The Carmel Arts and Design District is excited to announce that the Chip In Community Mosaic project has been installed in the breezeway at Sophia Square Apartments. The Carmel Street Department installed this beautiful finished product designed by Nancy Keating, and the community was able to contribute and help bring the project to fruition.
“These ‘Chip In’ Community Mosaic projects are always a labor of love for me,” Keating said. “The Carmel Arts & Design District commissioned me four years ago to create a community project. And from there, I’ve created a different design each year.”
The “Roundabout” is the Chip In Mosaic from 2018 that was finally permanently installed as public art in the District. It consists of four mosaic panels that come together to create one 4-by-4 foot art installation.
“Hundreds of volunteers stopped by and ‘chipped in’ to help during Second Saturday Gallery Walks last summer (now Meet Me on Main),” Keating said. “I designed the Roundabouts and then painted the background (called a cartoon) for the participants to easily follow. The mural is made totally with colored art glass and mirror. In my studio, I hand cut all the glass and mirror into small pieces. The volunteers simply needed to adhere the right color of little glass chips onto the colored backing.”
In total, the project totaled hundreds of hours, including volunteer mosaicking and Keating’s design, planning, prep, fabrication, grouting, finishing and installing.
“Thanks to the Carmel Street Department for professionally installing ‘Roundabout’ in its new home in the public breezeway on Main Street and Sophia Square Apartments,” Keating said.
The 2019 ‘Chip In’ will be part of the next Meet Me on Main from 4 to 9 p.m. on July 13 in the breezeway near Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream.