Author: Leighton Curless
If you walked through the first-floor staff hallway at the Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) in October, you most likely would have found me at a table scrubbing grout off of circular mosaics with a toothbrush. While it may not have been one of the most glamorous tasks, it was still an important part of a larger project at PGC to further involve the community in the life of the institution. In 2001, Kathleen Mulcahy and Ron Desmett sought to contribute to the enrichment of Pittsburgh as a cultural destination. They made this possible through art, community, and the creation of the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Almost 25 years later, PGC has become a place of gathering and education. It welcomes school groups, working glass artists from across the nation, and neighbors in their backyard.
This semester, I have had the pleasure of working at PGC under Valerie Bundy, the Program Director. I learned firsthand how important community is to the teaching institution, which manifested itself in the RAD Community Days. Amongst other events and activities at the Community Days, the main draw was the creation of a community mosaic. This project involved everyone from staff, to kids and adults alike. Throughout my time at the Glass Center, I worked closely to help prepare this project. A design concept was created by my supervisor Valerie Bundy and Jason Forck, Director of Creative Projects, which featured a total of 180 laser-cut circular backers designed using different, predetermined colors of glass pieces and installed in an organic pattern in the newly added parking lot. It was one of my jobs to go through and number each of these backers, which correlated to 5 different sizes. These numbered backers, which corresponded to a specific position and colorway on the mock-up, were then sorted into size and color adjacent stacks to be presented to the visitors.
I had never made a mosaic before my experience at PGC. I designed a small, amber circle using strips of glass, smaller nipped pieces, and cabochons, which are spherical polished gemstones. I found joy in the process of crafting and also being able to chat with visitors during the Community Days. People came from out of town, with family and friends, and to visit staff. Those seated at the same tables shared stories and asked about each other's lives. They asked me about other events and activities at the center and promised to return. It was a really wonderful experience to see the fostering of relationships happening in real time around the making of the mosaics.
Once visitors were finished with their individual circles, they gave us their names. When the project is installed in the new year, those names will be placed alongside the installation so their contributions can be recognized. In the meantime, I was tasked with grouting the circles to have them ready to install. While I mixed the water in with the grout, smeared it with my gloved hands, pushed it between the grooves, let it dry, and then wiped all that gunk away to reveal the beautiful colors, I reflected on all the work and time and love that went into creating each and every one. I’m glad I got to play a small part in the process, and that it will be able to bring joy to people for years to come. That’s what mosaics can do. That’s what the Pittsburgh Glass Center can do.
Leighton Curless was a Museum Studies Intern at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Fall 2024