Selections from the Mosaic Art of Chris Silkwood

February 12 – May 14, 2018

Creating imagery and pattern in mosaic is centuries old, 4,000 years or more. Initially terracotta cones were used for background decoration, and by the eighth century BCE, pavements embellished with pebbles provided free form decoration to those on the path. The Greeks in the fourth century BCE raised the decoration of the pebbles to a true art form, creating detailed images of people, the Greek gods and goddesses, daily life, the four seasons. The floors of Hellenistic villas and Roman dwellings were enriched by the imagery of the stones imbedded in the earthen floor. From the fifth century forward, the Byzantine Empire, embraced the art form, decorating their ceilings and floors with light refracting glass. The small glass pieces, tesserae, glued to a backing, created intimate images of great detail and depth. The Islamic designs were primarily geometric and mathematical. They were and are patterns of forms and numbers, enriched by exquisite color design.

The mosaic art form is the gathering of thousands of broken pieces of glass, of little stones of relatively little value, thoughtfully placed in patterns exuding light which is stunningly beautiful. The fragments of light and color, the transparency of reflected energy create beautiful reservoirs, compositions of durable depth.

Chris Silkwood learned the art of mosaic approximately fifteen years ago while studying with the artists of ArtBusters, a respected mosaic studio in Brisbane, Australia. She furthered her studies at the Mosaic Art School in Ravenna, Italy. While her work reflects the classical in the materials she uses, her designs are contemporary, capturing the energy of the world around her.

In considering her work, Chris Silkwood reflects, “My Houston is a city of texture, expansive color, bikeways and greenbelts, architectural magnificence, waterways and highways and an abundance of diverse and exciting personalities that motivate, move us forward and continuously challenge our way of being. This exhibition captures the city around me. It is my inspiration. For me, it is Houston.”

Curated by Sally Reynolds

In cooperation with the Artist

Photographs courtesy of Chris Silkwood