Fine art mosaic by Seattle artist Jo Braun.

I create art panels and architectural installations from durable mixed media, emphasizing salvaged materials such as glass and stone floor tile, mirror glass, plate glass, computer parts, bottles from my neighbors' recycling bins, and beautiful, exotic junk from any bone yard or machine shop where I can legally obtain access. I also include classical mosaic materials such as smalti and gold, stained glass, and vitreous art tile, much of which is also salvaged from tile store dumpsters and architectural salvage outlets. My technique is grounded in the "mosaic grammar" of the Romans, whose designs were created primarily with quadrangular tesserae (mosaic "pieces") arranged according to ancient rules, which I bend and break. I cut each tessera by hand on the traditional Italian hammer and hardie, and bond parts into a whole with thinset cement mortar.

LATEST NEWS...

I recently finished fabricating the first of two projects that the City of Wenatchee commissioned for their new Public Works building. This first project is a 46-square-foot exterior installation, which you can see laid out in my yard. It's made from 99.9% salvaged stone and glass, and chunky old watermain parts from the City's public works boneyard. You can also click here to see the prototype. Later this summer, I'll start on the second project for Wenatchee, a series of seven interior art panels.

Right now I'm in the middle of working on a large art panel that the City of Tualatin, OR, commissioned for the entryway of their brand new Public Library. The art panel will depict a rare species of tree known as Ampullacaeruleus floris (Bluebottle blossom tree), which thrives where Pacific Northwesterners make wise use of their resources.

Friday, 5 September 2008 a solo exhibition of my artwork will open at Johnston Architects as part of the Fremont First Friday Art Walk.

Then at some point, I'll start work on another public art project for the City of Tacoma-Tacoma Power lobby and stairwell renovation. The project includes a series of "durable mixed media collage" art panels composed of beautiful salvaged junk from Tacoma Power's electrical shop. I like to think of the art panels as post-post-modern display cabinets. The first four images in my gallery show the maquettes I created for the commission competition.

In case you come across a copy, The April 2008 issue of Metropolitan Home features a mosaic installation I created for Greg and Monica Smith. Or visit my Installations page, third and fourth images.

2008 - Gypsum Board is featured in the introductory edition of Mosaic Art Now.