ANCIENT ROMAN MOSAIC FROM LYDDA (LOD) TO BE SHOWCASED AT MIAMI’ FROST ART MUSEUM BETWEEN FEB. 10 AND MAY 15, 2016. “PREDATORS AND PREY” A ROMAN MOSAIC FROM LYDDA (LOD), ISRAEL
​Visitors to Miami this winter travel season have a chance to meet a true “Roman Rock Star” up close in the magnificent Lydda (Lod) Mosaic, a 3rd-century CE Roman Mosaic from the Eastern Roman Empire in modern-day Israel.
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) saved the Lydda (Lod) Mosaic after it was discovered by a construction crew during a 1996 excavation to widen a roadway.
The Lydda (Lod) Mosaic dates back to the 3rd century CE when the town of Lydda (Lod) was a part of the Roman Empire. The exquisitely detailed mosaic is believed to be the floor of a large audience room, in a grand villa owned by a wealthy Roman merchant whose trade route crossed between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean. Read on.
http://thearabdailynews.com/2016/01/25/27034/

Cape Cod Mosaic Workshops Announces 2014 Schedule
By JOANNE BRIANA-GARTNER
Cape Cod Mosaic Workshops (CCMW) has released its schedule of upcoming workshops for 2014. Mosaic artist Jim Bowen, director of the program, is excited to expand the footprint of this year’s workshops and
hold them both in the new modern Falmouth Art Center and at Highfield Hall. Being close to downtown Falmouth, these locations are convenient for those students who travel from afar and for those who are nearby, Mr. Bowen said. “These venues offer bright, clean work spaces with all the amenities,” he added.
With nationally recognized teachers who have won both international and national awards at various mosaic exhibitions, including the national convention at the Society of Mosaic Artists, the fourth season of workshops includes classes for advanced mosaic artists as well as ones for beginning students who “have never nipped a tile” Mr. Bowen said. “Over the years we have taught hundreds of students
from all over the USA and Canada,” Mr. Bowen said. “Last year we had a student
fly in from Alaska and another from Israel.”
“Taking a workshop with us is a wonderful way for them to have a fabulous vacation here in Falmouth while taking in a few days of education at the same time. Our students stay in local hotels and B&Bs. They impact the local economy by spending thousands of dollars in local restaurants, shops and theaters. As a matter of fact, we have a ‘concierge’ page on our website that helps them plan their vacation day to day.”
The workshop lineup is as follows: Jim Bowen will lead an "Introduction to Mosaics" workshop April 26 and 27 at the Falmouth Art Center. The workshop will be geared toward beginning students with little or no experience. On June 28 and 29, there will be a workshop for those interested in combining flower mosaics with layered glass technique all in one image. Yulia Hanansen returns to CCMW to lead this workshop, titled Flower Power … Plus! at the art center. Kelley Knickerbocker will lead “Strata Various: Mastering and Merging Materials in Mosaic,” a workshop in which students will create a highly textured mosaic of disparate hard materials (stone, glass, metal, ceramic, and more) in grayscale (black, white, and everything in between) using cement mortar as the adhesive. The workshop will be held July 18 through July 20 at the art center. This will be Ms.Knickerbocker’s first time teaching with CCMW; her work was featured at the National Mosaic Exhibition on Cape Cod in 2011. San Francisco mosaic artist Michael Kruzich will lead a three-day workshop at the art center on reproduction and gradient-direct technique, July 26 through 28. Mr. Kruzich’s work has exhibited nationallyand internationally, winning awards at the annual Mosaic Arts International exhibits in 2010 and 2011, as well as appearing in several recent art and mosaic publications. “Realism in Mosaic Using Stained Glass” will be the topic addressed by instructor Carol Shelkin on August 9 and 10 at the art center. Ms. Shelkin was one of the featured mosaic artists at “Signatures,” a mosaic show in Falmouth last season. She has taught in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Spain in 2013. Highfield Hall will be the venue for Mr. Bowen’s “Make a Mosaic Memory Mirror” on August 18 and 19. Cynthia Fisher, who taught at CCMW in 2011 and 2012, returns to instruct “Working in Reverse: A Workshop in the Indirect Technique,” August 20 through 22. In this workshop, to be held at Highfi eld Hall, students will focus on various ways to approach creating a mosaic back-splash, and “how to” tips to make a tabletop or mosaic wall panel, working in the indirect method.
To register for the workshops, go to www.capecodmosaicworkshops.com.

Students who were anticipating a January 1st email announcing our 2014 schedule were pleasantly surprised when they opened their emails on New Years Eve to find the exciting new schedule in their mailboxes.
The list of instructors they found are the "cream of the crop" teachers who are all looking forward to teaching eager minds their mosaic techniques. Cape Cod is a magical place and our facilities are the most comfortable you will have ever taken a class in.
So, check out the list and make your choices as a dozen students have already done. Yes, these classes will fill up fast, so don't hesitate.

As the winter snow flies here on Olde Cape Cod, we are preparing to release our 2014 schedule. The complete program with workshop descriptions and prices will be available on January1st.
You can imagine how excited we are to have Yulia Hanansen back with us! She is a CCMW favorite with her dazzling personality and charm. If you are thinking about taking her "Flower Power Plus" workshop be sure to sign up right away. We guarantee this class will sell out first.
The first time Cindy Fisher taught with us was at the National Mosaic Exhibition on Cape Cod which was held at Highfield Hall in 2011. She also taught in 2012 for CCMW. Since then, we have enjoyed following her latest artwork. Her quilt series is spectacular. Check her web page to see photos if you get a chance.
Three new artists will be coming to Cape Cod this year to teach you their special techniques. Kelley Knickerbocker has taught all over the country. Her vivacious personality makes the class fun for everyone. She travels extensively throughout North America speaking, collaborating and teaching in-depth workshops on mosaic style and technique. Kelley showed at the National Mosaic Exhibition on Cape Cod in 2011 also.
Carol Shelkin creates contemporary, fine art, original and intricate mosaic designs that eminent care and attention to detail with hand cut, high quality stained glass. She was one of the featured mosaic artists at "Signatures" a mosaic show in Falmouth last season. Carol has taught in Mexico, Costa Rica and Spain in the last year so we are thrilled that she will add CCMW to her credits.
We are doing our happy feet dance because Michael Kruzich has agreed to come here from San Fransisco to teach. His work has exhibited nationally and  internationally, winning awards at the annual “Mosaic Arts International” exhibits in 2010 and 2011 as well as appearing in several recent art and mosaic publications. Michael works in natural stone and smalti and will be teaching the classical direct method. You may know him for his "Heros with Bling" series that was all the buzz in mosaic circles a few years back.

It seemed fitting to end our 2013 workshops with Lynne Chinn teaching a unique and educational workshop. Lynne has been teaching with us during all the three years that we have been in business. Her warm and friendly personality is only matched by her immense knowledge of mosaic art. As in years past, Lynne's students came away from her workshop with a clear understanding of the subject taught. This year it was a workshop on the art of color. She explained not only how colors effect our artwork, but also how colors effect our moods including our chakras. Leave it to Lynne to ring out the year with her students begging her to come back again next year.

Jim Bowen's workshop was strictly for beginners. Jim explains, "I love to work with students who have never held a glass cutter or nipped a tile. Bringing a clean slate to class allows me to inspire them to become the artists that lay deep down inside." The sell out workshop produced a number of beautiful works on their first try so be sure to look for them in the "Photo Gallery" section of our web site.

We are seeing some amazing work from our students this season. New teachers at CCMW, Laurie Mika and Susan Wechsler have demonstrated unique ways to create mosaic art to their students.
Laurie's work with polymer clay has brought a whole new dimension to mosaic art. Her gentle style of persuading students to reach into areas that they hadn't before has proofed to be just what they needed to create more beautiful art than they had imagined they were capable of. The staff at Highfeidl Hall has been most impressed and we have enjoyed her company throughout her brief visit. Check out the photos here.
Susan's students brought along buckets and boxes of family heirlooms anticipating this venture. They want to create a shrine to place these memories. Susan didn't diapoint as she guided them through the process of designing a shrine. Students were surprised as their work took hold and so pleased at the final results. The class was filled with laughter as students shared their own memories with each oether. Here are some photos of the workshop.

It's been quite a week at Highfield Hall! Not only did we begin our summer session, but we were able to enjoy the mosaic exhibition called "Signatures". Another exhibit brought dozens of little girls and their parents scurrying 'round the beautiful gardens looking for the fairy houses that local artists have created and are on display. So, as you can imagine everyone was delighted to be at such an amazing venue.
For us, the atmosphere was electric as popular mosaic teachers Yulia Hahansen and Sonia King shared their knowledge with full classes of 18 students each. The students came from as far away as Alaska and Israel to learn from these "professors of mosaics". After class, many enjoyed all that Falmouth has to offer. Some enjoyed the St. Barnabus Church Monday night Lobster rolls and strawberry shortcake under the tent and then heard an acapella concert featuring the college glee club, "Hyannis "Sound" at the Falmouth Congregational Church located across the street. Some discovered the joys of a Pomegranate Martini at Stone Lovin"- a local restaurant. Others ventured off to the Falmouth Arts and Craft Street Fair along with 25,000 eager shoppers along Main Street on Wednesday afternoon after class ended. "No No Nanette" was performed by the College Light Opera Company which a few new found mosaic buddies decided to go to on Tuesday night. Others simply drove to the beach, took off their shoes and wiggled their toes in the sand while the sun set over the horizon.
So, as you can see there is always something to do during your mosaic vacation here in Falmouth. Won't you come and join us?

In this, our third year of offering beginner and advanced workshops, we are really starting to take off! Because we bring the most popular teachers to Cape Cod every summer, the mosaic world is noticing. Students are signing up at a record pace. As a matter of fact, one of our teachers, Yulia Hanansen has a full workshop with a waiting list developing already - and it's only March!
Sonia King and Lynne Chinn are always pleased to come back to the Cape and so are their students. Many have signed up already, but there are still a few slots available. We are very excited and pleased to see that Laurie Mika and Susan Wechsler have such a big following. Their enrollments are very high, too.
 The message in all if this is to act now and sign up today. If you snooze, you loose as they say. :) And we want everyone to be a winner ! 

We are so excited to share our list of teachers who have signed on to teach this year. It will be great to see old friends Sonia King, Lynne Chinn and Yulia Hanansen, who have taught here in the past. New teachers this year are Susan Weschler and Laurie Mika. If you know their work, I'm sure you are anxious to meet them, too.
The workshops will be held this summer in the month of July. Cape Cod is the place to be in July. Drive down the highway and you'll see the SUV's are packed to the roof with beach toys and coolers heading to the summer cottage. The sandy beaches are chock full with blankets and umbrellas as the kids play in our warm salty water. In the evenings, couples walk arm in arm  walking along Main Street, peeking into the many shops and deciding which of the dozen or so trendy restaurants to explore.
What a great time for you to plan your summer vacation. And how could it get any better to take a mosaic workshop and then spend a few days seeing the sites?
Be sure to look in your email box in January for all the details of the workshops including class descriptions and prices. And sign up early, because these workshops always sell out fast!