The Bay School Community Arts Center is pleased to announce the completion of a wall mosaic that surrounds its exterior front patio outside the Art Speaks Gallery. The mosaic was created in the spirit of developing a vibrant space inside and outside of the facility to inspire the imagination and instill community spirit. The theme chosen to reflect this concept was “We Love Mathews, VA.” The concept, developed by Pamela Doss, Executive Director of The Bay School, was given to children participating in the school’s OpenArts After School outreach program, who then cooperatively developed ideas for the imagery to be used in the mosaic.
The mosaic was completed after almost five months of community effort and involved a variety of volunteers and Bay School staff to fully realize. A colorful water scene full of sea creatures, sailboats, and lighthouses, wraps the four patio walls with the phrase “We Love Mathews, VA” and now serves as a vibrant point of interest on Main Street for the community and tourists alike.
“The energy and efforts of our volunteers really made this ambitious project possible,” states Virginia Coyle, the Bay School Staff Artist who designed the mosaic based on the children’s ideas for imagery and oversaw its creation. “Our request for help in producing the mosaic resulted in volunteers putting in more than 60 hours of effort. In addition to individual donations of tiles and broken dishes for the mural, local businesses Doodlebugs and Stewarts Tile and Carpet also donated materials.”
Executive Director of The Bay School, Pamela Doss says, “This is just one more step in our ongoing effort to create an imaginative and welcoming environment for our community and visitors to Mathews.”
The Bay School welcomes the public to drop by and view the mosaic at 279 Main Street, Mathews, VA.
For more information and snapshots of the process, visit bayschool-arts.com/pages/2024-wall-mosaic-project.
ABOUT THE BAY SCHOOL COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
The Bay School Community Arts Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide people of all ages and abilities opportunities to learn, experience, and appreciate the arts. Through excellence and diversity in classes, exhibits, lectures, and performances, The Bay School is a gathering place for all.
The Bay School was founded in 1997 and offers over 100 tuition-based classes and summer art camps each year for adults and children in a variety of visual arts media with over thirty instructors, Its Art Speaks Gallery regularly exhibits local and regional art and represents approximately 70 artists. Each year, the gallery stages up to 12 exhibitions, including one statewide juried art show. In addition to the work of professional artists, artwork shown in the gallery includes work created in The Bay School’s outreach programs and kids' and adult classes.
The Bay School also conducts grant-funded community arts outreach programs with up to seventeen clients each year, including the public school system, youth organizations, facilities for adults with disabilities, and those serving the elderly.
Learn more about The Bay School at bayschool-arts.com.