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Ever since I could hold a crayon I’ve been creating art. Whether it’s
illustrative, animated, sculptural or panel mosaics, the inspiration to create is an integral part of my life. After
earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts as a Walt Disney Fellowship Scholar in 1980, I worked
in animation production for various studios such as Hanna-Barbera Productions and Walt Disney Pictures. Eventually I
started my own studio producing animation for television commercials and interactive educational products such as Microsoft
Explorapedia, The Learning Company's Reader Rabbit series as well as Peter Rabbit’s Math Garden. In 2003 I worked
with the Children’s Dog Bite Prevention Task Force to produce a safety video "Bow Wow 'Ow!" teaching children ways to be safe around dogs that was funded by the Nevada Department of Agriculture and State Farm Insurance
Companies. Distribution to all Nevada elementary schools for use in educational programs and sale to at least 27 other
areas including the Galapagos Islands and the U. S. Military for use in Iraq show results of a successful ongoing distribution
program.
Always exploring new horizons and challenges, in 2002 I began to turn my artistic energies to create concrete
sculptural and panel mosaic works. In 2008 my sculptural mosaic park installation ‘Call of the Panther’
was chosen for a Juror’s Choice Award in the Society of American Mosaic Artists – Mosaic Arts International show.
As a mosaic artist and a concrete sculptor, I seek not only artistic excitement but also new angles of problem solving to
tackle with every sculpture or mosaic. Public art in particular has been the focus for my creative energies. Funding
from Nevada Arts Council, Sierra Arts Foundation, Nevada Community Foundation, a Ward One Neighborhood Advisory Board Grant
and a City of Reno Challenge Grant have all supported my explorations and funded the creation of commissioned works.
My work in sustainable mediums of concrete, stone, glass and glazed materials is designed to accentuate and celebrate the
sense of place in each site. I love public artwork - coming across it in every day life is like finding a jewel wherever
the work is installed. One can be going along and be stopped in their tracks by these inspiring finds. As an artist,
the opportunity to create these jewels for discovery is a delight.
I enjoy the organic flow of letting the
materials inform my initial vision with new directions to discover along the way. Sometimes colors offer new insights, or
shapes can reveal new dimensions I need to explore. When I’m sure I’ve reached my creative destination, I then
move the completed sculpture / mosaics to the site for final installation. This method allows me to meet the goal of as little
disruption of public access to the site as possible.
Each piece I create is unique and specifically designed with
relevance to its site. The materials I work in - concrete, stone, tile and glass - are wonderful mediums for most any
site. Bright, durable and touchable, they retain their new look for many years to come. The general maintenance
for my mosaic materials are much the same as for any tile surface. A simple wipe down will do. Installed public
art should be a joy to behold, not a headache to maintain.
Over the past 34 years my artistry includes numerous
mediums that required teamwork, planning, staying within a budget and meeting deadlines. To me, the focus of creating
public art offers the wonderful opportunity to create artwork that is totally selfish and selfless at the same time.
I get to enjoy creating and my audience gets to enjoy the results. The challenges, constraints and requirements for
public art projects add an additional positive growth experience for me as an artist and problem solver. It’s
one of the most win/win situations I’ve ever experienced as an artist. More!
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Gay – Public Artist
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