Silver Star Mosaic Installation for Veteran's Housing

Piece by Piece recently created a special mosaic for A Community of Friends' Silver Star Housing for Veterans.

Mendelson_pbyp SS 2017 A

Veterans in the United States face intense challenges when rehabilitating and reintegrating back into society. Some of the biggest barriers are access to jobs and housing, and their journey is often difficult and complex.

Piece by Piece received this commission to design an exterior artwork for new housing for homeless veterans from A Community of Friends, a nonprofit that provides supportive housing in Los Angeles.

The Piece by Piece team, including wonderful volunteers, working on this project.

The 10-foot by 20-foot modular project was inspired by the namesake of the building, the Silver Star, which is the third highest honor for valor in combat. The journey a veteran takes is often abstract, leading in different directions with a gamut of emotions and experiences, often jarring and leaving a lifelong impact. Not every path is clear, not every direction defined.

Details of the mosaic show the wonderful mix of materials including Malibu tile.

The design chosen alludes to the complexities of maneuvering both in the combat field and in the efforts to return to a sense of normalcy. Their acts of valor are acknowledged in this piece through the vibrancy of colorful tile. The basic geometric shapes reveal the outlines of a star, encouraging the viewer look deeper, and appreciate the bravery and courage of our veterans.

36037276542_5c60820c4a_zPiece by Piece team on one of our grouting days.

Our artists worked with a wonderful donation of materials from Malibu Tile to create intricate layouts within the design, resulting in a vibrant and powerful look.

The residents of the Silver Star also worked on the project in a special workshop where they contributed to a section of the mural as well as creating small individual mosaics for themselves.

=38419937556_f070bf1bf2_zPiece by Piece lead instructor Luz Mack-Durini and Program Director Dawn Mendelson

Installation day at the Silver Star Apartments

As with all of our large-scale projects, under the guidance of professional artist instructors, the Piece by Piece artists hone their skills in cutting and placement, and work together as a team. By supporting each other and the group, they gain personal strength, self-confidence, and make a difference in their community.

Thank you to A Community of Friends, the residents of Silver Star, and Everyone who contributed!

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