New Mosaics by Dotti Stone added

 Behind the Keyboard Mask

Already there are new items posted in Cornerstone Gallery. Dotti Stone's Azalea Bonsai was created recently for the Look to the East exhibit at Bower Center and "Behind the Keyboard Mask" was in the Black and White theme exhibit last year.

Azalea Bonsai 

Also added is "Tidal Wave," an abstract mirror design that may be used as an accent piece or put in a foyer for that quick last peek before heading out the door. Chunks of peacock ore, glitter and metallic glass tiles are some of the materials included.

Garden Pals

Tidal Wave

   















And finally, a fun piece, "Garden Pals," friends comparing their flip flops, edged with Murano millefiori and topped with vintage flowers.

Mosaic wine bottle stoppers will be coming soon. They are perfect gift items for the person who collects stoppers or for anyone wanting something different to use after opening a bottle of wine.

Mosaic Mirror class at Bower Center coming up August 1

6-10x10 mirrors
Materials used include:
Crystal Colorfusion glass, Van Gogh glass,
Bisazza Opus Romano, iridescent glass tiles,
millefiori

Dotti Stone will be teaching a Mosaic Mirror class beginning Thursday, August 1 - meets four consecutive Thursdays, 6-8:30 pm in the classroom just down the hall from Cornerstone Gallery.

Students will use a variety of beautiful tiles to create a 10" square accessory mirror. This is an opportunity to make something for your home or create a one of a kind gift for someone special.

Register now! 
Find full details on Bower's website
Go to: www.bowercenter.org
or stop in the Bower Center office.

A Closer Look at Some of the Work

Miniatures by Sally Carter

Sally Carter has made some stunning miniature vases ... these make fabulous little gifts ... or start a collection for yourself!!! Her husband Gene concentrates on functional pieces everyone can use and, while Sally does to an extent, her items are often more unusual and innovative utilitarian pieces; i.e. French butter keepers and yarn bowls. 

Mosaic eggs by Sergei Troubetzkoy

Sergei Troubetzkoy, who is fondly referred to as the "Egg Man," seems to have endless ideas for more mosaic eggs. And it would appear that "Bizarre Bertha," the quirky gorgeous bird he created, may get a companion ... no word as to when, but the idea is percolating!

Bizarre Bertha by Sergei Troubetzkoy

Second Friday opening of The Cornerstone Gallery

Weeks of working on this little space have finally yielded a bright cozy gallery filled with exciting and colorful mosaics and  unique pottery created by potters Gene and Sally Carter, and mosaic artists, Bonnie Kinnaird, Sergei Troubetzkoy and Dotti Stone. It was officially opened Friday, July 10 and visitors drifted in to see the new space as well as have another opportunity to see the James Underwood Retrospective Exhibit in the Concert Hall Gallery and main lobby of Bower Center.

The Cornerstone Gallery 5
L-R: Bonnie Kinnaird, Sergei Troubetzkoy,
Dotti Stone, Gene and Sally Carter

Gene Carter, the accidental potter!

Double walled planter

Where's the Salad

There is absolutely nothing in my academic or employment background that in any way offered a hint I might become a potter. My undergraduate and graduate majors included chemistry, biology, psychology, and public administration. My work history was a series of mundane jobs as a statistician or program administrator. And, my fledgling attempts at drawing in grammar school were long ago totally and forever squelched by a classmate who dismissed them as "copying" because I drew pictures that I saw in books. Having never recovered from that harsh denouement I relegated my artistic "career" to the back burner and moved on with my life.

The Proverbial Chicken Roaster

When my wife Sally transplanted a potter's wheel to the middle of the kitchen in our crowded home in southern Maryland curiosity eventually got the upper hand and I gave throwing pottery a try. I actually became fairly proficient at it and, quite remarkably, some of my work is actually in The Cornerstone Gallery.  As a person who appreciates and admires art, I would classify my work as functional, repetitive, and dreary. So, if it's fine art you are after when you visit the gallery, check out the mosaics by Dotti Stone and Bonnie Kinnaird, my wife's beautiful pottery, or have Sergei craft you one of his unique mosaic eggs. Any of the foregoing will comprise an excellent addition to your collection of good local art and make your trip to The Cornerstone Gallery a memorable experience. But, if you have an insatiable need to cook chicken in a handcrafted chicken roaster, I'm your man!

Sergei Troubetzkoy, 3-D mosaic artist

Bizarre Bertha

Sergei Troubetzkoy grew up in Richmond, Virginia where he began his career which has included working for tourism programs in Richmond, Petersburg, Staunton and now Bedford, Virginia. Over the years he has worked in many mediums including gold and silver, glass, photography, painting and now mosaics thanks to his neighbor Dotti Stone who teaches classes in mosaics at The Bower Center for the Arts in Bedford.

Spring Garden
Gazing ball

Bird Nest

After completing his first mosaic project, a gazing ball, he quickly moved on to creating mosaic eggs (many of which use actual egg shells) and most recently a fanciful mosaic-covered bird. Working with three-dimensional surfaces such as eggs is challenging due to the irregular shape and curved surface and as a result it requires very small pieces of tile, most of which are hand-cut. Working with tiny pieces of glass and irregular surfaces can test the patience of anyone! Because of the small size and shape, it takes a long time to complete just one egg because only a small fraction of the surface can be worked-on at a time.

Sergei enjoys experimenting with various colors and textures to create unusual and unique objects.

Cornerstone Gallery opens in Bedford this coming Friday, July 12!