Valley artists create mosaics for Sutton Library

SUTTON — New outdoor decorations at the Sutton Public Library and Community Resource Center are emblematic of the artists who made them: eclectic fixtures of the Valley.

This past spring, six Valley Arts Alliance (VAA) members agreed to put their time and energy into 10 square mosaics to be installed by the library in its perennial garden.

“Valley Arts Alliance has been very generous with their time and their talents,” said co-librarian Nancy Bertels.

The organization has worked with the library in various artistic capacities, such as hosting public workshops and, last fall, the annual Alaska Home Companion show at the facility. Currently, there are more than 20 pieces by at least 11 local artists on display inside the library, including donations from the Valley Quilters Guild.

“I think art always adds something to a public facility, and I think if you can have local artists, the attraction is even better,” Bertels said.

The project, formally titled “Pieces and Perennials: Mosaic Art at the Sutton Library Garden,” was installed Thursday by co-librarian and perennial garden manager Carol McNamara, after a July 25 dedication. Mosaicist Kim Strickland — with coordination by VAA member and unofficial library liaison Nikki Pease — spearheaded the project.

Strickland, who currently works at Cover Ups in Palmer and is also an antique dealer, hosts workshops at her home as Mozelle Mosaics. She was classically trained in the Roman tradition by internationally known artist Michelle Gibbons in Tampa, Florida about 12 years ago. That means she specializes in creating realistic, outlined content on a steady, bordered background.

“I’m not always so neat but when I really give something a lot of time and energy I tend to try and do it the correct way, (with the) border and outlines,” Strickland said.

For the library project, she produced three mosaics from unglazed porcelain tiles in muted colors to blend in with the library’s perennial garden. Mosaics typically form an image or pattern with small pieces of glass, but can be created by an assemblage of any material. The unglazed tiles and special Laticrete mortar used for the library project are environmentally friendly materials donated by Strickland and fellow artists Dennis Jensen and Terri Ann Kilborn. Each mosaic has been grouted and sealed, which is “very important for outdoor use,” Strickland said, where things like rot, frost, salt residues and thermal expansion could otherwise damage the artwork.

Kilborn, who does business as Arctic Mermaid Mosaics, created the Matanuska River and tree ring mosaics; Jensen and Mary Tilly made the butterfly and concentric-circles mosaics; Kathi Van Zant produced the fern and leaf mosaics; and VAA President Carmen Summerfield compiled the oyster-shell daisy mosaic.

Summerfield was the newest to the art form, and had a positive experience.

“It was nice to work together and learn from each other,” she said.

Librarian Bertels also was happy with the project.

“It (has been) a great partnership and I think we came out on the winning side,” Bertels said.

For more information on the Sutton Public Library and Community Resource Center, visit matsugov.us/msln/Sutton. To learn more about Valley Arts Alliance, visit valleyartsalliance.com, or find them on Facebook.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.