• ARTIST STATEMENT• RESUME BRIEF• GALLERY - (scroll down to view Eileen's recent works)
As a mosaic artist and concrete sculptor, I seek new artistic and logistic challenges for personal as well as creative growth with every piece I create in my works of stone, glazed porcelain, glass, concrete and other materials. Public art in particular has been the focus for my creative energies.
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.
Over the past 30 years I have worked on numerous art focused projects that required teamwork, planning, staying within a budget and meeting deadlines. My responsibilities have included various levels of management and many mediums in art production. 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 also add to the positive growth experience for me as an artist and problem solver. It’s one of the most win/win situations I’ve experienced as an artist. More! ARTIST RESUME:
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Fine Arts - California Institute of the Arts
HONORS:
Walt Disney Fellowship Scholar (four years)
GRANTS:
2003 Nevada Community Foundation – Children’s Dog Bite Prevention Charitable Fund
Bow Wow “Ow!” – Video / Animation Production
2004 State Farm Companies Foundation – Children’s Online Activity Pages
2004 Nevada Arts Council – Jackpot Grant for “Concrete Sculpture for Mosaic Artists” workshop
2007 Nevada Arts Council – Jackpot Grant for Society of American Mosaic Artists Conference including Concrete Sculpture and Large Art Installations Workshops 2007 Sierra Arts Foundation - Fellowship Grant
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CALL OF THE PANTHER - 14' x 42" x 18" Mosaic Arts International 2008 Exhibition - Bakehouse Arts Complex in Miami, Florida Awarded Juror's Choice Award by jurist Luciana Notturni 14' concrete sculpture with mosaic. Commissioned by the city of Reno as part of their Public Art series of art for parks. One side of the concrete panther form features granite mosaic showing a black silhouette of a panther in tall grass while the other, lightly sculpted side of the sculpture is set in glazed porcelain with imagery representing the strata of the earth - a nod to the area's mining history.
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IN THE CHIPS - FATE, LUCK & MAGIC Three stacks of concrete sculpture representing stacks of giant poker chips (each stack approx. 35" diameter) covered in glazed porcelain mosaic. Commissioned by the City of Reno and funded as part of the Public Art component of the RETRAC project, this sculptural seating element is located in the heart of downtown Reno in camera view of the arch.
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VERDI MULEDEER - 28” by 48”
Mosaic with oak framing and engraved sponsor marble and granite surround.Verdi Community Library & Nature Center Donor Wall
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ROSE WATERFALL – 96" x 60" Mosaic is glazed porcelain tile on existing exterior stone wall surface. Public Art Project - Commissioned by the city of Reno and the Parks and Recreation Department, located in Reno’s Idlewild Park at the entry for the Reno Municipal Rose Garden.
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LET YOUR MIND SOAR - READ - 34” x 16” x 12” x 6”
Concrete Sculpture, Ceramic, Marble Tile, Acrylic Paint, Glass Mosaic. Image depicts the joy of exploration in reading.
Project funded by a Nevada Arts Council Jackpot Grant & donated to Washoe County Library, Main Branch in downtown Reno Nevada.
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BABY GRAY WHALE - 35" X 45" Mosaic is created with marble and granite tile and installed on concrete wall. Image represents the ability to touch whales at San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California. Gift of mosaic and installation journey / completion at Kuyima made possible in part by a Sierra Arts Foundation Fellowship Grant and sponsorship from Richied & Associates. Installed 4/2008
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Left to right - COMPASS SUN – 24” diameter, Mosaic is porcelain and glass tile. Mosaic has the added touch of a blue glass piece marking each of the four compass points. Inset in poured concrete patio surface. IDAHO MOUNTAIN VISTA – 48” x 14” Mosaic is marble, granite tile back splash, framed, portable. Sealed to protect it from exuberant cooks. Bon Appetit! BLUE HERON2 - Approx. 24" diameter Ceramic mosaic inset in redwood bar top for entertaining.
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