Southern Coast Home Design - Index

Southern Coast Home Design - southerncoasthomedesign.com - Index

she collected unusual art, including textiles and
musical instruments, & whenever possible took
lessons with the local masters. Each excursion
enhanced her appreciation of indigenous art &
culture, while connecting her to fascinating
people & circumstances.
Gila's introduction to mosaics came when
she was a teenager staying with her older sister,
a working artist, in the San Francisco Bay
Area. Gila sat in on several of her sister's
mosaic workshops & assisted on large-scale
mosaic installations. Those experiences had
her hooked! Throughout her travels she
repeatedly had visions of returning to the creation
ofmosaics...somehow, someday, somewhere!
Upon returning from Malaysia & settling in
New Orleans, Gila's love for mosaic was rekindled.
As an active trombonist in New Orleans
with the legendary Deacon John & The Ivories,
Gila stayed busy performing, yet found ample
time to indulge her passion for visual arts.
After Katrina, Gila took the opportunity to fully focus her energies
on creating custom mosaics. Soon after, she was awarded a scholarship
by the Society of American Mosaic Artists (she is a professional
member) to attend an intensive workshop on building exterior
concrete sculptures.
This past summer, Gila relocated to Perdido Key, Florida
where she continues to create site specific mosaics for the home &
business. Be it a small focal point or an entire wall, Gila's
mosaics are sure to be a hit. When visiting her studio you can
clearly see that her repertoire is wide ranging,
from brilliant & whimsical to realistic portraiture.
Gila is constantly experimenting with new
designs, materials & techniques, to incorporate
into future installations. Many of her works are
available for purchase & ready to hang.
Gila's mosaics are individually designed with
great care and attention to detail. The materials
she uses (ceramic, stone, glass, tile, etc) are hand
cut or randomly smashed. The unique way these
materials break often determines the character of
a finished piece, or may entirely change the direction
of a work in progress. The depth and texture
of various materials used in combination creates
contrast and a sense of movement, while the
use of iridescent glass and mirror infuses an environment
with ever changing reflections of light
and color.
Like life, Gila approaches each mosaic as an
adventure; never completely
sure where it's
going, but always enjoying
the journey. The endless possibilities &
search for that perfect fit are among the things
Gila loves most about creating mosaics.
You will enjoy browsing Gila's website,
www.GilaMosaics.com. If you see something
you love, contact her for pricing or to discuss
a commission, created specifically for you!
Studio visits are available by appointment,
call 850-791-1070.
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