Dear Lovely Followers: This site is only very rarely active now. Please visit our new primary travel site (and subscribe!) at www.wildhairadventures.com. Can’t wait to see you!

Cape Town, South Africa Mosaic Retreat with Karla Duterloo

Cape Town, South Africa Mosaic Retreat
with Karla Duterloo
November 8 – 14, 2020
€1600 Euro per person

Always wanted to travel to South Africa but haven’t had a clue where to start planning?

Looking for a creative holiday destination that combines sightseeing with creating art?

If you’re looking for an opportunity to travel on your own, add a little adventure to your life and meet like minded people, enjoy having everything taken care of while enjoying new experiences — this might be just what you’re looking for.

Limited to a group of 8 participants.

 

What to Expect from this Creative Holiday

• Be prepared to create three wonderful mosaic art works, learn new techniques, and work with a variety of materials.

• Be prepared to sip our stunning wines or bubbles from time to time; we live literally adjacent to some famous vineyards.

• Be prepared to experience breathtaking scenery, picturesque villages, friendly people, and different beaches at every turn. Our minivan and experienced driver will drive us around safely so we can soak up the beauty at our leisure.

• Be prepared to be extremely busy this week with only great things to do, laugh, share stories and work, while experiencing another culture, making new friends, being creative and learn new skills, rejuvenate,relax and come back inspired.

• Best thing however is you do not have to think about anything as we have it all covered: Airport transfer, excursions, further transports, entrance fees, wine tastings, mosaic materials, breakfast, most lunches and dinners, welcome and farewell drinks parties are all included and arranged for.

Accommodations

On our Atlantic Beach Estate  https://www.thelodgeatatlanticbeach.co.za/ you will stay at the Lodge, a five minute walk to our home where the studio is. The Lodge is 10 minute walk away from the beach so you will hearing the relaxing sounds of rolling waves throughout the day and night.  We have a pool at the Leisure center next to the Lodge, for you to use as a guest.

On the estate, you’ll see springboks jumping around on a daily basis, as it is the only golf course in the world where springboks are freely roaming over the full length of the course. Africa on your doorstep.

 

About the Mosaic Workshops

There will be over 20 hours of mosaic for us to cover; if you need more time, I can offer extended studio hours.

All mosaic materials and tools are all included in the price.

We’ll cover 3 different and unique styles of mosaic techniques designed by me. You can use these techniques to find your own voice in this medium.

The mosaic course is designed for beginners as well as more advanced students, as we all work on our own pace based on your mosaic experience. I do recommend having some experience in cutting techniques.

•   We’ll make a 20 x 20 cm (8″ x 8″) original abstract mosaic incorporating African Beadwork. You have now made your own souvenir from Africa!

•   We’ll explore a 20 x 20 cm (8″ x 8″) mosaic with paint and stacked beads only. The theme will be the inspiration from our surroundings, translated into an abstract landscape or a bird’s eye view scene. Another Cape Town souvenir in the pocket!

•   The last 20 x 20 cm (8″ x 8″)  mosaic we make is the one in which we combine all 3 techniques on a board. We’ll begin by painting and then add a combined mixture of beads and various mosaic materials on top of that.

Schedule

Sunday, November 8

17.00 – Until:   Welcome drinks and tapas dinner at the studio/house on the Estate, and get to know the other participants in a relaxing atmosphere. We’ll have an in-house art and mosaic tour and talk, while sipping bubbles from the region.

Monday, November 9

09.00 – 12.30:   Create an abstract mosaic with a beaded African artefact/ornament
12.30 – 13.00:   Lunch is served at the pool area
13.00 – 15.00:   Continue making mosaic
15.00 – 17.00:   Wine tasting at the nearby Wine Estate De Grendel https://degrendel.co.za
Evening free

Tuesday, November 10

09.00 – 13.30    Bead mosaic  “Ocean bird view scene”
13.30 – 14.00    Quick Lunch
14.00 – 20.00    Cape Town Excursion   www.waterfront.co.za/​

Wednesday, November 11

09.00 -11.00     Mosaic course
11.00                 Departure for our excursion
12.30 – 14.00    Lunch at Spier     www.spier.co.za

14.30 – 16.30    Stellenbosch Galleries at Church Street, Town visit
16.30                 Sunset and drinks on the lawn of a wine farm
18.30                 Back at the hotel

Thursday November 12

09.00 – 11.00    Mosaic in the studio, third project begins
11.00 – 21.00    Box lunch as we tour the Cape peninsula, famous for beautiful scenery, beaches, and photo ops. Farmers market at Noordhoek vineyards. http://cpv.co.za/
19.30                  Head back to the hotel after rush hour; arrive around 21.00

Friday, November 13

09.00 – 12.30    Studio time to finish mosaic works and pack artwork for transport home
12.30 – 13.30    Lunch/relax at the house
13.30 – 16.00    Final touches on your mosaic artwork(s) and packaging
17.00 – 18.00    Drinks/canapés around the pool and evaluate the week
18.00                 Farewell Dinner at a seaside restaurant

Saturday, November 14

​10.00                  Sadly checking out from our African adventure at the Lodge. Transport to the airport will be arranged. If you wish to extend your stay, please contact the hotel directly. If you travel further, we wish you a safe journey.

Terms  & Conditions

Price of the Mosaic and Art Retreat 2020
€1600 Euro per participant

What’s Included

• Transport from and to CT International Airport

• 6 nights luxury accommodation in double room with golf course views at the Atlantic Beach Estate Lodge including continental breakfast

• Drinks and tapas on Sunday afternoon at the studio/house

• Drinks and canapés on Friday afternoon next to the pool at the studio/house

• Lunches at the studio, take away lunches and wine tastings. Entrance fees.

• All tours mentioned in the itinerary

• Mosaic course and most materials

What’s Not Included

• Airfare tickets to and from Cape Town
• Dinners in the evening (except from Sunday).  Local dinners are mostly inexpensive, between R100 and 200. Wine is around R40 for a generous glass.

More Images here!

About Karla  

Karla Duterloo is an award winning artist with years of experience in the field of mosaic. Her expertise as a mosaic artist has allowed her t o develop a truly authentic and unique style. This is particularly recognisable in her series of Nguni and other wild animal heads (buck, kudu, deer and buffalo). She has sold her animal heads to both local and international art collectors from over 20 different countries. Beyond the obvious beauty of each individual animal head (as not one is the same) there lies a deeper value within the collection as a whole.

Upon moving to South Africa Karla quickly realised the threat to the countries dwindling wildlife numbers. Her collection of animal heads serves as a vehicle to spark dialogue about this issue. Keeping the work connected to the land she incorporates a variety of locally sourced items such as different beads and beadwork seen throughout the collection. This led her to collaborate with local crafts men who shared their insight about traditional colours and the history of beading within African culture and craft.

The driving force behind Karla’s work is her love and passion for all things colour. She has a series of small 20 by 20 (cm) mosaics that play with colour and form. Beyond mosaic, she is also a skilled abstract painter and as of recently has been experimenting with a body of work that seamlessly merges the artistry of mosaic and abstract painting together as a cohesive whole. Her latest is a series of beadwork mosaics of bird-eye-view seascapes.

As an artist, she is constantly striving for that innovative edge that keeps her art modern, relevant and dynamic whilst always staying true to her own style.

​Karla initiated and organised 2 successful global Mosaic Charity Projects,  (London 2012 and Nepal 2013)  and has been working on a Charity Mosaic Art Project in a children hospital in Cape Town.

Karla her work is featured in the various international mosaic books. Previous exhibitions in the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and South Africa. Her work is held in private and corporate collections in over 20 countries.

For More Information or To Register:

Contact Karla!

Celebration of Color: Mosaic Workshop in South of France with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze

Community Project and Mosaic Workshop in the South of France
with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze
June 22 – 30, 2019

and / or

Celebration of Color: Mosaic Workshop in Provence 2019
Art and Inspiration in the South of France with Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze
July 2 – 10, 2019

* Come with a friend and share a room and you both save $400!

 

Ready for an awesome MOSAIC RETREAT in the South of France this summer?

Join Laurel True and Valerie Nicoladze at Valerie’s beautiful Esprit Mosaïque Studio near Avignon in the South of France for one of TWO workshops that will leave you inspired for the rest of the year!

Both workshops are appropriate for any level student — NO mosaic or art experience necessary! Students make pieces to take home in both workshops, as well as experience Provence from an insider’s point of view.

Add farm to table food, wine tasting, art field trips, Provincial markets, exhibitions and more, and you’re looking at a fabulous week.

Jump in!

More Information for Week 1 is here:

More Information for Week 2 is here:

 

Mosaic Trifecta Tour with Bonnie Fitzgerald and Kim Wozniak

Magnificent Mosaic sites in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and NYC
with Bonnie Fitzgerald and Kim Wozniak
November 7 – 11, 2018
$1995 per person

Get ready to enjoy a rich and memorable week of mosaic sight-seeing, art history, private studio visits and great company. Your tour hosts will be Bonnie Fitzgerald, artist and founder of Maverick Mosaics, and Kim Wozniak, artist and owner of WitsEnd Mosaic and Smalti.com.

Our adventure begins in Washington, D.C. We’ll visit sacred sites, including the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception as well as several unique and hidden gems in offices, city parks and municipal buildings. Our local treasured artist Megan Walsh shares her studio and gallery space with us.

On to Philadelphia’s Magic Garden. Isaiah Zagar’s has been creating public art mosaics in Philadelphia for over 30 years, and we’ll enjoy a docent-led private tour of his garden. Next, stop at Tiffany’s remarkable “Dream Garden” mosaic interpretation of Maxfield Parrish’s iconic painting show us a totally different kind of mosaic mastery. And no worries, we’ll make time for a Philly favorite, the famous “Cheesesteak.”

 

A short hop up the road in Bucks County, PA, we’ll visit the remarkable Glencarin Castle on the grounds of Bryn Athyn Cathedral, then settle in for the evening after visiting the artist village of New Hope. In the morning, it’s on to New York and another private studio visit at Miotto Mosaic Art Studios. This visit is by private invitation, and promises to be both memorable and enriching.

Once in mid-town Manhattan, we’ll enjoy a free afternoon and evening. Take in a Broadway show, a museum, visit Times Square or just have fun with your mosaic friends and colleagues. The next morning, we’ll explore the city’s subway mosaics. You’ll see a broad range of mosaic styles from magnificent mosaic signage created at the turn of the 20th century to recent installations including the Second Avenue Chuck Close works.

The Mosaic Trifecta Tour is designed for art enthusiasts and mosaic lovers. Space is limited. Visit maverickmosaics.com for details and quick links. For questions or additional information please give is a call at 703/856-5160.

INCLUDED
* Price includes daily breakfast
* 5 night’s hotel accommodations
* All ground transportation from our meeting place in Washington, D.C. through our arrival in New Your City, where we will transition to public transportation
* All admission fees, guide/docents fees, bus driver tips and subway tokens

NOT INCLUDED
* Airfare

NOTE: Trip originates in Washington, D.C. and concludes in New York City.

TO REGISTER
Our travel and logistics partner, A La Carte Travel, is a leader in providing educational institutions with affordable access to learning opportunities. Learn more here: www.alacartetravel.com/maverick-dc-2018

ABOUT BONNIE
Bonnie Fitzgerald is the founder and owner of Maverick Mosaics. She has been dedicated to nurturing and expanding creative expression through the art and community of mosaic art since the mid 2000’s. Maverick Mosaics’ educational focus is to Open Doors to your creativity, pique your urge for adventure, and heighten your sense of discovery. From history lessons to cultural achievements to breathtaking natural wonders travel changes who we are. Since 2012 Bonnie, has been leading international tours and teaching workshops abroad. 2018 takes us to mosaic sites in the USA, Italy and Slovenia. Our 7th trip to the amazing Hacienda Mosaico in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is scheduled for January 2019.

ABOUT KIM
Kim Wozniak is trained in art and architectural design, and has found her voice in mosaics. After leaving the corporate world Kim reclaimed her creative spirit by combining her love of art and building materials. Her rule-breaking style was quickly recognized in the mosaic community and has led her to create both public and private installations throughout the United States, and her fine art mosaics are exhibited internationally. Kim was one of three Americans representing the United States in Ravenna, Italy at the prestigious 2011 juried biennial exhibition: Ravenna Mosaico and Works of the World. She has studied the medium of mosaics with masters from Italy, Mexico and the US. Her work has been featured in several publications including The Craft Report, Breakout, Mosaic Art Abstracts and many other publications. Bonnie and Kim shared an Artist Residency at the Olive Stack Gallery in Listowel, Ireland for one month in 2018. They have traveled together extensively, including two trips to Italy and the Cottage in Wisconsin.

 

Go Wild in Costa Rica with Candace Clough and Pam Goode

Go Wild in Costa Rica with Candace Clough and Pam Goode
January 13 – 20, 2019
$1980 Double, $2380  Single
(Double Your Fun Discount: See Info Below)

Join Candace and Pam for a rollicking jaunt through the Costa Rican jungle to identify favorite flora and fauna and then create your own mixed media art.

Finca Luna Nueva

Rainforest Trail

Flowers Onsite

Studio Visitor

Our retreat will combine a six day mixed media mosaic workshop led by Candace Clough with onsite organic farm and rainforest tours, farm to table organic meals grown, prepared and served onsite, and a lazy water safari to view shore birds and monkeys. Accommodations will be at glorious Finca Luna Nueva (New Moon Farm), a sustainable rainforest ecolodge and certified organic biodynamic farm with single or double lodge and cabin accommodations, panoramic open-air workspace, wifi, ionized pool, jacuzzi, and spa. Optional activities at an extra cost include guided Arenal Volcano Lava Hike, Butterfly Garden or Cloud Forest Tours, Zipline Canopy Tour, Rafting, or Hanging Bridge Canopy Tour.

Safari Float

Playing with Butterflies

Scented Brugmansia

Open Air Studio

We’ll have a scheduled lesson each day, as well as on-site tours during our first days in Costa Rica, plus twenty-four hour access to the open-air studio overlooking the forest and gardens. During free time, choose to continue art projects, enjoy the grounds and pool, grab an organic smoothie and head for the hammock, schedule an on-site bird watching tour, or make transportation arrangements in the office for any number of local adventure activities.

Coleoptera Wheel by Candace Clough

WORKSHOP

If you’re a follower of Candace’s work, you might have noticed that she never seems to do the same thing twice. She calls herself “tess-curious”, and it’s that spirit of discovering new materials and new ways of using and combining them that keeps her excited about art. Take a close look at the colorful beetles above and you’ll see stained glass, smalti, china, millefiori, beads, formed tile, and eggshell, all uniting seamlessly into a dynamic expression of an everyday bug.

Inspiration will be taken from naturalist-led walks around the property, which includes rainforest, landscaped gardens, herb gardens, and farmland. Materials will be a mix of student and instructor-supplied yummies. Candace will share her process from inspiration to design, material selection, fabrication and completion and will also talk about her experimental work.

INCLUDED

• Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose to the Lodge and Return Transfer
• Seven Nights Accommodation (rooms will be assigned in the order received)
• Six Breakfasts, Six Lunches, Seven Dinners when at Lodge
• 6-Day Mosaic Workshop and Open Studio Time
• Daily Access to the Secondary Rainforest and Primary Rainforest
• One Guided Farm Tour Onsite
• One Guided Rainforest Tour Onsite
• One River Safari with Transportation

NOT INCLUDED

• Airfare To and From Costa Rica
• Optional Tours and Activities
• Transportation for Optional Tours or Local Transportation (Arrangements Provided at Lodge)
• Offsite Meals
• Trip Insurance (Recommended) (More info here)
• Gratuities
• Alcohol, If Available

Capturing Rainforest Images

Sunlit Flora

Down on the Farm

Candace Clough

NEED TO KNOW

• Retreat has a minimum of 6  and a maximum of 10. Please reserve early, but don’t make flight reservations until notified that we’ve met the minimum.
• Participants will bring their own materials; details to follow.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Temperatures  for January average High 73, Low 59, with .4″ of Rain
• Central Standard Time
• Latitude: 10° North of the equator, with equal hours of light and darkness
• Currency: US dollars are accepted pretty much everywhere, including tips
• Electricity: 110, with standard US plugs
• Fast Facts: Literacy rate 96.3%; Military abolished in 1948
• Costa Rica is among the countries with the highest amount of protected land in the world; 25% of the nation is dedicated to park systems, reserves, or natural wildlife areas
• Bridging the northern and southern most points of the two American contents, Costa Rica is the meeting point for a variety of cultures and a density of plant and animal species said to be unlike any other country in the world
• Approximately 850 bird species, 9000 plant species, 34,000 insect species, 205 mammalian species, 220 reptilian species, and 160 amphibian species

ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATIONS

Read more about Finca Luna Nueva here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER

Click here for MAR Costa Rica 2019 More Information and Registration form or contact Pam for questions.

DOUBLE YOUR FUN DISCOUNT

Two weeks in Costa Rica??? Why YES PLEASE! Sign up for Candace’s workshop January 13 – 20 AND Color Costa Rica January 20 – 27 with Jean Cauthen, Pam Goode and Laura McRae Hitchcock and receive a $150 discount on the total cost. Email Pam for payment information.

ABOUT THE LEADERS

Candace Clough has worked as a professional landscape gardener for 30 years, a mixed media artist for 15 years, and an instructor for the past 5 years. Her mosaics have been included in juried shows and featured in Mosaic Art Now as one of 18 pieces selected from 500 international entries. An explorer at heart, Candace’s mosaics span all media, styles, themes and sizes, from micro mosaic jewelry to a seven foot concrete and mosaic Cat Couch. Most recently she’s added Designer/Inventor to her list of accomplishments, and is currently awaiting final delivery of Breda by CLC, an ergonomic mosaic tool that reduces stress and injury to the hand.

Pam Goode is a self-proclaimed color slut who made her first mosaic nineteen years ago after a transformational trip to (coincidentally) Costa Rica. With five additional Costa Rica trips behind her, she’s well-versed in the locations and landscapes across the country and in love with the gentle spirits she consistently encounters there. In addition to her mosaic work at pamelagoodemosaics.com, Pam has been planning and leading retreats worldwide through Mosaic Art Retreats since 2013 and Wild Hair Adventures, new in 2018.

Manifesting Magic and Mosaics in Todos Santos, Mexico

Manifesting Magic and Mosaics in Todos Santos, Mexico
with Tami Macala and Vickie Emanuele
April 8 – 14, 2018
$3400 Double Occupancy; Single Supplement Available

This retreat is a collaboration of Tami Macala and Vickie Emanuele. Tami is a mosaic artist with over 20 years of experience, and Vickie is a world-renowned energy healer, medium and psychic. Vickie and Tami have personally designed this retreat to create a space for exploring and healing your heart, manifesting abundance and allowing yourself to play and just be.

This retreat will bring together the talents of both Tami and Vickie as they each lead participants to explore in a safe and creative space how to manifest more abundance in their lives. If you’re looking to create more prosperity, love and happiness in your life, this retreat is for you.

Vickie will lead participants through healing circles, meditations, cord cutting, manifesting techniques, journal writing, hiking, beach walks and much more. Tami will lead participants in the creation of a Mantra Board. This style of mosaic art is a mixed media approach designed for any level. Participants will choose their own affirmation words and add sentimental objects as well as other materials to create their own mosaic art project. Tami will cover basic techniques and skills as participants create their work in a relaxing environment with warm ocean breezes and waves crashing below.

ABOUT TODOS SANTOS

Todos Santos is an artist colony on the Tropic of Cancer, just one hour north of Cabo San Lucas, but an entire world away. Nestled next to 70 miles of pristine, undeveloped beach, Todos Santos is famous for the remarkable quality of light, which drew the first American artists from Taos in the 1980’s. Todos Santos is full of wonderful restaurants, art galleries and quaint shops.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations for this retreat will be at the beautiful boutique hotel, Los Colibris Casitas. Los Colibris has a variety of wonderfully inviting casitas, each with comfortable beds, spacious and nicely decorated bathrooms and private patios from which you can enjoy the amazing scenery as the waves crash below. The infinity pool and hot tub are great for star-gazing and relaxing day and night. Read more here.

INCLUDED

• Workshop
• Farm to Table Meals with Personal Chef
• Accommodations at Los Colibris Casitas boutique hotel
• Airport Transportation both ways
• Transportation into town
• Partial Materials for Mantra Board
• Vickie Emanuele’s book Manifest Anything You Want in 30 days

FREE TIME

There will be free time to explore the town of Todos Santos and its surrounding areas. Popular activities include gallery strolls, shopping and eating in town. There will also be excursion options that can be booked through Todos Santos Eco Adventures (before or after the retreat if you choose to extend your stay). Massage is offered at Los Colibris in your room by appointment.

MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION

You can learn more here, or contact Tami here.

ABOUT TAMI MACALA

I’m a professional mosaic artist and teacher. I’ve been creating art all my life, and mosaic art for almost 20 years. In 2009 I started the Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art based on my love for mosaic art and desire to share my passion with other creative people.

I’ve vacationed in Todos Santos several times in the past four years and have stayed at Los Colibris each trip.  I love the rustic and quaint feeling of Todos Santos, and Los Colibris is the perfect location for the accommodations and creating a wonderful environment for this mosaic retreat.

ABOUT VICKIE EMANUELE

Vickie Emanuele is an internationally renowned energy healer, intuitive, and medium for people and pets. She has worked as a spiritual teacher, healer and manifesting coach for over 15 years. She’s also the host of the weekly radio show, Energy Goddess, author of the book Manifest ANYTHING You Want in 30 Days, and the CEO of Magical U, an online energy academy, helping people find the magic within to heal and manifest. She’s been featured on TV, newspapers, and several radio shows.

Mosaics in Ireland? Listowel Arts Festival with Mireille Swinnen

Listowel Arts Festival
June 20 – 24, 2018
Workshop Prices Vary

Coinciding with the summer solstice, this inaugural international fine art festival will celebrate the work of local and visiting visual artists, and harness our collective energies to collaborate, learn and create.

Belgian mosaic artist Mireille Swinnen will teach two workshops at the festival while in Listowel for an artist residency with Irish artist Olive Stack.

Work by Student Brenda Pokorny

Workshop: Mosaic – River of Smalti
Instructor: Mireille Swinnen
Date: Friday June 22 – Sunday, June 24, 2018
Time: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Skill Level: All Levels
Venue: Olive Stack Gallery
Fee: €400 (includes materials)
Maximum Participants: 8

In this three-day workshop you’ll get a chance to experience what it is like to work with smalti in a painterly style, but more importantly how to work with a full palette of colors in smalti. Starting out from an image you bring in or one we find together, the instructor will help you translate your image into mosaic by explaining one-on-one and every step along the way what choice of colors to use, what shape to give your tesserae, what andamento to use, where to put your lights and darks, why to use warm or cold colors, why big or small pieces, etc etc., until you achieve the desired result.

This is a fool-proof procedure.  No matter what your skills are, you will go home with a serious understanding of what smalti can do for your mosaics and the piece that you walk away with will be a work of art, not just a sample.

As a surplus and to further your better understanding of good mosaics, each day, the instructor will show a vast array of mosaics on powerpoint for you to examine and for her to demonstrate how these powerful techniques are used in the very appealing works of the Spilimbergo students, one of the major mosaic schools in Italy.

Workshop: Micro Mosaic
Instructor: Mireille Swinnen
Date: Wed 20th & Thurs 21st June 2018
Time: 9.30am – 5.30 pm
Skill Level: All Levels
Venue: Olive Stack Gallery
Fee: €150 (Includes Materials)
Maximum Participants: 9

In this two day workshop, you’ll learn how to cut and manipulate pre-shaped filati in order to create a unique pendant.  Various shapes of filati will be introduced and the different use of the petals and shapes will be demonstrated to form a variety of flowers.  Mireille will discuss possible types of adhesives and traditional filati cutting, as well as the resources to obtain these kinds of materials.

Listowel Visual Arts Week welcomes the return of many former Olive Stack Gallery Artists in Residence to teach workshops, exhibit and reunite with friends in Listowel – the creative home of this growing international family of artists! The festival will mark the 20th anniversary of Olive Stack Gallery (Est 1998), celebrate the residency and the growing and thriving visual arts scene in the heritage town of Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland.

See the full list of classes offered or register here.

About Mireille:

Mireille is Belgian by nationality but has lived abroad all her adult life. She spent the past four years on a tour through California teaching workshops on how to use smalti in a painterly style, her preferred medium of expression. Mireille is a proud and celebrated member of Society of American Mosaic Artists and Contemporary Mosaic Artists. Her work his widely coveted and collected.

Over the next three years, Mireille hopes to bring much-needed foreign exposure and new techniques to her most dedicated students in her Belgium based studio, the Orsoni studio in Venice, Italy, and through sporadic tours to the US East and West coast.

 

Israel Mosaic and Holy Land Workshop

Israel Mosaic and Holy Land Workshop,
with Sibel Hananel and Dafna Birger
October 3 – 14, 2018
$3300, Double Occupancy; $4300, Single Occupancy

The plans for Kismet Mosaic’s second annual trip have been finalized. Our destination is the beautiful and historical Holy Land, Israel. Sibel Hananel, an avid mosaic artist from Israel, has been instrumental in the planning of this trip and join us on our incredible journey.

We’ll engross ourselves in rich history, beautiful art and museums, biblical sites, mosaic sites and spend 3 full days in a mosaic workshop. Come join us for this once in a lifetime trip.

Workshop: Embroidery in Stone

A 3-day (5 hours per day) stone mosaic workshop is included in the tour. We’ll create a carpet design, 25×25 cm, working with a special tool for stones. We’ll learn all the steps of making a stone mosaic work, from cutting and laying the tesserae to andamento, color combinations and other tips from Dafna’s stone mosaic technique.

Itinerary

• Oct 3:  Arrive Ben Gurion Airport, drive to Jerusalem; welcome dinner and overnight Jerusalem
• Oct 4:  Visit Jerusalem Old City and Israeli Antiquity Authority where they restore antique mosaics. Jerusalem visit and free time for dinner at Mamila Center; overnight Jerusalem
• Oct 5:  Visit Israel Museum, Yad va Shem, Holocaust Museum (optional), Mahne Yehuda Market, Dead Sea, Good Samaritans Mosaic Museum, St. Gerasimos Church (Deir Hajla) mosaics; dinner and overnight at Kibboutz Kalia Guest hotel
• Oct 6:  Dead Sea Mud Bath, Qumran, ride and overnight in Tiberias
• Oct 7:  Tiberias, Sea of Galilee. Visit mosaic and biblical sites, dinner, overnight Tiberias
• Oct 8:  Ride to Tel Aviv; visit Haifa and Caesarea antique mosaic site; overnight Tel Aviv
• Oct 9:  Tel Aviv highlights: Old Jaffa, Neve Zedek, Nahalat Binyamin; overnight Tel Aviv
• Oct 10:  3-Day Workshop with Dafna Birger, 10 – 5 daily; overnight Tel Aviv
• Oct 11:  Workshop with Dafna Birger, visit Tel Aviv Museum; overnight Tel Aviv
• Oct 12:  Workshop with Dafna Birger; overnight Tel Aviv
• Oct 13:  Free day to explore Tel Aviv, beaches; overnight Tel Aviv
• Oct 14:  Check out and transfer to the airport for departure home

Included

• 11 nights, 12 days
• All hotels (rated 4-star by Trip Advisor)
• 3 museum entrances: (1 in Jerusalem – Israel museum), (1 in Dead Sea – Qumran entrance) and (1 in Tel Aviv – Israel Art Museum)
• Transportation, driver and transfers
• Professional guide for 5 days
• Full-time service of a professional tour leader

Not Included

• Airfare
• Tips for tour guide, driver, hotel housekeeping
• Trip Insurance (We’re working on a group plan if you wish to purchase. NOTE: Trip insurance is STRONGLY advised)

About the Instructor and Organizers

Sibel Hananel:
I am originally Turkish and lived all my life in Istanbul until four years ago. I was a tourist guide for Israeli people in Antalya, Bodrum, Marmaris and Istanbul for 15 years. Seven years ago I started to mosaic, and since then I’m into mosaics more than everything else in my life. Four years ago, my father was very ill and we immigrated to Israel for the treatments. I needed to work but did not know on what. I was in contact with some great mosaic artists across the world and asked Giulio Menossi if he could give a workshop; this is how i started to bring mosaic masters to Israel and Istanbul.
I’ve organized workshops with:
Giulio Menossi: 5 workshops in Israel and 2  in Istanbul
Mia Tavonatti: 2 workshops
John Sollinger: 2 workshops and two more planned
Dino Maccini: 4 workshops in Israel
Laura Rendlen: 3 workshops
Leenart Koorman: Dutch portraiture painter and acrylic modern portraiture painting class
Presentation Evenings: Artists named above and Lilian Broca
Mosaic Mural: On 2014 we had a very serious war and in this war time, under the sirens, I organized all my mosaic artist friends to create a mosaic mural for the children’s department at Barzilay Hospital in Ashkelon. The design was created and donated by dearest, great artist and friend Lilian Broca.
I also import mosaic tools, chopping machines, glass and natural stones that we do not have in Israel.
I’m very excited to show you MY ISRAEL.

Dafna Birger
My family was among the founders of the community about 100 years ago, and in 1996, after a longer career of 25 years in the IDF and academic studies, I turned to the field of art and creativity. Prior to my retirement I studied goldsmithing, a carpentry course of the Ministry of Labor and painting on wood by the best artists in these fields. I opened a studio in the yard of Kfar Malal in 1988, with the help of my husband who is in charge of the logistics fields, and in 2004 I started practicing mosaic art.

Carrie Seabrook
Owner of Kismet Mosaic since November 2015. Began my mosaic life in early 2014.
Was in the IT field as computer programmer for 30 years. My current life is surrounded by mosaic. I can’t get enough! Aside from creating mosaic art whenever I can, I took over ownership of Kismet Mosaic so that could bring delightful mosaic pieces to everyone. I love to travel and thus wanted to join my love of mosaic with ancient, beautiful locations.

For More Information or To Register

Please email Carrie (carrie@kismetmosaic.com) or call (856-777-2155) for detailed information.

 

Italy Tour + Ravenna Festival with Kismet Mosaic

Mosaic Inspiration: A Tour in Italy during International Festival of Contemporary Mosaics with Mini-Workshop
Kismet Mosaic
October 3 – 10, 2017
4400 €

Join us as we take a tour of the rich mosaic history of Italy that culminates in Ravenna during the International Festival of Contemporary Mosaics. This tour is geared towards travelers who want to ‘see’ great works of mosaic art versus many days of workshops. We will also visit factories that make some of the finest mosaic glass. If you are new to mosaic art or want to find inspiration, then this is your trip.

The tour starts in Milan to see the wonderful mosaics in two of its main churches.  The journey moves next to Venice, where the gold of mosaics is reflected in the lagoon.
A short tour of Effetre Murano is planned to see their amazing Millefiori. (Bring an empty suitcase for products you want to buy.) We also visit Fornace Orsoni, one of the finest smalti factories in Italy. Moving on the Adriatic Coast, we will visit Friuli Venezia Giulia where mosaics have been preserved dating back to the 4th-11th centuries. A tour of Spilimbergo mosaic art school is planned. Finally, we go to Ravenna, the capital of mosaics where we will participate in the International Festival. A workshop will be planned in Ravenna based on the traveler’s desires. If you want to extend your end date, then take a workshop in Ravenna for extended days. If you can only spend the 8 days on this tour, then take a partial day workshop in Ravenna.

The tour is curated by Silvia Togni, who was born in Ravenna and worked many years in a mosaic arts factory. Mosaic is her passion and she specializes in thematic itineraries. This specific trip has been designed for a limited number of travelers (about 10) to keep it small and personal, and thus the higher price.

Itinerary:

• Milan
• Venice
• Murano
• Spilimbergo School
• Ravenna
• International Festival of Contemporary Mosaics

Highlights:

• Four star hotels
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included
• All tour admissions are included
• Transportation and transfers all included
• Full–time service of a professional tour leader
• All tips for guides and drivers included

$500 deposit to hold a spot

Contact carrie@kismetmosaic.com for detailed information.

Save

Save

Mixed Media Mosaics on Cape Cod

Mixed Media Mosaics on Cape Cod with Amy Marks
September 29 – October 2
, 2017
Workshop Fees: 2-Day Workshop, $240 
(includes materials)
Housing Fee: 2 nights: $110, 3 nights: $160

Enjoy the beauty of Cape Cod in the company of other mosaic artists.

In the 2-day mixed media workshop, we’ll create either an 8” x 10″ wall hanging or a 10” x 10″ mirror. You’ll learn how to create your own tesserae with polymer clay using a variety of techniques including stamping, painting, and gold leafing. You’ll also learn how to embellish glass tiles, transfer images onto clay, and mosaic with beads.  You’ll combine all three media into an abstract mosaic that is not grouted. This class is open to students at all levels.

 

Accommodations
Accommodations will be at The House on Koi Pond, featuring two bedrooms with queen beds, one with 2 twin beds and second floor bedroom with small bed. This delightful cottage has 2.5 bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, dining area and living room. The workshop will be held in the beautiful all-season enclosed deck overlooking 1.5 beautifully landscaped acres. We’ll be near Nauset Light Beach, part of the Cape Cod National Sea Shore, and right on the Cape Cod Bike Trail which goes all the way to Provincetown. More information on Koi Pond House here.

Friday, September 29, 2017  (Tour Day)
After check in at the House on Koi Pond, we’ll visit the Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth, MA to see the New England Mosaic Society’s Member Exhibition. Then, onto the Church of the Transfiguration in Orleans to view Byzantine-style mosaics made in the studio of Alessandra Caprara in Ravenna, Italy. Weather permitting, we’ll take a walk at Nauset Light Beach, part of the National Seashore and end the day with a mouth-watering seafood dinner at one of the Cape’s wonderful restaurants.

Saturday, September 30, 2017
We’re two steps from the Cape Code Bike Trail. Start the day with a bike ride or walk on the trail followed by breakfast. The workshop begins at 9 and ends at 4:30 with Happy Hour on the deck. There is an hour for lunch (or you can keep working!) when you can enjoy the beautifully yard, take a walk, relax by Koi Pond, listen to a waterfall or get to know other mosaic artists. We can all go out to dinner or you can have dinner in and continue working on your project during open studio time.

Sunday, October 1, 2017
We’ll follow the same schedule as Saturday, but will break around 4:00 for a “Show and Tell” where workshop participants will show others what they’ve done and share what they’ve learned. For those staying Sunday evening, a dinner excursion is available, as well as extended mosaic time.

Monday, October 2, 2017
We say good-bye to the each other and the House on Koi Pond, but not before a final bike ride or walk on the Cape Cod Bike Trail. On your way home, take a leisurely trip back along scenic route 6A with stops at galleries. In Sandwich, visit the Sandwich Glass Museum and see a live demo of glass making, as well as see samples of glass made from the 1800s to today.

Housing Costs: 2 nights: $110, 3 nights: $160. 
Note: If needed, additional accommodations will be provided at a nearby timeshare if space is available.

Not Included


Food, tours, entrance fees and transportation are not covered. I encourage everyone to bring food so we can pool for breakfasts, lunches and snacks. That way we can enjoy our surroundings and keep costs to a minimum.

Fine Print

If we do not get 4 registrants for the workshop, the workshop will be cancelled and you will get a 100% refund. If you cancel within 30 days of the retreat, you will be charged a $20 administrative fee, which will be taken from your deposit.

About the Instructor: Amy Marks creates textural, mixed media mosaics with a rich color palette. She currently serves as President of the New England Mosaic Society.

For More Information or To Register: Contact Amy @ amyloumarks@gmail.com.