Gallery

A mosaic is made into something beautiful from broken fragments. We are not broken, but diamonds in the rough. When we bring community together like this mosaic, we lift each other up. In this artwork, we invite all to open their hearts, and to dream big. The artwork aims to bring together our community in unity to honor our past, present, building a brighter future.

The hearts are made of finger prints…. metaphorically about imprinting memories and experiences. 

The houses are built like building blocks, and the landscape is made of culturally influenced patterns to support the idea that when working together, we create positive outcomes.

Books represent equal education.

Planting values like seeds will grow success. Illustrated in various ways in the mosaic. 

Blues originated from African culture, having an effect on those that were oppressed or brokenhearted. Emotionally charged music then gave way to a new genre: Jazz. Jazz had a rhythmic upbeat nature. We can hardly look at these forms of music without looking at the social, political, and cultural influences they had in the United States and western Europe. For a long time, black and white jazz musicians were not allowed to perform together publicly. It was only at after-hours sessions that they jammed together, as Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke did in Chicago in the 1920s. 

The sculpture is made of a steel armature with fiberglass and mosaic coating standing 8ft high and 13ft long. The bird and rabbit playing a saxophone is meant to be telling the story and some untold stories about jazz and blues history. One detailed mosaic picture on the back side of the sculpture tells the story of Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke playing together, regardless of the rules to not be seen playing together in public. (the untold story)

When working with young students in the schools, we invited each participant to make a ceramic piece to add to the existing design. We asked them to make feathers that represented freedom. We spoke about jazz and blues being the one art form that became the precursor to the civil rights movement. Teachers took their students to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee during our outreach sessions. 

Walking Cat is imbued with a pose that concentrates on the impression of a singular forward action and movement. In this case, Magel makes a 9ft tall cat walking a dog rather than a walking human. Still, we are dealing with humanity, just adding a comic strip humor and lighthearted storytelling that although makes us smile, reminds us of serious provocative content within the images that create curiosity.

Walking Cat is coated with all handmade tile and glass pieces. The imagery reflects concepts of exploration of self, place, and belonging. 

The Cat stands 9 feet high and is made of fiberglass, steel armature, and mosaic/glass pieces with images reflecting parts of a story. The use of patterns and images on this form reflect the relationship we have to the world and to each other. 

Humorous, fun, and light hearted, this sculpture brings out our playful nature, but on a closer look to a deeper meaning, it could be thought of as a political statement. If the cat is walking a dog, it then becomes about equality and hierarchy perhaps. The sculpture is meant to be provocative and spark the imagination. Though contrary to belief, this is serious art. Play is both serious and humorous, combined brilliantly in this iconic artwork.