Pittsburgh International Airport

mosaic takes flight

Community Mosaic

2024

Sarah approached the Pittsburgh International Airport when she heard about the program "Art at the Airport". She pitched a community mosaic, a project that would engage airport travelers and employees in making artwork while waiting for their plane, delayed flights, or employee breaks. After an image was decided upon, Sarah sketched it out onto a board for everyone to work on who passed by her in the gates. The image is of a plane taking off over sunset, with a compass. Just like it takes a team to get travelers on an airplane in the air, it takes a team to make community mosaics. Sarah taught mosaic techniques and tools so that everyone was able to put a piece down. After a few work sessions, Sarah took the mosaic to her studio to be finished, framed, and grouted. Displayed in Concourse C. The display case shows the finished mosaic, samples of stained glass, glass tools and their usage, and information on stained glass production in the region. Employees were able to leave their desks or kiosk stations to engage with each other, meet each other, and learn new skills and information. Many people said the mosaic process was therapeutic.