A budding young artist shows the mosaic mural made last summer.
VENTNOR – Adults and children gathered at the Ventnor City Cultural Arts Center on New Haven Avenue Saturday, Feb. 8 to create something beautiful from discarded tiles, glass, china and pieces of mirror.
According to Susan Van Duyne Hunter, director of the arts center, all of the materials used to create the mosaic mural that wraps around the rear of the library building, are either donated or upcycled from materials headed for the trash heap.
On Saturday, artists of all ages and abilities completed three panels that will be added to those already erected along the covered veranda that overlooks the playground, pollinator garden and beach.
Students learn how to make the colorful and glittery mural from mosaics artist Michele Pascuillo, who teaches at the arts center and in Ocean City.
“We started this mural three years ago,” Van Duyne Hunter said. “It is holding up well under this breezeway, which is covered so they don’t get wet.”
The mosaic designs are mounted on masonry board and after the glue dries, the panels are grouted with a sandy grout designed to hold up in weather. After the grout dries, it is treated with a water-resistant sealer.
Mural panels are added whenever a panel is completed and will eventually wind their way around to the low wall surrounding the garden. The themed panels will reflect birds, bees and butterflies that visit the garden for nourishment during their migration.
Last year, Ocean First Bank Foundation awarded the center a highly-competitive $1,000 grant to continue the project over the next several years.
The center incorporates the mural arts program into workshops and youth camps held in summer.
Anyone interested in participating, is encouraged to call the Ventnor City Cultural Arts Center at 609-823-7952 or see ventnorarts.org.
