August 16, 2020

Clay Art projects

With funding from local and state government and foundations CAC celebrates clay in the community by creating pieces of public art. CACs public art projects help to increase awareness and appreciation for the arts in our community, beautify unused spaces and involve community members in the valuable process of creating art while taking ownership of public spaces. Having facilitated a number of public art projects CAC leaves its mark on the community for the generations to come.

Clay Art Center's "Community Mosaic Mural"

Clay Art Center has undertaken a community mosaic project entitled, Community Mosaic Mural, whose goal is to connect with the community of Port Chester in a deeper, more meaningful way. We have invited hundreds of community members to come and create with us, to dig in to what may be a new material and to leave a lasting mark by completing a tile for the mosaic.

Our mosaic is permanently installed on the exterior of Clay Art Center at 40 Beech Street in Port Chester NY. The mosaic will feature the image of a symbolic tree whose roots, trunk and branches nurture creativity and strength, and provide shelter and hope to the community.

Clay Art Center's community of artists worked together to create the tree trunk, each tile expressing a clear and unique artistic style. Local students from Port Chesters schools and community centers have created hundreds of clay hands that are installed as leaves of the tree. These colorful tiles reflect favorite hobbies and wishes for the future, and give each participant a sense of ownership of the project and the center itself. Embedded around the trees roots are landmarks of Port Chester from the bustling Main Street to the icon of transportation, the Metro North train.

The mosaic is also meant to be an enduring public art work that engages those who see it. It will be visible to those who pass by Clay Art Center as well as those who come to the center for exhibits, classes or to work in the studio. All who see it will recognize its power to bring the community together. This project is funded by a generous anonymous donor. Fall 2009-Summer 2013

OASIS After School Program, Port Chester Elementary Schools

Teaching artists working in Park Avenue Elementary and JFK Magnet School work together with school staff, administration and students to create meaningful mosaics that beautify outdoor spaces. At Park Avenue Elementary the garden bed is decorated with mosaic tiles showing each of the elements that make gardens grow, rain, sunshine, bugs etc. The courtyard at JFK Magnet School is being transformed by permanent mosaics on the courtyards walls that reflect each of the seasons and the changes they make in the community garden. Each of these projects allows the children to brainstorm improvements to the space, think about positive change and claim ownership of their educational spaces outside of the classroom. Ongoing

Greenburgh Nature Center Mosaic, Edgemont

In partnership with the Greenburgh Nature Center CAC teaching Artists worked with families to create unique clay tiles. Each tile made by a community member featured a small piece of the natural landscape of the center including, frogs, birds, snakes, bugs, flowers and plants. The tiles are permanently installed around the centers Nature Discovery Playground. Spring 2012

Living Things Mosaic

With an Art Partners Grant from ArtsWestchester CAC teaching artist Ariel Plantz worked with more than 500 kindergarteners of Park Early Childhood Center to create a permanent mosaic in the schools courtyard. During the project the students learned about living things while creating clay worms, bugs, grass, flowers birds and soil to celebrate all the living things encountered in our daily lives. Spring 2011

Arts Alive Mosaic Bench

Over 45 children from the 21 Century After School Program at Port Chester Middle School worked with CAC teaching artist Ariel Plantz to brainstorm designs for a mosaic bench. This bench permanently installed in Lyons Park in Port Chester showcases enormous sunflowers growing from strong roots in the community. This project was funded with an Arts Alive grant from ArtsWestchester. Summer 2011

Kai and the Dragon Mosaic

With funding from a Municipal Challenge grant from ArtsWestchester, CAC teaching artist Sarah Coble designed and created a permanent mosaic to beautify the Rye Town Park. The mosaic illustrates a Chinese folktale about overcoming adversity and highlights the historic Dragon Coaster in nearby Playland Amusement Park.