Olympia Artesian Well Mosaic
A community art project
A community art project
Beginning in March 2012, donations of tile, glass, and found objects were collected at Furniture Works in downtown Olympia. My intern and I sorted these materials, cut them into small pieces, and prepared them for a big community event. During the last weekend in April, we set up tables next to Olympia's Artesian Well, which had just experienced a facelift with the addition of concrete stanchions and benches. Over 200 people participated in this initial stage of the mosaic process, piecing together mosaic fish on the sticky side of contact paper. Participants included people from all segments of the community, and people were overjoyed to be a part of a public art project.
With 186 mosaic fish all taped together, I began to set them into mortar on the concrete stanchions. People from the local community began to join me, filling in the background with blues and greens, along with all kinds of baubles and knick-knacks. While we worked, there was a constant stream of people filling containers with clean, fresh water. Many looked for the fish they had made, or the broken dishes they had dropped off. Some days were cold, rainy and miserable. Others were sunny and festive, with musicians and friends keeping us company.
After 6 weeks, the mosaic was completed. Response to the artwork has been overwhelmingly positive. The community feels a sense of ownership and empowerment, and everyone loves the sparkle and color.
With 186 mosaic fish all taped together, I began to set them into mortar on the concrete stanchions. People from the local community began to join me, filling in the background with blues and greens, along with all kinds of baubles and knick-knacks. While we worked, there was a constant stream of people filling containers with clean, fresh water. Many looked for the fish they had made, or the broken dishes they had dropped off. Some days were cold, rainy and miserable. Others were sunny and festive, with musicians and friends keeping us company.
After 6 weeks, the mosaic was completed. Response to the artwork has been overwhelmingly positive. The community feels a sense of ownership and empowerment, and everyone loves the sparkle and color.
The Artesian Well is a free-flowing untreated water source bubbling up out of a parking lot in Downtown Olympia, WA. For many years, it flowed from a beat-up pipe surrounded by broken pieces of concrete. Many residents liked the understated, organic style of the well, and were extremely resistant to the new changes. However, by incorporating community artwork, excitement grew around the project. People from all walks of life felt included. The mosaic represents how the well brings everyone together.
The mosaic, made by many hands, is a crazy mish-mash of donated tile, glass and found objects. While I worked, people brought mementos to add to the art. Visitors taking a close look will find hidden treasures all over the stanchions, including shells left by a local taxi driver who fills his water bottle every day, taps from tap shoes, charms from broken jewelry, lapel pins, and a medal of valor.
A steady stream of people come to the well every day, all day, all year. In February, the well was used by over 200 people each day. I spent 6 weeks meeting these people while I managed the mosaic progress, and learned that they come from far and wide. Many are sensitive to flouride and/or chlorine. Some make wine, beer, kombucha, and other products and require an untreated water source. Every day, vans and trucks full of 5 gallon jugs pull up to refill their supply. Street dependent people come by to brush their teeth and wash up. Mail carriers stop to fill water bottles throughout the day. When these people realized how the project worked, they would give me mementos they carry with them so that a piece of them would always be part of the mosaic. I did my best to make sure every one of those items found its way into the artwork.
