I am very pleased to announce the upcoming publication of Maestro Giulio Menossi’s book, “Menossi: I mosaici,” which will commemorate his 35 years as a professional mosaicist. The book will present a total of 58 works through more than 80 images. Maestro Menossi has chosen 34 works from the years of 1973 - 2009 to chronicle his development as a mosaicist and artist. 24 other works will be presented, in smaller format, which represent the depth and breadth of his expertise in a variety of original and commissioned works over the course of his career. Through the pages of this book, Maestro Menossi will share his thoughts and reflections, as recorded in his hand-written notes of the last 35 years, on his life and work as a mosaicist. In Italian with English translation, “Menossi: I mosaici,” is scheduled to be available in October, 2010, which will mark his 35th anniversary as a professional mosaicist. (Publisher, Jacqueline Iskander Mosaics)

may i share with you my experience in Giulio Menossi's 2009 workshop? what can i say? you simply must meet this sweet, gentle man and experience him for yourself! his skill and talent are awe-inspiring... but his warmth and humility will make you feel like he is someone you have known for some time.

"it is my job" he says in response to all the oohs and ahhs he receives. for 35+ years, giulio menossi has worked in solitude, on commissions and, when there was time, on his own original creations. he has worked away day after day, heeding the advice of his maestro, to at least cut one tessera each day. he is a mosaicist. and he is a master mosaicist.

i'll stop now, because i really could go on and on and on and... well, you get the picture. if you want to find out more about my experience in giulio menossi's 2009 workshop, let me share with you My Visit to Udine for the first course of Mosaico - Scuola Menossi!.

would you like to know a little more about maestro giulio menossi's venetian double-indirect method? while the experience of working directly under the attentive eye of this wonderful teacher cannot be adequately expressed in a few pages and photographs, perhaps you can find out more about this process.

maestro menossi was very excited for me to record and photograph the completion of one of his portraits in the double-indirect method and the installation of that portrait. it is a testament to his very generous nature that he desires to share his knowledge and expertise with the mosaic community, in the hope of passing on his own learning, passion, and dedication to the art of mosaic as he understands it and as he has served it for more than 35 years.

so, for a very informative and fascinating look at maestro menossi's portraiture work and its installation, check out my article, The Venetian Double Indirect Method in Action, featuring the Installation of Maestro Giulio Menossi's Portraiture.

maestro giulio menossi, in collaboration with pam givens, has opened the mosaico - scuola menossi. i consider myself fortunate to know both giulio and pam, and to be involved in the fledgling school. i created a logo for the school website, and also a logo for some print materials. then, i got to create the print materials... a tri-fold brochure and a postcard. recently, i put together a one-page web flyer.

i enjoy this kind of creativity... laying out, organizing, etc.... faster than mosaic art, that's for sure... so instant gratification i suppose.

just explaining where some of my time and energy has been going... when it isn't going to family or italian. i am also working on a very exciting project with maestro menossi, but i won't say what it is yet. it is in its very earliest stages, and i won't have anything to announce about it until sometime next year.

this is all very exciting stuff, and i feel like it is worth doing... over my own personal mosaic work... for now. i still have a little time for mosaic work, but it is not the priority that is has been, and that i know it will be again... next year. its interesting.... although i have made the decision and commitment to ease off of my mosaic work, and though i feel that this is the right decision for me at this time, i do still miss my work... i miss building and handling and planning and the whole process.

i wonder why it has to be so complicated sometimes... to be a human being... or maybe just to be me. i want to do so much... and sometimes i want to be doing the very thing that i am not doing... but i also want to keep doing what i am doing... and MORE! ugh...

that's it for now... back to my italian...

ciao a tutti! its been a really long time since i have visited my journal. i am just not much of a journal kind of person. but i am going to give it a go today. hmm... what have i been up to?

in may, i went to cap cod to take lynn moor's smalti intensive course. it was a great time and i really enjoyed the course. i would love to get up that way again. from cape cod i went to italy. after a few days in venice, i went to udine to participate in the very first course of the mosaico - scuola menossi. the course was portraiture in the venetian double indirect method. this was a fantastic time and the course was great... only one week. now the school is offering two two-week courses next may/june, and i may be taking one, or both.

i have recently completed the portrait that i started in the course. it was a good challenge but i am happy that i have finished it. it is titled jesus of udine.

yes, it has taken a long time... but that is because i have not been doing much mosaic work, and won't be doing much at least through the end of the year i have made it my primary project to learn italian, and that is what i have been doing for several hours a day, 5 days a week, and a little time on the weekends. my goal is to be conversational by the time i return to italy next spring.

so much going on... in addition to the italian. my youngest started college this fall. he is going to university here in town, majoring in music composition. this is a major transition for him, going from home-schooling to college.. and he has definitely been having his ups and downs... and me right along with him. additionally, a family member's health has not been good, and that has been something to deal with as well.

and then... there is all the crazy rain that we have been having... very unusual for us... and i am getting tired of the gloomies day after day.

okay.... enough of complaining! my next mosaic project will be to finish a leaf that i started in lynn moor's workshop. i am not yet motivated to work on it, but hopefully i will get i gear this week. i am missing my mosaic work, but still determined to learn italian... so for now i will stick with my plan.