By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
As the mosaic was unveiled at the Wood County Senior Center on Wednesday, the amateur artists who helped piece together the artwork were suitably impressed.
There were “ooooohs,” “aaaaahs” and even an “oh man” as the window shades were raised to reveal the colorful mosaic tile project that seniors across the county took part in making.
“This will be enjoyed by an untold number of patrons, today and years ahead,” said Joe Long, president of the Friends of the Wood County Committee on Aging, which funded the mosaic project.
Local artist Gail Christofferson, of Animal House Glass, designed the project to depict the four seasons, plus pay tribute to Wood County’s corn crops in the center panel.
Despite the overcast skies on Wednesday, the bold colors popped in the south windows of the dining room at the senior center, 140 S. Grove St. Community members had been asked to help piece together the glass to build blue skies, grow green stalks and cultivate yellow corn.
“I’m so glad we went with this design of four seasons,” Christofferson said. The panels depict bright flowers of spring, tall corn stalks complete with silk on the ears, autumn leaves and a blanket of snow.
As Christofferson gazed at the finished product, she spotted a couple places that she would have fixed had it been solely her project.
But the mosaic is the community’s – made with countless hands of amateur artists who wanted to have a role in the project.
“The process is the community. The process was perfect,” Christofferson said. “Is the process the same as I would have done – no. I’m a professional.”
But this was made by many, with workdays held at each of the county’s eight senior centers.
“You have ownership of this piece of art,” Christofferson said to those in attendance, many who spent time piecing together parts of the panels.
“Some people just put a few pieces in. Some people fell in love with the mosaic process and would stay as long as I would let them,” she said. “It is truly your installation.”
As president of the Wood County Committee on Aging, Paul Herringshaw accepted the mosaic on behalf of the senior center.
“This is a beautiful mosaic. Something that will be enjoyed for years to come,” he said. “It is now ready to be enjoyed by all.”
Wood County Committee on Aging Executive Director Denise Niese echoed those feelings.
“This mosaic is a tribute to every older adult in the county,” she said. “It will be enjoyed for decades.”
Long thanked the volunteers for being willing to help with a type of art most were not familiar with prior to this project.
“Thanks to all of you from all of the sites who helped,” he said.
Among those amateur artists were Deb Murray and Karen Young, of Bowling Green. They were unable to attend the workday at the senior center in Bowling Green, so they chipped in at the satellite centers in North Baltimore and Rossford.
After the unveiling, the two women stood in awe under the art.
“I worked on the blue and some of the green,” Murray said, pointing to the area under the pink iris in the spring panels.
Murray enjoyed the project so much that she has learned more about making mosaics from Christofferson in her art studio.
“She turned me on to mosaics,” Murray said.
Christofferson’s work can be seen all over Bowling Green and beyond. Her first mosaic was created for the Otsego consolidated school building. Since then she has made mosaics for the Bowling Green Community Center, Simpson Garden Park, and Mileti Center at BGSU.
Her mosaics also adorn airports, malls, libraries and corporations from Oregon and New Mexico, to Tennessee and Virginia.
The Wood County Senior Center mosaic portrays springtime irises, coneflowers and daffodils, while the summer panels sprout fields of corn and sunflowers. The fall panel shows leaves turned yellow, orange and red, and the winter panel sprinkles some snow and holly.
