Yulia Hanansen's Mosaic Sphere Studio: mosaics in Baltimore, MD

University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens (MBG) "Great Lakes Ecosystem" Mosaic Mural Project

Congratulations to Mosaic Sphere Studio and all the Volunteers who helped to work on the project- "Great Lakes Ecosystem" mosaic mural won a 2009 Golden Paintbrush Award from Ann Arbor City Council.

Hot off the Press: Download a PDF version of "From Vision to Reality" article that features "Great Lakes Ecosystem" project. The article was published in a Spring 2010 issue of a "Groutline"- an international quarterly publication by SAMA, Society of American Mosaic Artists.

Project Description:
The "Great Lakes Ecosystem" mosaic consists of 8 mosaic panels, each of size 3.5'x3.5', 96 sq ft total, featuring 8 ecological systems that form the Great Lakes Ecosystem. Each panel depicts at least 1 plant that is common to a specific ecosystem. This is an outdoor mosaic project which has been constructed out of vitreous and stained glass tiles, and smalti.

It took 47 volunteers, their will to come commit many laborious hours, and all their creative skills to bring these panels alive! Total of 535 hours were spent laying out, grouting, and installing mosaics.

















Volunteers at work at Mosaic Sphere Studio

Volunteers were working on these mosaics every Tuesday evening, 6-8pm at Mosaic Sphere Studio, LLC. Mosaic panels were laid out on the tables and each volunteer was free to choose the part of the mosaic that they want to work on. Everyone was provided with the guidance about the design layout and colors. People were encouraged to add their own creative solutions to mosaic implementation. During the first couple sessions we had people of all ages working together as a group- 3 and 4 year olds, teenagers, and adults. Volunteers' mosaic making experience ranged from several years of mosaic studies at Mosaic Sphere Studio, beginners, and complete novices.

The images below are sketches for the panels made by Yulia Hanansen.


Deciduous Forest Click Here for Large Image	Dunes (sketch)	Rivers and Streams (sketch)

Coniferous Forests Click Here for Large Image	Bogs (sketch)	Ponds and Wetlands (sketch)

Alvar and Rocky Shore (sketch)	Prairie (sketch)