Students create a mosaic of glass art designs

By Judy Halone-The Courier-Herald
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Betsy Olsen started something. And now she's given her peers something to talk about. Olsen is one of a dozen Bonney Lake residents who participated in a glass mosaic tile class in April and May at the Bonney Lake Senior Center. The free program was sponsored by the Dale Chihuly Foundation's Seniors Making Art program.

Olsen said she read about the class in The Courier-Herald's community calendar and quickly made a call to her friend, Martha Grover. The two wasted no time in signing up.

“I immediately said yes,” Grover said. “I love art, and I love (glass artist) Dale Chihuly.”

The two-hour weekly class ran for eight weeks and was taught by retired Gig Harbor High School art teacher Teres Millar of Tacoma.

“I enjoy teaching this and visiting senior centers in the area,” she said.
The program offered novice glass art students the chance to gain self-confidence while creating colorful mosaic designs. Using a medium of vitreous, recycled and beach glasses, students designed and transferred their pictures onto 10-inch by 10-inch framed wooden boards. Several of the students said the class was the highlight of their week.

“This is the first time I've done something like this,” said Paula Fabela, who applied a Southwest theme to her design to mirror her love of warmer climates. It also reflected her inner craftiness.

“My friends invited me,” she said. “They're crafty and I'm not. It's a great way to meet people and discover what hidden talents you have.”

She wasn't the only one to make the discovery.

Joan Ranch used puzzle-solving skills while putting colorful pieces together for her design.

“I'm good when I concentrate on it here,” she said. “But at home, it's hard to sit down, put it in front of me and work. When I come here, it's fine.”

Barb McQuage shared Ranch's enthusiasm.

“I'm lovin' it, lovin' it, lovin' it - it's such fun!” she said. “I go home and make a mess there, too.” Her remark brought ripples of laughter from fellow students.

Those are the kind of responses the senior center staff hoped for.

“They really loved it,” Jan Smith, the center's van driver, said. “One of the ladies on the bus talks about it all the way home - what kind of tile she's using and what design she's making. And she wants to continue it at home now with her daughter.”

Senior Center Director Sue Hilberg said the class was so popular she has already applied for another class, although it may not necessarily include glass.

The program has its benefits - not only for the students but the instructors. Millar said she has discovered a joy in teaching students 55 and older.

“The difference between here and high school is that in high school, the students are saying, ‘help me, help me,'” Millar said. “Not here - they're not afraid to ask questions.

“What I like the most about teaching these classes is that I have the chance to help people create something beautiful they've made,” she said. “It makes you feel good. When you create something, it's a very right-brain activity.”

Millar explained that working with art forms can prove therapeutic.

“It's the lifesaver thing,” she said.

Students who completed the class walked away with not only new artistic skills but work that reflected their lives: Martha Grover's board included red, black and yellow tiles surrounding the words “Martha's Kitchen.”

“We just got a new latté machine,” she explained. “We love coffee and I thought it would be nice to have a cup of coffee with Martha.”

Betsey Olsen's trips to the Antarctic were so impressive, she captured her memories of penguins in tiles of blue, black and white.

“I fell in love with penguins - they're my favorite animal,” she said.

And Judy Swain's work included a prayer to help her start the day: “Good morning, this is God. I will be handling all your problems today. I will not need your help, so relax and have a great day.”

Just as the completed art forms created a mosaic of individuality, one common thread remained.

“It gives people the opportunity to do something nice like this,” student Becky Coons said.


reprinted with Permission from the Bonney Lake - Lake Tapps Courier Herald