Mosaic has been in my creative DNA for as long as I can remember.
My parents were both artists and active in the mosaic movement of the 1960s. They opened a retail store called Mosaic Alcove in our Southern California town of El Monte, and it thrived thanks to their creative energy and commitment.
Years later, after my sons were grown and on their own, I found myself with an unexpected abundance of time—and a desire to return to something that had quietly waited in the background of my life.
That search led me to a transformative 2002 workshop with Martin Cheek in Italy and
Greece.
It was my first time seeing ancient mosaics in person, being surrounded by fellow
mosaic lovers, and participating in a full mosaic immersion. That experience changed
everything.
Since then, I’ve continued to be inspired by the rich history of mosaics and the joy of working
with natural stone and Italian glass.
In 2008, I launched an international website just for mosaic artists—Contemporary Mosaic Art (CMA)—born from conversations with artists who loved mosaics but felt isolated. CMA became a vibrant community, connecting artists from all over the world.
That same year, Italian artist Giulio Menossi joined CMA. I had the pleasure of meeting
Giulio in Udine, Italy, where we worked together to develop his mosaic workshops.
These classes soon attracted students globally, eager to learn from his exceptional
techniques.
In 2012, I was part of the team that curated the first mosaic exhibition in Clauiano,
Italy, featuring artists from the CMA community. These exhibitions have continued, and Giulio’s influence has only grown.
In 2014, we held our first CMA Summit in Ashland, Oregon. I was proud to be part of the 4-person organizing team, alongside John Sollinger (“Solly”). We hosted three incredible years of summits, with 2016 marking our final gathering.
Alongside community-building, I’ve also worked on several mosaic publications. In 2011, Irit Levy and I co-published two books: Mosaic Fine Art Portraits and Mosaic Fine Art Abstracts. Each features interviews with five professional artists and a gallery of stunning mosaic works.
Then in 2014, I collaborated with Jacqueline Iskander on a creative cookbook titled Edible Bits & Pleasing Pieces—a delightful international collection of recipes, each paired with mosaic art.
