More than a Mural

Words by Libby Allen & Abby L. Johnson Photos by Eric Morales & Tony Moreno

What happens when art becomes a catalyst for community involvement?

Murals do more than simply add color to a cityscape. They give voice to a community, empower residents, and bring people together. That spirit of connection fuels the mission of The Mosaic Workshop, an ongoing project spearheaded by artists J Muzacz and Carmen Rangel. 

The Mosaic Workshop is housed out of Something Cool Studios, an artist incubator, studio, and art classroom rolled into one. Located in a bungalow-style house off East Cesar Chavez Street, the unassuming white building features a neon sign spelling out Something Cool, just hinting at what lies in store. It’s not until visitors cross the threshold of the studio that it becomes apparent that the studio is a free-flowing hub of creativity. The walls are covered in the work of local artists, some of whom have offices at the studio alongside J and Carmen. It’s an open space set up for creation and connection.

“There’s always something going on or someone is stopping by; someone’s always having a beer and collaborating on something,” J says of the studio.

As the co-founders and lead artists of The Mosaic Workshop, Carmen and J both facilitate and represent this communal spirit by inviting the public to learn about and participate in mosaic art. The project has two tenets to teach people to make their own mosaic projects and to involve the community in public art.

Though J has been creating in various mediums for the last 15 years, he began to fall in love with mosaics when he was teaching art in Dripping Springs in 2016. He liked how this type of application lent itself to bring creative minds together to fabricate large pieces of art. “We got these kids together, and they were given these little squares and panels to make a giant mural together,” J recalls. “People really loved [it], and I figured out that I hit on something. And I’ve basically been working in mosaic ever since.”

“So many people from different creative backgrounds come to work on these murals. It seems like everyone is drawn to the material,” Carmen grins. Mosaics are symbolic of so many contradictions. They are at once organized and chaotic; one singular piece on its own means nothing, but together they speak as a work of art. 

There are so many different ways to approach it. I have my own process to lay out a mural in Photoshop and then figure out the scale. With murals, there’s a balance of structure and preconceived notion mixed with chance,” J elaborates. It’s the most apt medium to bring together community members from all different generations and walks of life.

The mosaic mural medium is a reflection itself of the many people who collaborate to install these large-scale works. The Mosaic Workshop projects, which can be seen on permanent display at 2400 East Cesar Chavez, are made by and for the people of Austin. These community-generated works are designed and facilitated by Carmen and J, who guide volunteers in the installation process.  

The duo also has workshops at Something Cool so anyone in the community can get involved. “We have kids do these workshops, and older people come and participate, too. We started to see this intergenerational diversity involved in the projects,” J says.

When local volunteers participate in creating these public murals, everyone has ownership of the piece. The art takes on another meaning, one that celebrates a diverse and vibrant group of people coming together to create one beautiful community. 

Did You Know?
The Mosaic Workshop has everything you need to get creative from the comfort of home! Order a Stay-At-Home Mosaic kit online at themosaicworkshop.org and pick up materials every Friday from 12-7pm.

Coming Soon! 
Keep your eyes peeled for J’s new book about Austin graffiti, murals, and street art and the history and pioneers of these urban art forms.

Contact:
themosaicworkshop.org
@atxmosaicworkshop
somethingcoolstudios.com
@somethingcoolstudios