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| Pedro Silva |
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Caribbean Sea
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Completion Date:
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1995
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Medium:
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Ceramic mosaic
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Dimensions:
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n/a
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Location:
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Intermediate School 246
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Address:
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72 Veronica Place, Brooklyn
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Architect:
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Montoya-Rodriguez, P.C.
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Sponsor Agency:
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Board of Education
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Design Agency:
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School Construction Authority
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Located at I.S. 246, Pedro Silva's mosaic mural features images from and references to life in the Caribbean. In the center of the mural is a bright carnival mask of the sun god, surrounded by marine life, including fish, plants, sand, and coral. A wide border portrays several islands with tropical landscapes. Students collaborated with Silva on the project by cutting and piecing together the tiles that form the mosaic.
About the Artist...
Pedro Silva was born in Chile. He has completed several public art projects in ceramic tile mosaic including the benches around Grant's Tomb, a serpent play sculpture in Nashville, and a mermaid fountain in Scotland. His studio work combines classical and contemporary artistic media.
Artist Quote...
My fundamental philosophy about public art is that it should reflect the spirit of the community. The community involved with this mural was a school in Brooklyn and many of the children, parents, teachers, and staff came from an island in the Caribbean Sea. The cultural background of the participants gave us the theme for this mural. The central image was a carnival mask surrounded by a sun. Sea creatures and island motifs swirled around the center. I began by talking to them about their thoughts and ideas and asking what they would like to see in the mural. Then I worked with those ideas and developed a theme. All members of the community were invited to participate in creating the piece, giving them a sense of ownership in the work of art with which they will live. -- Silva, 1995
