My First Light Switch Plate.

I just picked this light switch plate up from the kiln. Of course now I see all my mistakes but that's good as next time I won't make them. I'm happy with it anyway. I'm experimenting with tag-alongs which are small ceramic (unpainted bisque) pieces glued to the base tile with glaze.

(All photos and designs on this blog copyright roslyn m wilkins and not to be used without permission.)

How I got interested in Roman mosaics.

I have a very vivid memory of a field trip to a Roman Villa somewhere in the south of England when I was a child. I remember the remains of some walls perhaps a foot high surrounding some mosaics. One mosaic in particular of stylized plants in blues and greens stands out in my mind. I remember nothing about the rest of the trip, just that flash. I didn't ever actually think actively about that scene, but it must have remained tucked away in some corner of my brain, because when it came to the forefront again a couple of years ago, it was not a surprise to me that it had been lurking there all my life.

Even before I became interested in painting ceramic tiles or collecting them, I was fond of a book in my library on Islamic architecture which of course incorporated photos of tiles and mosaics. I bought it at least thirty years ago and looked at it often over the years, but it did not bring forth that childhood memory. Even when I traveled to Andalucia, Spain because I wanted to see the tiles and mosaics at the Alhambra in Granada and the Great Mosque at Sevilla, I did not think of that mosaic.

But in my first year of classes in the Archaeology Program at UCLA, the students were asked by one of the professors to talk about our specific area of interest. The memory of that mosaic popped into my head and I knew that was why I had signed up for the program. Since then I have developed a true passion for ancient mosaics, particularly from the Roman Empire. This ties in nicely, of course, with my love of tiles. And now, after a lifetime, I know for sure what my mission in life is: to find out anything and everything I can about mosaics and tiles, to immerse myself in that subject. But I don't have a specific goal. Perhaps I will find that as I walk along the path... or maybe there is no goal. It doesn't really matter. I am enjoying my passion, and that is exactly what it is all about.

Postscript:
I lived in Worthing, Sussex when I visited the Villa, so the excavation must have been close by. If anybody has any information about where this might have been I would appreciate hearing from you.

Hand-Painted Tiles
The information for my class at West LA College Extension has now been posted on their website. The class runs March 3 and 10, 2007. You may click here for more information and to sign up for the class. (My class is at the bottom of the page.)

Getty Villa in the Rain

Yesterday was the end of a nine-year wait for me to see one of my favorite places in the world, the Getty Villa in Malibu. When the Getty Center (see previous blog) opened that year, the Villa closed for renovations and expansion. I believe it was only supposed to be closed for about five years but the time was extended, due in part to litigation from the neighbors. But that is all history now and it was with much excitement, and some trepidation, that I drove up the irregularly (and bumpy) paved driveway with my friends BG and TL. My main interest was in viewing the exhibit "Stories in Stone: Conserving Mosaics from the National Museums of Tunisia." We started out with the "Getty Villa Architecture and Gardens Tour" just to get our bearings. This was definitely a worthwhile introduction. I was impressed with the way they handled the juxtaposition and integration of the old 1970s buildings with the new. TL mentioned the use of travertine that looked like it had been left over from the construction of the Getty Center, a nice touch. We decided to have lunch in the new cafe. I opted for the Villa Salad with chicken, nicely presented with crisp lettuce, a lemon dressing and pistachios, I would order it again. Leaving the cafe it looked like rain was imminent.

We headed for the Mosaics. I have been reading snippets of the books "Tunisian Mosaics, Treasures from Roman Africa" and "Stories in Stone, Conserving Mosaics of Roman Africa." But, of course, there is nothing like seeing artwork in person. Looking at floor mosaics shown on walls perpendicular to their intended position, has always been a problem for me. But given the exhibit space, laying that many mosaics out on the floor would take up too much room. So I have to get my head around what the intended view would have been versus the way I have to look at them in this context. The other troubling point is, of course, that there is no context! These mosaics were parts of buildings just as much as the walls and ceilings. It's like looking at a fireplace left standing when the rest of the house has burned down around it... you have no idea how it related to its surroundings. Nevertheless, there is some value in seeing the mosaics firsthand as if they are separate works of art, like an oil painting. Because I am not likely to be going to Tunisia any time soon, traveling around to all the museums and sites where these are usually housed, this was indeed a treat. I realized I really had learned a lot since starting the Archaeology Program at UCLA a couple of years ago, studying for classes, writing term papers and reading on my own. Being with the mosaics, I felt very much at home and I had an intense feeling that this is the way my life is headed.

Our next stop was "Molten Color: Glassmaking in Antiquity." Not only is the glasswork beautiful and interesting, but the video kiosks sprinkled throughout the exhibit with demonstrations of the making of the various kinds of glasswork enhanced the experience. By the time we wandered out into the open area, the rain had arrived. One of the nice touches at the Getty Villa (and Getty Center) is the provision of umbrella stations where you can pick up a brolly or drop it off going in and out of the buildings.

Of course, I had to stop off at the Museum Store to see if they had any interesting silk scarves, and wouldn't you know it, they had some with a mosaic design. Guess what I am wearing to work tomorrow!

(All photos on this blog copyright roslyn m wilkins and not to be used without permission.)

Revised date for the unveiling of Lori Escalera's tile mural

The Culver City Sister City Committee Cordially Invites you to attend
The Unveiling of Tile Murals Artworks of Culver City’s Four Sister Cities
Iksan City, Korea
Kaizuka, Japan
Uruapan, Mexico
Lethbridge, Canada

Saturday March 3rd, 2007
At Culver City Vets Memorial Complex
4117 Overland Avenue In the Rotunda Room
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Refreshments
Tiles Artworks by Artist Lori Escalera

“Wings of Peace” painting by Artist Sue Li of the CCHS Academy of Visual and Performing Arts

Calligraphy Art presented to City of Culver by Japanese Dignitary - Tairiku Okada on display at the event

We hope to see you there!

Hand-Painted Ceramic Tiles.

Yes, that's the title of my new class at West Los Angeles College Extension. I've been painting tiles (and other bisque objets d'art) for about 14 years off and on. A former boyfriend was a potter and although the relationship was disastrous, he started me down a path that has had interesting consequences, way beyond painting tiles, so thank you M, if you should ever read this blog! (At left is a recently sold framed tile.)

I am really jazzed about this as I have not taught in a while. In the past I've done teaching gigs at the University of Southern California Pre-MBA Program (three summers) for foreign business students teaching basic computer skills (I also directed the program), a year at Glendale Community College teaching desktop publishing, and corporate training jobs too numerous to mention (but hey, I met Johnny Cochran in the middle of the OJ trial, seemingly a very gracious man despite his client). This is my first time as an "art" teacher, so it's very exciting.

The classes are Saturday mornings 9-12, March 3 and 10. For some strange reason unbeknownst to me, the website still has the Fall 2006 classes listed. So check back in February at http://www.wlac.edu/westside/index.htm. Or in the hardcopy catalog I'm on page 9.

(All photos and designs on this blog copyright roslyn m wilkins and not to be used without permission.)

These are two tiles I painted for the Ballona Network Art Auction last year. I was extremely happy to be able to contribute my artwork to such a good cause.

What is the Ballona Network? It’s an affiliation of people and organizations that support a Regional Greenway and Urban Wildlife Corridor stretching from the LA River to USC, the Aqua Line from USC to Culver City, Ballona Creek, the Baldwin Hills, and the Ballona Wetlands and Uplands to Santa Monica Bay. Many officials, ordinary citizens, and environmental organizations have written letters supporting our Greenway Vision of creating a continuous Urban Wildlife Corridor within the Ballona Watershed. Approximately 90% of the land needed to do this has been, or is in the process of being acquired. To accomplish our goal we must speak with one voice for the acquisition, improvement, and/or restoration of the remaining parcels either through purchase, conservation easements or right-of-ways. We must also support the use of natural methods of restoring our water quality and supply and opportunities to clean street and urban runoff throughout the watershed rather than sending the urban pollutants to the sea.