"Serenity" Mosaic Mural

About a year and a half ago I heard about a recently created meditation garden at our local VA Medical Center. Staff, patients and visitors enjoy sitting in this courtyard. Lacking any color, surrounded by three concrete walls, I felt it was the perfect area to propose a large-scale mosaic mural. Donating my labor and having my materials funded by the Rancho Cordova Community Enhancement Fund Grant program, I set out to create something that would convey peace, hope, and tranquility. The mural's landscape includes lush flowers, a golden meadow, still blue waters, majestic mountains, and a graceful dove surrounded by soaring butterflies, all elements that uplift the heart and soul.

I used all hand cut stained glass to create this mosaic mural, measuring 5.5 feet wide by 7 feet tall. Over 150 flowers were donated by 40 mosaic artist world-wide to help create the garden of over 250 flowers. It took me over 500 hours and 7 months for me to complete. I created it on two Wedi boards with tile edges and grouted it with 6 colors (four different colors in the sky). It is bolted into the concrete wall, with mosaic pieces hiding the bolts.

Many hidden elements, such as a frog, a caterpillar, real rocks lining the water's edge and small ladybugs, make it an adventure of discovery to gaze upon. 

From the start, I knew I wanted to create something that would not only add color but inspiration, bring tranquility, peace, and serenity to the area. So it was only fitting to title my completed mural Serenity, inspired by the poem, The Serenity Prayer.

Feedback of staff and patients has been overwhelming and touching. One doctor said, "If an art installation gets a patient out of his room or paintings take a person's mind off their pain and lower their stress levels, the art isn't just decorative anymore. It's part of the entire model of care." Receiving these exciting and warm reviews has made this the most rewarding mosaic piece I've ever created.

This project has also significantly affected my life. By re-creating public spaces with art, I've discovered people become aware and connect to their location; viewers pause and experience it differently, often stirring emotional and sometimes spiritual responses. I feel it's both a challenge and an honor to be the catalyst of this encounter. Harnessing the transforming power of public art with mosaics that add color to otherwise lifeless areas has now become my artistic focus, giving me a deeper sense of purpose and pleasure with my art.

• stained glass
• rocks
• Wedi board