this is the right decision for me at this time, i do still miss my work... i miss building and handling and planning and the whole process.

i wonder why it has to be so complicated sometimes... to be a human being... or maybe just to be me. i want to do so much... and sometimes i want to be doing the very thing that i am not doing... but i also want to keep doing what i am doing... and MORE! ugh...

that's it for now... back to my italian... ]]> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:17:07 -0500 i'm back... at least today! http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2009/10/06/i-m-back-at-least-today
in may, i went to cap cod to take lynn moor's smalti intensive course. it was a great time and i really enjoyed the course. i would love to get up that way again. from cape cod i went to italy. after a few days in venice, i went to udine to participate in the very first course of the mosaico - scuola menossi. the course was portraiture in the venetian double indirect method. this was a fantastic time and the course was great... only one week. now the school is offering two two-week courses next may/june, and i may be taking one, or both.

i have recently completed the portrait that i started in the course. it was a good challenge but i am happy that i have finished it. it is titled jesus of udine.

yes, it has taken a long time... but that is because i have not been doing much mosaic work, and won't be doing much at least through the end of the year i have made it my primary project to learn italian, and that is what i have been doing for several hours a day, 5 days a week, and a little time on the weekends. my goal is to be conversational by the time i return to italy next spring.

so much going on... in addition to the italian. my youngest started college this fall. he is going to university here in town, majoring in music composition. this is a major transition for him, going from home-schooling to college.. and he has definitely been having his ups and downs... and me right along with him. additionally, a family member's health has not been good, and that has been something to deal with as well.

and then... there is all the crazy rain that we have been having... very unusual for us... and i am getting tired of the gloomies day after day.

okay.... enough of complaining! my next mosaic project will be to finish a leaf that i started in lynn moor's workshop. i am not yet motivated to work on it, but hopefully i will get i gear this week. i am missing my mosaic work, but still determined to learn italian... so for now i will stick with my plan. ]]> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:47:12 -0500 New online gallery http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2009/03/01/new-online-gallery my friend, pam givens, has been working hard and fast to create her new online gallery, contemporary mosaic art. it is now officially open! the gallery features artworks from 10 international artists working in a variety of styles and materials. i am very honored to be exhibiting some of my decorative pieces in this gallery.

check out the gallery and take a listen to some of the artists speaking about their work, and visit the blog and leave a comment. ... contemporary mosaic art.

]]> Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:52:10 -0600 What I Create http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2009/01/29/what-i-create my portfolio is now up-to-date as of 2008, and i have been working on a couple of print options. one of them is blurb.com, and the other one will be available on my website very soon. here is the blurb badge with a link to the portfolio.

Portfolio 2008
By Jacqueline Iskander
]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:13:13 -0600 mele kalikimaka http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/12/29/mele-kalikimaka aloha... from maui!

we just arrived on maui yesterday after a week on hawaii. we are staying in a condo here in kihei, a beach town down (south) on the coast from ka'anapali and lahaina. this is our first time here at the kihei surfside which is right next door to where we usually stay. we love this area and think that keawakapu beach is the best one that we have visited on maui.

just relaxing today... doing a bit of laundry this morning and enjoying the great view from our lanai. later we will venture out for beach walking and some pics. lunch in the condo today... then... who knows? nice to have nothing to do.

i am uploading my pics pretty regularly, so if you want to see what i am seeing, check out my flickr pics.

that's all for now... aloha!





]]> Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:58:34 -0600 what's up... http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/11/30/what-s-up well... it has been quite some time since i last posted, hasn't it? the last few months have been very busy!

in october, i attended sophie drouin's and bill buckingham's listen to the stones: abstract stone mosaic workshop in chicago. my friend ruth and i flew in a few days early and had a great time hanging out and exploring chicago. the workshop was very good, although i found myself struggling and blocked... for various reasons... but still, a wonderful trip.

in november, i went to vienna, virginia... which is right outside of d.c..... for a portraiture workshop at maverick mosaics, taught by shug jones. this was a 5 day workshop... very, very challenging. shug is a great teacher and a lot of fun too, and bonnie fitzgerald's studio is wonderfully equipped and pleasant. but i found myself very challenged on several levels... despite this i feel like i learned a great deal. so far, this is the best workshop that i have ever taken. i have a lot of work to do still on my portrait, so i can't post it yet.

i submitted 3 entries for the MAI 2009 exhibition, and am very pleased that my 3-panel piece, pulse, was accepted. i also submitted a couple of entries for the sum of all parts 2 exhibition in dallas... and my newest piece, we, was accepted.

i am almost finished with my monthly series, rhythms... just one more month... december. i will be starting on that this week. it will be nice to get that entire series finished... i am happy that i had the discipline to finish it.

ruth and i are busy planning a trip to italy for next spring. we are lining up a couple of mosaic courses... including ravenna... and allowing for a few extra days for just hanging out and sight-seeing. 3 weeks in all....

and... christmas and new year's in hawaii this year. my son and i are looking forward to photographically exploring some new areas of hawaii and maui... the pics should be great.

]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:44:27 -0600 fall harbinger http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/09/18/fall-harbinger i have been watching this little leaf on the red maple in front of our house. "what's the hurry?"... i ask?


]]> Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:32:28 -0500 contemporary mosaic art exhibition at ciel gallery http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/09/05/contemporary-mosaic-art-exhibition-at-ci ciel, pam goode's new gallery and studio, issued a call to artists for their first juried exhibition, contemporary mosaic art. you can preview the winning mosaics and all the accepted works here.

i am very pleased to have had two of my pieces accepted: old testament and pulse.

the opening of the exhibit is friday, september 5. the exhibit runs through september 26.

]]> Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:12:44 -0500 new mosaic book by brit hammer-dijks http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/09/05/new-mosaic-book-by-brit-hammer-dijks brit hammer-dijks' new book, mosaic: finding your own voice is now available at the blurb bookstore, where you can preview the first 15 pages. i am very honored to have some of my work presented in this new book, along with the wonderful work of many other leading mosaic artists representing a variety of styles and techniques.

to hear about the book from the author, check out brit's sneak peek video.

Finding Your Own Voice
By Brit Hammer-Dijcks
]]> Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:42:44 -0500 just published! http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/08/08/just-published blurb. how cool is that!?! really! it is so amazing that anyone... with the time and inclination... can publish a book! truly a wonder!

my new addiction... i mean... hobby... of photography has lead me down a side road, it seems. alex and i, sharing my camera, got into some photographic exploration on a couple of recent trips. this exploration has lead to the publishing of these two books. you can check them out through these nifty little badges:

By jacqueline iskande...

By jacqueline iskande...

see more of alex's photography at his flickr photostream.

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:22:30 -0500 rhythms update http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/06/30/rhythms-update the rhythms of june brought me many wonderful things, not the least of which being my 50th birthday. thank you, thank you... i am so grateful to be exactly where and who i am... 50 years into this life! my husband gave me a new digital slr camera for my birthday.. a canon EOS 40D to be exact. my son and i took those hawaii pics with the new camera.

have i mentioned that artist brit hammer is working on another book, titled mosaic: finding your own voice? i have so enjoyed working with brit and getting to know her a bit.. ever since i submitted a few pieces in her call to artists. she will be using some of my work in the book...my rhythms series... and she requested larger pics than the ones i originally submitted. so i have been trying out my new camera on the series of six pieces... one each for january through june. i have managed to get a set that i think will do. i am really amazed at the image quality... you can actually see that the marble is marble. i am still learning, so cut me a little slack... but i think they are pretty good for a start.

so, here are the new photos of all 6 rhythms pieces... there will be 12 in all by the end of the year.



]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:04:03 -0500 aloha... http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/06/29/aloha aloha.

/
]]> Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:51:33 -0500 SAMA mini salon http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/05/05/sama-mini-salon the mini salon at the SAMA conference was wonderful! what a joy to be able to gaze upon such a varied display of mosaic art. it was pretty exciting to watch the bidding action, as well. i am happy to report that my mosaic given, not lost sold for a nice price... higher than its starting bid. teresa sullivan, SAMA's past treasurer, and bill buckingham, of mosaic rocks!, were in a bit of a bidding war over it, and teresa won. that really made me feel good.

i will try to get some pics posted of the event.

]]> Mon, 05 May 2008 09:00:15 -0500 rhythms, march and april http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/05/05/rhythms-march-and-april

here are my last 2 rhythms pieces... march and april.

i am really starting to get into these pieces, and to enjoy having a monthly focus. i think it will be fascinating to see all 12 of them together at the end of the year, don't you?

]]> Mon, 05 May 2008 08:55:17 -0500 long time, no entry http://www.jiskander.com/journal/2008/05/04/long-time-no-entry gosh... it sure has been a while since i have posted anything, hasn't it? not sure why that is... guess i have not had much to say.

the SAMA conference in early april was great! i really enjoyed meeting a lot of new people. i also had 2 very good workshops: one with bill buckingham and sophie drouin on working with stones; and the other one with sonia king on the business of mosaics. volunteering was a wonderful experience which gave me an opportunity to meet even more people.

the MAI 2008 exhibit was very exciting... so, so many good pieces representing a lot of different techniques and materials. i think that my favorite mosaic in the exhibit... the one that wowed me the most when i first laid eyes on it... was by scott henderson... i believe.. and was titled swan lake. absolutely stunning! kind of surprising, as i am really more into abstract these days... but it was beautifully done and so, so striking... it just kind of took my breath away. click on the thumbnail to see it.

still working on my monthly rhythms explorations, and i am enjoying both the process and the challenge. i also finished up my latest floating planes piece from my above and below series. i am calling it subtleties. i am not sure how i feel about it... it just did not turn out as i had envisioned it. it was very experimental... but really nothing like i anticipated. i will expand on all that some more when i post some pics in a few days.

not much more to talk about right now... i will post my april rhythms piece now.

more later...

]]> Sun, 04 May 2008 19:56:54 -0500