Mosaic stones in memory of Karen Edlund
Sign, by Emily Bhargava
Karen Edlund, a founding board member of the New England Mosaic Society, was a powerhouse in the world of public health and reproductive health, community organizing and community building. She meant so much to so many people. To me she was a friend, neighbor and mentor. Since Karen’s passing last November, her husband Phil and I thought about ways to create a collaborative mosaic in her memory. With the help of many NEMS members, we have turned Irving street in Somerville, where Karen lived for decades, into a mosaic path, with colorful mosaic stones and pavers made in Karen’s memory placed at the bases of the city trees and on the edges of lawns and gardens all along the street.We ended up with 32 colorful and meaningful stones of all sizes and shapes. In front of Karen’s house at #10 Irving Street, Phil has hung laminated copies of the mosaic map that we made to indicate where each of the stones is placed and to share the names of the many artists who contributed. Phil has been walking friends and neighbors down the street for months, stopping at my house to say hello when I’m outside. Strangers have stopped me on the street to exclaim and ask about the mosaics, and children use the street like a mosaic treasure hunt. The memorial has exceeded my expectations, creating something that’s meaningful and beautiful that can be enjoyed by anyone who walks down the street. Thank you to everyone who contributed your art and your spirit. I hope that each of you will find time in the spring to visit Irving Street to see a small part of what Karen’s life inspired.
Click Here To View Downloadable Map of Stones
The Mosaic Stones and Their Creators:
In Memory, Cassie Doyon
Inlaid flower, Pam Stratton
Woman, Roberta Tobey Gertz
Heart With Butterflies, Cheryl Cohen
Green/Blue Stone, Lauren Mehrberg
Into The Light, Lee Berman
Ribbon, Candace Jackman
Uterus, Emily Bhargava
Orange Ankh, Angel Cacciola
Turtle, by MaryBeth Barker
Shard Flower, Martha Friend
Turquoise & Blue Stone, Ruth Farris
Dragonfly, Glynda Benham
Flowers, Amy Marks
Pink Heart, Corrine McKeown
Dragonfly, Linda Cundiff
Sun, Maggie Neilly
Circle with Bluebird, Betsy Rodman
Bird, Sky, Sun, Kim Alexander
Love, Crystal D’Abraccio
Logo, Suzanne Owayda
Love Rainbow, Ronni Olitsky
Color Wheel, Karin VanDer Schaff
Peace Sign, Anne Kelly-Contini
Red Square, Carrie Fradkin
Square, Carrie Fradkin
Butterflies, Billie Klagraefe
Fused Glass Heart, Su Bailey
Meteor, Carol Bershad
Butterfly Heart, Judy Bohn
On June 15, I taught an informal workshop on mosaic sculpture to NEMS members participating in the upcoming Field of Hearts-Art in the Orchard Exhibit, organized by Laurie Frazer and taking place in Northampton MA. The workshop took place in a classroom space near my studio in Lawrence MA. With my instruction, members worked on individual forms of heart shapes using a hot foam knife, foam adhesive and nails on styrofoam.
