Pieces on Earth
Mosaic exhibit explores what is possible when dreams are pursued
Piece together a great evening by including a stop at “Possibilities,” an exhibit by mosaic artist Kate Kerrigan, opening this Friday, Jan. 3 at Lincoln City’s Chessman Gallery.
The exhibit promotes optimism and positivity, exploring concepts such as unity, creativity, hope and open mindedness.
The opening reception runs from 5 to 7 pm on Friday, offering wine, appetizers and a chance to meet the artist.
Can’t make the opening? Check out the virtual gallery tour, going live on Facebook on Saturday.
The exhibit is an extension of “Piecing Us Together,” an epic cross-country pandemic project, in which Kerrigan explored what is possible when ideas and dreams are pursued, when people are open and willing to participate and the importance of art in society. Through this body of work, Kerrigan seeks to inspire, uplift and show what is possible and to convey the belief that art does make a difference, helping to shape minds and change perspectives, creating a better world one viewer at a time.
Kerrigan is originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biological aspects of conservation and environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1993, she moved to San Francisco, where she tapped into her innate creativity and became an avid photographer studying graphic design. She stumbled upon a mosaic workshop and instantly fell in love with the tactility of the medium. So much so that it has been her career for the past 26 years.
Equipped with classic mosaic materials and techniques that she learned from masters in Italy, Kerrigan creates work that breathes fresh air into this ancient art form. Her introspection is reflected in the maturity and subtleties of her work, which tend to be evocative and compelling. Recently, she was invited to be the keynote speaker at the joint 2022 Society of American Mosaic Artists and Stained Glass Association of America conference to present the “Piecing Us Together” project. She was also included in "80 Contemporary Mosaic Artists,” a book of mosaic artists from around the world published in France in 2021.
Kerrigan has been awarded, recognized and published on national and international levels. Her work has been shown in Italy, Turkey and throughout the United States and is actively showing in Oregon and California. She currently resides in Redmond.
Over the course of her mosaic career, a large portion of Kerrigan’s work has been representational, based on her photography. In recent years, however, she has shifted to abstracts. She is generally drawn to a rather monochromatic, subtle palette, finding it to be a more powerful and effective way to tell a story and express emotions.
Her mantra is “less is more,” and she primarily uses classic mosaic materials like Italian smalti and stone. Each tessera is hand-cut, using the traditional hammer and hardie and placed with intention. The nature of mosaic: tactility, texture, materials and movement, all draw her to this art form.
“Possibilities” runs through Feb. 16 in the Chessman Gallery, located inside the Lincoln City Cultural Center at 540 NE Hwy. 101. The center is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, go to lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or call 541-994-9994.
• A new hallway display of cold wax paintings by Roxce Stavney also goes up on Jan. 3. This ethereal collection will be up in the center hallway for two months.