(Available each month to Tile Heritage members who e-mail the Foundation from the address they
would like E-News sent to. Contact: foundation@tileheritage.org)      PRINTED VERSION




Here’s What’s Below:

Letter from CERF

Coverings Preeminent

Spectrum Awards

Turk Wins TCNA’s Tile Person

Jim and Pat Evanko Honored

Claycraft Mantel

E-News Correction

New Mural in Jingletown

This mystery tile is set in a residential fireplace
in South Orange, New Jersey that dates to 1904.
If you can identify it, please let us know!
Email: foundation@tileheritage.org




From Cornelia Carey, Executive Director, CERF

Dear Friends at the Tile Heritage Foundation,

I would like to express our deepest gratitude for your on-going commitment to
CERF’s Cornelia Carey.
Photo courtesy Irene de Watteville.
the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) through your generous annual gift. Your support makes possible our quick and effective response to craft artists severely impacted by emergencies as well as supporting our work helping artists prepare for and mitigate the effects of significant disasters.

The wildfires last fall that ravaged Southern California were a reminder of how important CERF’s assistance is to professional craft artists. The feedback we heard from our beneficiaries there and in other parts of the country tells us that CERF’s assistance comes at critical times and often keeps temporary setbacks from turning into the permanent silence

We are honored to have your support and partnership in this important work. We share the value that you place on artists’ careers and the contributions they make to our lives.

Warm Regards and Many Thanks Again.

THF encourages all of its members to continue to Support CERF, the only group in the U.S. that is dedicated to assisting craftspeople in time of need. Visit http://craftemergency.org





John Beasley and Debbie Hill
of Medicine Bluff Studios
show off their THF membership.

Coverings: The Preeminent Tile Event

For more than 20 years, Coverings has been the preeminent event for the ceramic tile and natural stone industry in the Western
“Admittedly, that WAS a great party last night!” Richard Scott maintains his “status”
in the Art Tile Village.
Hemisphere. Year after year visitors from every facet of the tile and stone world find Coverings to be the most important event to see thousands of new products, new suppliers from around the globe and the newest information presented for the first time to help them grow their business.

In more recent years, thanks primarily to the efforts of the Tile Council of North America, studio artists and artisans from Canada, studio artists and
“Hey, check this out!” Josh Blanc adds a jazzy touch
to the Avenue of the Artisans.
artisans from Canada, Mexico and the United States are welcomed to participate in the North American Pavilion. Both the Art Tile Village and the Avenue of the Artisans, featuring a wonderful collection of creativity and handiwork, have become an important destination for architects, designers, retailers, distributors and others visiting the four-day show. Nearly 100 companies, offering the latest in tile, equipment and installation products, filled the pavilion, now more than 44,000 net square feet.

“It’s what??” These two tile makers,
Chuck Fitzgerald (on the left) and Andru Eron,
may appear to be purchasing a historic catalog
repro at the Tile Heritage booth.
In fact, Chuck is trying to get Andru
to reimburse him for his hot dog
(it was free, compliments of Tile Council!).
The Tile Heritage Foundation, a co-sponsor of Coverings, is a guest of the Tile Council and has exhibit space “under the flags,” where the popular free hot dogs are served every day. This year Tile Heritage presented a video titled “A World of Historic Tile in Architecture,” featuring significant installations of tile, stone and mosaic from 18 different countries, demonstrating a grand procession of artistic achievement over the past 2000 years. The video was shown prior to many
Judy Hodges, on the right, and her colleague
Rebecca Proctor accept the Best Booth Award
for MacKenzie-Childs.
of the educational sessions, in between the 87 live-installation demonstrations and on the buses carrying attendees to and from the convention center.

More than 35,000 people attended Coverings in late April this year at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, after last year’s hiatus in Chicago. The crowds were spirited; the mood and tenor of the show were upbeat. Exhibit after exhibit surprised and delighted with new styles and bold, adventurous looks on display. Innovative applications and uses of tile were frequently spotted and included such novel ideas as a complete dining room at MacKenzie-Childs outfitted with table and chairs, each with ceramic appointments. Not surprisingly, MacKenzie-Childs of Aurora, New York took home the Best Booth Award. Congratulations!






Spectrum Awards THF Members

The Spectrum Awards competition celebrates creativity and achievement in the use of ceramic tile in residential and commercial projects, and over the years these awards have honored some of the world’s most beautiful and respected ceramic tile designs. The competition, sponsored by Coverings, is open to architects, designers, builders, contractors, distributors, retailers, installers and other design professionals, including tile makers. Tile Heritage has for years encouraged its artisan members to participate in this unique annual contest as the publicity generated for the award winners is second to none in the industry. This year five of the twelve award winners were Tile Heritage members, and in extending our congratulations to them we have chosen to feature each of their award-winning projects below.


Paragon Prairie Tower Merited

David Dahlquist of RDG Planning and Design of Des Moines, Iowa received the Award of Merit for mosaic/glass tile for the 118-foot Paragon Prairie Tower in Urbandale, Iowa. The owner, R&R Realty, wished to create a major destination icon and new cultural landmark for the state of Iowa, a dynamic symbol that pays homage to the history of the native Iowa prairie. The tower combines state-of-the-art technology and materials. The tapestry of glass mosaic was manufactured by SICIS in Ravenna, Italy. Currently the largest glass mosaic mural in the United States, the column is clad in nearly 1.8 million glass tiles, more than 5,050 square feet. The base of the column integrates a frieze of prairie grasses in sculpted relief made of terra cotta and glass fiber reinforced concrete.

For details see www.tileheritage.org/THF-ENews02-08.html#tower.

 

 

“World Tree of Life” Awarded

“Possibilities Gateway” 14 ½’ h x 12’ w x 3 ½’ d,
stoneware, slate, glass mosaic, also showing the
“Destination Sculpture” 7’ h x 3 ½’ w x 3 ½’ d,
stoneware, slate mosaic, in the background.
Photo by Sibila Savage, courtesy Dannanbeck Studios.

A Community Spectrum Award honored Dannenbeck Studios of Lafayette, California for its “World Tree of Life” at the Juvenile Justice Center, Alameda County. According to the artists, Susan
Egyptian depiction of Lotus flower, the
Australian Rainbow snake,
emerging bird of transcendence in flight.
Detail shows the extraordinary glaze effects achieved
and the intricacy of the World Tree installation.
Photo courtesy Dannanbeck Studios.
Dannenfelser and Kirk Beck, the purpose of the work is to symbolically offer the viewer an alternative path in life, using universal symbols to address the similarities of the world’s peoples at a time when much is made of society’s differences. The goal was to create a sculptural environment that would beckon the visitor with inviting, colorful imagery that would also be accessible and engaging.

The “Possibilities Gateway” serves as the focal point for the powerful life-giving force of the sun and the “Destination” sculpture celebrates the powerful life-giving force of water. Both pieces use affirming, uplifting symbols from nature—flowers, birds, trees—to talk about life’s passages. Both also have a reflective central “portal,” an opening that extends each piece beyond its concrete borders, symbolically leaving its meaning open to individual interpretation. In addition, there are two tree ring surrounds, 100 linear feet of tile and slate benches, a stair riser mural at the entrance to the building, and scattered “wandering” pavement tiles throughout the plaza.

For additional details see www.tileheritage.org/THF-ENews3-07.html#Youth.

 

A team of artists at Motawi Tileworks
reproduced the original sketches of artist Rob Fleming
using a traditional tube-lining technique
to maintain the separation of glaze colors.

Community Award for Rob Fleming Park Murals

Motawi Tileworks of Ann Arbor, Michigan was chosen to reproduce in 6x6 tiles the artwork of the late Rob Fleming, a graphic artist and longtime member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The setting involves two recessed alcoves, one on each side of a massive stone fireplace, the focal point in a pavilion featured in a residential development outside of Houston.

An illustrator helped translate Fleming’s detailed sketches into simple line art that was adapted by a team of artists at Motawi into tube-lined designs, allowing each of the different glaze colors, applied with bulb syringes, to remain within their specific designated areas on the mural’s surface. The finished artwork describes the wildlife of Texas, from the rocks and plains of the northwest to the wetlands and the Gulf in the east.

For more information on Motawi Tileworks: www.motawi.com.

 

 

Award of Merit: Dreams of a Tile Setter

Fitz tiles welcome you to the Fitzgerald residence
in El Cajon, California.

After 30 years as a tile setter and 20 years as a ceramic artist, Chuck Fitzgerald provided himself with the opportunity to fulfill a dream—to tile his own residence in El Cajon, California with his own designs. His goal was to explore patterns, geometric as well as free-flowing, and to move away from the traditional square grid. The handmade tile designs were used to accent
Among the many features of this unique installation
are the custom shapes and sizes chosen
to accent the windows.
exterior windows of the residence as well as to decorate the kitchen floor and the full master bath. The added flare of the custom trim pieces added to the project. This is Chuck’s second Spectrum Award.

Chuck is the founder of Fitz Tile, a custom handmade tile company that specializes in tessellations—tiles of unusual shapes and sizes that fit together in decorative patterns. In 2007 he designed and produced a commemorative tile for Tile Heritage, the THF logo embraced by the human hand (www.tileheritage.org/THF-ENews12-07.html#Fitz Tile Commemorative). Check out Chuck’s website at www.fitztile.com.

 

Arts & Crafts Tile Featured

The charm of this installation is in the detail
with the ceramic leaves floating onto the floor.

The Spectrum judges chose Santa Fe Design Studio in Madison, Wisconsin to receive the Design+Detail award for the tile work in a local residential bedroom designed, fabricated and installed by Eric Rattan. Here are traditional Arts & Crafts shapes and sizes from a century ago but with a definite contemporary flare reflecting the artist’s aesthetic sensibilities. The border tiles around the closet form a hand-cut mosaic of various leaf designs that flow around the double doors and spill onto the floor, attracting additional attention to the more traditional basket-weave patterning below.

Eric Rattan is a former winner of both Spectrum and Prism Awards. See santafedesignstudio.com.





Turk Named Tile Person of the Year

Harold Turk, Jr. receives
TCNA’s Tile Person of the Year Award
from the Tile Council’s Eric Astrachan.
The award tile was produced by Marc Holm
of Ad Tiles (Architectural Décor).
Photo courtesy Tile Council of North America.

Harold Turk, Jr., President of Dal-Tile Corp., was awarded Tile Person of the Year by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) during a special awards ceremony at Coverings 2008. Turk, who has spent most of his life and career in the tile industry, grew up learning about the industry from his father, a 40-year employee of Dal-Tile.

Over the course of the past three decades, Harold rose through the company ranks to lead its largest division, which consists of more than 230 company-operated sales service centers. He spearheaded a significant strategy shift from a primarily commercially focused brand to one that today serves as market leader in both commercial and residential segments. In addition, he was instrumental in developing the Gallery Showroom concept, which offers an upscale selection tailored to assist customers with making a wide range of product decisions.

“Mr. Turk’s initiatives have inspired our industry to rethink accepted business practices,“ remarked Eric Astrachan, TCNA’s Executive Director. “His innovative strategies have been instrumental in the success of Dal-Tile and the resurgence of American tile manufacturing.”





Evankos Honored by TCNA

The Tile Council of North America also presented Pat and Jim Evanko with the inaugural Art Tile Person(s) of the Year Award at the Coverings exposition in Orlando.

Once the applause died down, Pat and Jim Evanko
sat back to enjoy their Art Tile Persons of the Year Award,
a framed tile produced by North Prairie Tileworks of Minneapolis.

Twenty years ago, an engineer and artist were asked by a friend to match out-of-date tile for a hysterical customer. This talented team matched the tile and, after investigating the tile market, began manufacturing a relief tile line in their garage, matching the field tile colors of major American manufacturers, thus creating M.E. Tile (McGarry and Evanko).

From 1990 through 2006, M.E. Tile grew from 6 to 142 showrooms due to strong marketing exposure at numerous trade shows and in national magazines, movies, and television shows, all of which encouraged the demand for relief tiles while augmenting the growth and development of the company, and many others as well.

“Pat and Jim Evanko’s passion, and their willingness to share their expertise, played a pivotal role in establishing the renaissance of American art tile,” commented Eric Astrachan. “Their tireless devotion to this industry placed American artistry on the international map and will inspire future artisans.”

In 2006, Pat and Jim sold M. E. Tile to Red Rock Tileworks, which continues to produce the M.E. line in Charleston, Illinois.

Tile Heritage offers a grand “tile salute” to our longtime friends, Life Members of the Foundation, who have over the years participated in every symposium, conference and tour presented by THF.

Special thanks to Shannon Woodmansee at the Tile Council for providing the press material and images above.





An original Claycraft mantel, a modified No. 2903.
Photo courtesy of Susanne and Allan Olson.

An Original Claycraft Mantel

From Susanne and Allan Olson

A little while ago, we ordered from you the Claycraft Mantel Catalog in order to see if our fireplace mantel was in this catalog. You might like to know that we have in our 80-year-old house an original Claycraft fireplace mantel, No. 2903. It was made slightly narrower than the image in the catalog in order to fit between the two French doors. The two tiles next to the center were eliminated and the hearth was adjusted accordingly. We are very pleased to have found our fireplace mantel in the catalog. Now we know a little more about the history of our house. We are attaching four pictures of the fireplace, since we thought you might like to see the fireplace and some of the details.

Email THF if you would like to see the details! foundation@tileheritage.org





Detail of the El Indio tile water fountain
by Partricia Kaszas and Lynn Render.

E-News Correction Request

Hello from Patricia J. Kaszas in San Diego,

I enjoyed your E-News for April/May and was surprised to see the inclusion brief on the El Indio tile water fountain. Thank you for dropping by to see it! However, it is only appropriate to make an important note that it was a co-op effort with another artist, Lynn Render, who also resides in San Diego. Her strength is clay art and mine is tile painting and design. Each tile piece was handcrafted and over 200 tiles were decorated. Between the two of us, it took us over 6 months to complete this endeavor and we are both very proud of it.





New Mural in Jingletown

From Laurel True, Institute of Mosaic Art (IMA)

We just finished a very cool mural that was created during my Mosaic Mural Making Intensive class at IMA. We had a great group of students for this class (from as far afield as Australia,  Canada and North Carolina) and we worked really hard to complete this rather large (for a week-long class) mural, which we donated to a neighborhood coffee shop. The mural depicts the Kefa region in Ethiopia, which is one of the oldest coffee growing regions in the world, as well as two cups pouring the elixir of life (coffee, of course) and a traditional, ceremonial coffeepot from Ethiopia. The business owners are originally from Ethiopia and Kefa Coffeehouse is a new, welcome addition to our neighborhood. There were 300 hours in the production of this mural. Fitting to the natural scene depicted, we installed the mural on Earth Day 2008.

It's way better in person! Kefa- Coffee from Ethiopia to Jingletown 2008.
Ceramic tile, glass and mirror, 4’ x 10’. Kefa Coffeehouse, Ford St. and 29th, Oakland, California.
Photo courtesy True Mosaics.

Mosaic mural by True Mosaics Studio and students of Mosaic Mural Making Intensive at Institute of Mosaic Art. Design and facilitation by Laurel True. Production and installation by Kim Grant, Pam Goode, Jill Montgomery, Renata Kolarova, Karla Silva-Ruiz, Susannne Takehara, Laurel True and Carol Waldren. Additional production assistance by Deborah Block, Debbie Callen, Kara Graves, Delaine Hackney, Celeste Howell and Rachel Rodi and Lillian Sizemore. Handmade ceramic tile accents by Saundra Warren.




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