JACKI BOSS

ARTIST

COMMUNITY PROJECT

A pilot project to involve teens living in a group home with art projects was implemented in October of 2014. This day, the teens at Columbus House are being introduced to the mosaic process.	The mosaic mural is a rainbow linking hearts to stars; the eye is the vision connecting one's hopes and dreams (hearts) to their goals and ambitions (stars).
Finished-up with blue chalkboard paint.	Decorating concrete cones with mosaic.
Sand casting pigment-colored concrete to form sea grape leaves.	Many sea grape leaves need to be cast for the life-size tree sculpture!
Branches for the sea grape tree sculpture are formed with wire mesh armature and stuffed with concrete. Where the sculpture anchors to the wall, the painted surface is chiseled off, allowing the mortar secure adhesion.	To slow the curing process, the sculpture is wet down and wrapped in plastic. Subsequent layers of concrete are added over consecutive days to ensure bonding on the not-fully-cured concrete.
Leaves are positioned into place and left to set in mortar, overnight.	...as are sea grapes!
Always room to add more... after-all real trees continue to grow!	Preparing the wall for a mosaic application.
Initial phase of the larger-than-life hand for the exterior wall.	Big hand almost ready!
The wall has been sufficiently chiseled to apply the mosaic.	The curious hand that seeks what is around the corner!
Hands and arms are traced; teens then practice using the tools to create their mosaic designs on drywall tape. Their contributions are added to the wall with colored mortar.	Initial application stages.
Mosaic morphing into "Man(g)o Tree".	A mango tree is a universal representation of unconditional love; an open, outreaching hand ("mano" in spanish) symbolizes acceptance and is a reminder that we have a choice regarding our decisions.
Wire mesh armature for the next concrete sculpture.	Cast on a mound of sand, the first layers of concrete form the dome shape.
Subsequent layers of concrete build the sculpture up to it's final dimensions and detail.	The first phase of three is complete to this snail sculpture.
Many hands make light work! To recycle wood benches into concrete works of art, the wood needs to be scored removing enough stain before sealing it.	Once sealed with a glue solution, the bench is encased in paper mache. This provides a form to apply the concrete, as well as an additional barrier between the wood and concrete.
The first bench is nearly finished with the papering process.	After the paper mache thoroughly dries, a coat of latex paint further seals the original bench. It is now fully prepared for the next step of applying concrete.
Several glass mosaic dragonfly and butterfly motifs were applied and encased in spar urethane. A "wave" design (tile) adorns the seat area.	This bench had a solid frame, but weak backing and seat. It was reinforced with additional lumber and was modified to have a solid back rest. Cardboard was cut into shape to prepare for the process of being covered with paper mache. Wire mesh will reinforce it's shape within the concrete.
The mosaic design for the second bench.	Final layer of colored concrete is sealed with sealant.
The result of throwing paint on the walls!	Other rooms in the workshop are painted in the same "Jackson Pollock-inspired" process.
As an ongoing project, this room (including ceiling) will eventually be painted, sprayed and collaged with circular motifs and stenciled quotes.
Opposite side of room focuses on a multitude of overlapping rings in a Kandinsky-style.	Renamed by one of the teens, a new mosaic sign (and logo) was created to adorn the front entrance to the workshop.
Front view of the workshop.	Corner view of the workshop.
Aug. 5: The first of twenty-four stepping stones that will replace the front doorstep to the workshop.	Nearing the last days of summer, and of the two dozen required footprints!
Preparing the doorstep for setting the stones of the footprint motif into place.	A little more detailing with mortar to go - and the front step will be ready to welcome all!
A project to cut mirror into shards...	and apply to the ceiling!
Earliest stages; project in progress.	An inspirational quote by Mahatma Gandhi pencilled onto a corner wall.
Several of the teens took turns in assisting with the painting process over the summer.
The finished artwork!	Working with stained glass cut into squares, to create mosaic Christmas decorations.
Growing collection!	Creating tree ornaments by painting glass candle bases. After baking the glass paint in the oven, ribbon is glued to the edge with loop at the top to hang from.
Designing conch shells with acrylic paint.
The teens were introduced to a series of "intuitive art" sessions.
	Fun with face (and body) paint!
Painting the root of an old Poinciana tree that is regularly cut-down...	...still not determined as to what the final result should look like...
...although, we're going ahead on detailing with scales!	Building small wood boxes.
Jewelry-making (beading).	Stringing both recycled and new beads and pendants for necklaces and earrings.
Learning how to finish with appropriate findings and fasteners.	Prepping another wall for a new design.
Background colors complete...	...design underway!
	Wall is gradually filling with a full herd!

Click on any thumbnail to enlarge image; scroll over larger image for information.

JACKI BOSS

COMMUNITY PROJECT

A pilot project to involve teens living in a group home with art projects was implemented in October of 2014. This day, the teens at Columbus House are being introduced to the mosaic process.

The mosaic mural is a rainbow linking hearts to stars; the eye is the vision connecting one's hopes and dreams (hearts) to their goals and ambitions (stars).

Finished-up with blue chalkboard paint.

Decorating concrete cones with mosaic.

Sand casting pigment-colored concrete to form sea grape leaves.

Many sea grape leaves need to be cast for the life-size tree sculpture!

Branches for the sea grape tree sculpture are formed with wire mesh armature and stuffed with concrete. Where the sculpture anchors to the wall, the painted surface is chiseled off, allowing the mortar secure adhesion.

To slow the curing process, the sculpture is wet down and wrapped in plastic. Subsequent layers of concrete are added over consecutive days to ensure bonding on the not-fully-cured concrete.

Leaves are positioned into place and left to set in mortar, overnight.

...as are sea grapes!

Always room to add more... after-all real trees continue to grow!

Preparing the wall for a mosaic application.

Initial phase of the larger-than-life hand for the exterior wall.

Big hand almost ready!

The wall has been sufficiently chiseled to apply the mosaic.

The curious hand that seeks what is around the corner!

Hands and arms are traced; teens then practice using the tools to create their mosaic designs on drywall tape. Their contributions are added to the wall with colored mortar.

Initial application stages.

Mosaic morphing into "Man(g)o Tree".

A mango tree is a universal representation of unconditional love; an open, outreaching hand ("mano" in spanish) symbolizes acceptance and is a reminder that we have a choice regarding our decisions.

Wire mesh armature for the next concrete sculpture.

Cast on a mound of sand, the first layers of concrete form the dome shape.

Subsequent layers of concrete build the sculpture up to it's final dimensions and detail.

The first phase of three is complete to this snail sculpture.

Many hands make light work! To recycle wood benches into concrete works of art, the wood needs to be scored removing enough stain before sealing it.

Once sealed with a glue solution, the bench is encased in paper mache. This provides a form to apply the concrete, as well as an additional barrier between the wood and concrete.

The first bench is nearly finished with the papering process.

After the paper mache thoroughly dries, a coat of latex paint further seals the original bench. It is now fully prepared for the next step of applying concrete.

Several glass mosaic dragonfly and butterfly motifs were applied and encased in spar urethane. A "wave" design (tile) adorns the seat area.

This bench had a solid frame, but weak backing and seat. It was reinforced with additional lumber and was modified to have a solid back rest. Cardboard was cut into shape to prepare for the process of being covered with paper mache. Wire mesh will reinforce it's shape within the concrete.

The mosaic design for the second bench.

Final layer of colored concrete is sealed with sealant.

The result of throwing paint on the walls!

Other rooms in the workshop are painted in the same "Jackson Pollock-inspired" process.

As an ongoing project, this room (including ceiling) will eventually be painted, sprayed and collaged with circular motifs and stenciled quotes.

Opposite side of room focuses on a multitude of overlapping rings in a Kandinsky-style.

Renamed by one of the teens, a new mosaic sign (and logo) was created to adorn the front entrance to the workshop.

Front view of the workshop.

Corner view of the workshop.

Aug. 5: The first of twenty-four stepping stones that will replace the front doorstep to the workshop.

Nearing the last days of summer, and of the two dozen required footprints!

Preparing the doorstep for setting the stones of the footprint motif into place.

A little more detailing with mortar to go - and the front step will be ready to welcome all!

A project to cut mirror into shards...

and apply to the ceiling!

Earliest stages; project in progress.

An inspirational quote by Mahatma Gandhi pencilled onto a corner wall.

Several of the teens took turns in assisting with the painting process over the summer.

The finished artwork!

Working with stained glass cut into squares, to create mosaic Christmas decorations.

Growing collection!

Creating tree ornaments by painting glass candle bases. After baking the glass paint in the oven, ribbon is glued to the edge with loop at the top to hang from.

Designing conch shells with acrylic paint.

The teens were introduced to a series of "intuitive art" sessions.

Fun with face (and body) paint!

Painting the root of an old Poinciana tree that is regularly cut-down...

...still not determined as to what the final result should look like...

...although, we're going ahead on detailing with scales!

Building small wood boxes.

Jewelry-making (beading).

Stringing both recycled and new beads and pendants for necklaces and earrings.

Learning how to finish with appropriate findings and fasteners.

Prepping another wall for a new design.

Background colors complete...

...design underway!

Wall is gradually filling with a full herd!