Students' collaborative mosaics to be on display at fine arts show

While the St. Charles Fine Art Show will host juried artists from around the country, this year it will also feature mosaic projects designed by local community schools - Fox Ridge Elementary, Wasco Elementary and St. Charles East High School.

The mosaic projects began earlier this year with plans and designs orchestrated by the schools' art teachers and local mosaic artists. Vickie Hanners-Gatchel, a mosaic artist who taught in St. Charles Unit District 303 schools, assisted the teachers and students at Wasco and Fox Ridge elementary schools in creating their artwork.

The art teachers included clay mosaic tile making as part of their curriculum so that all students would have an opportunity to work and contribute to the projects.

"This has been such a fun experience. So many people have been involved - students, teachers, PTO members - it has been a school wide endeavor," Hanners-Gatchel said.

Students and their families will be permanently adhering the tiles at the upcoming St. Charles Fine Art Show and the community is invited to stop by the mosaic tent to preview the designs.

After the show, the mosaics will be grouted and then installed in the schools over the summer.

St. Charles East High School is working on a mosaic mural, which will be dedicated to Becky Blaine in honor of her outstanding career as a high school art teacher, art advocate and student advocate. Everyone who has had Blaine as a teacher is encouraged to visit the mosaic tent and contribute to the project.

Century Tile and PARTS (People for the Arts) are sponsoring the St. Charles East High School mosaic. Century Tile is donating more than 800 pounds of tile for the project.

The Fox Ridge and Wasco mosaics are being sponsored by their schools' PTOs and Sherry Theos from FCA in Naperville donated some tile for the Fox Ridge and Wasco mosaics.

The mosaic artists (Vickie Hanners-Gatchel, who is doing the Fox Ridge and Wasco projects and Laura Rendlen, who is doing the St. Charles East High project) are also contributing to the effort by donating some of their time and materials.

The St. Charles Fine Art Show takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 29 and 30. Located on the east side of the river on First Avenue between Main Street and Illinois Avenue, show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, visit the Downtown St. Charles Partnership website at dtown.org.