Wednesday, June 10, 2009
MAN Gallery Artist Wins Commission for City of Temecula Mural
Click here for link to article
We're always happy to hear good news about the artists selected to be in our magazine's Mosaic Gallery. So, when we found this article from the Valley News about Carole Choucair Oueijan, we immediately sent our congratulations to her.
Carole was awarded a $40,000 commission to create a 7x10 foot mosaic mural that will grace the exterior of the City of Temecula's new $73 million Civic Center. Economic times being what they are, the specifics of the new Civic Center are still a little up in the air. Carole's mosaic, however, is a sure thing.
Carole says, "The project's title is 'The Emigrant Trail'. It is about the history of Temecula and the significance of the Emigrant Trail in the City's growth from 1847 to 1858."
Carole plans to use smalti, gold smalti, iridescent tile, marble and granite taken from Temecula's historic quarry in the mosaic -- a brilliant idea. "The design will be a big 3D frame. You will see dark colors of red, burgundy and brown mixed with gold (a reminder of the California Gold Rush). The interior portion will look like a painting of the Emigrants. The City was looking for art that was forever and touchable. Mosaic was clearly the answer."
The artist changed her first design after a meeting with the Temecula History Museum director. The final design was corrected 3 times to meet the exact details of that particular time. She estimates that it will take her 16 months to complete the mural.
Carole sent us pictures of her latest work, a 4x6 foot piece destined for a home in Greece. It took Carole 10 months to complete "Layaleena", an Arabic/Lebanese word for "Splendor Nights". It is splendid, indeed -- a wonderful melding of her ethnic heritage, painterly eye, and love of the sumptuous.
"Layaleena" detail
Carol Choucair Ouejian
To see more of Carole's work, check out http://www.fineartbycarole.com/
Enjoy -- Nancie
Congratulations, Carole, on your fabulous commission as well as this new unbelievable work!! I love it.
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