Pieces of us-Mosaic Magic

Italy is home of some of the most beautiful mosaics. Most of them date back to the 14th Century and portray riveting images that can be seen throughout the neighborhoods and monuments of Rome.

Our art classes are being held at the CIEE Study Center at Palazzo Campizucchi, where mosaics were the spotlight of today's lesson. The instructor began by projecting historic images of famous Italian mosaics. Many of the mosaic makers that we studied started their journey into creativity at a young age, similar to our students. The instructor then demonstrated how to piece the fragments of stone together to create a cohesive image, opening a world of pattern possibilities.

For the remaining 90 minutes of studio time, the students engaged in mosaic making puzzle-work. Using their fingertips, they dance the small bits of colored stones around their 4x4 wooden squares, attempting to fit them "just right". The beauty of the mosaics, however, seems to be in the "wrongness." The jagged edges, rough surfaces and muted tones gave way to a beautiful quilt like finish. Here's to the pixelization of art's past, in the young hands of art's future!