Mandala Series: Play and Self Discovery

It started with me making my first stained glass or glass-on-glass mosaic mandala and then another and another. I didn't consciously set out to do a series of mandalas. Rather, enjoyment, pure and simple, from the different steps of the whole process provided the reinforcement until it has become almost a habit. In other words, I was simply having fun and playing. As I look back, I recognize that there were discoveries along the way.

For example, I discovered that I was a hunter. I really enjoyed the "hunt" for special art glass (i.e. ringed mottle Bullseye, Lins, Uroborus). Since each pane of glass is handmade and unique, I would literally go through the whole inventory of stained glass shops to find the treasure I was looking for. Eventually, the owners and sales staff would be on the lookout for me. I would walk in and "bam", they would take out special sheets to show me. For a time, it seemed that I enjoyed the hunt more than creating the mosaic. Searching for the best art glass distracted me from actually getting to work creating art. Lesson learned!

Not knowing how to actually go about cutting my tesserae, I just jumped in and started nipping my stained glass into random pieces. This random approach morphed into what I call my "controlled random" approach. lolol I learned that four and five sided shapes were my friends, that triangular shapes would show up whether or not you initially cut them that way (as you modify other shaped tesserae with your nippers), and that consistent sizes and shapes (i.e. long rectangles for my outlining and spirals) were equally important. Lesson learned! (At the time I had no idea what andamento was which was probably good so I would be more spontaneous and playful and not worry about "doing it right".)

While I used so called "choo-choo" method to outline or organize the design of my mandalas, I relied on a different method to fill in the empty areas. Out of a "sea" of tesserae (the result of my "controlled random" approach), I would search for the "right"  tessera for the empty space. The final product was a collection of various shapes and sizes that, although not perfect, seem pleasing to my eye. In the process, one personal "rule" emerged: "try to avoid any tessera, combination of tesserae, or spaces between them, that would draw attention."  All tesserae should "work" together to create a beautiful whole. Let the non-repeating pattern communicate a sense of peaceful meditation.  Lesson learned!

One last discovery that never ceases to amaze me relates to the grouting process with these glass-on-glass mandalas. After working for hours on the mandala and having glued hundreds and hundreds of tesserae, the time comes to cover all your hard work and beauty of the art glass with grout. Although I have done this well over a hundred times, I still have some anxiety about what could go wrong (ex. grout seeping underneath a tessera or curing too quickly and hardening on the mosaic surface, a tessera that you thought was securely attached "disappears" - YIKES!). Yes, I am speaking from experience. lol

 

 

 

Time and time again the ungrouted mandala seems to experience a major transformation. First covering it with "mud", waiting in anticipation, deciding it is time to wipe off the excess grout, and finally cleaning it. During the wiping off stage when I lift the mandala up to the light to check for potential issues, I start to marvel at the beauty emerging through the veil of grout and haze. Once again during the cleaning stage, I lift the mandala up and look closely. Like a proud father helping in the birth process, feelings of anxiety accompany my sense of exhilaration until I am sure the process has gone well. Honestly, I would never have thought it would affect me this way, but it does.

The final result of grouting the mandala, however, is what is important. With dark grout "framing" the tesserae, each tessera's unique color, tone, and degree of transparency is accentuated. For me the result is like a beautiful tapestry, but in this case, with light interacting with glass, rich in color and texture. My Mandala Series has provided me great opportunities to play, to observe and refine my work, and to look deeper. Currently, that exploration is directed to kaleidoscope patterns and the concept of mosaic as tapestry. Hmmmmmmmmmm, I can't wait!