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Fletcher Cove Seascape Mosaic
Design by: Betsy Kopshina Schulz
Assisted by: Barbara Hume
Special Thanks To: Solana Beach Historical Society, City
of Solana Beach,
Irene De Watteville, and all the wonderful volunteers
 Download
Case Study (PDF Format 3.9MB)
Betsy Schulz designed a sea-inspired
mosaic mural for the City of Solana Beach’s new bathrooms
at Fletcher Cove. The tiles were hand-made with two types
of red clay. Schulz sculpted all the relief fish. With
help from assistant Barbara Hume all the tiles were pressed
with shells, coral and other artifacts to create fossil-like
impressions. Then they were kiln-dried bisked, glazes applied,
then high-fired. The tiles were transported to the
site on boards. Each tile, stone, or shell was applied
with thinset. Once the thinset was dry, grout was applied.
The project took around 500 hrs to complete from start
to finish, including volunteer time. It was paid for by
the City of Solana Beach and the Solana Beach Civic & Historical
Society. Schulz promotes community involvement as much
as possible on all her projects. (See page 2 for finish
mural photos)
(1) Plywood and masonite were used to create the
wave-like insets for tile. They were screwed directly to the inside
of the contractor’s
concrete forms.
(2,3) Once the wood forms were removed the recess was revealed.
The forms took about 40 hours to make and install.
(4) Plastic was placed over the recesses and the
areas were traced onto the plastic with a permanent marker. Then
clay was placed onto the plastic and tiles cut and sculpted. The
tiles were dried, glazed and fired then placed back on the plastic
and taken to the site.
(5,6) Barbara using thinset to adhere the tiles
to the wall. Cleaning The texture in each tile makes it important
to
clean very carefully with picks and brushes.
(7,8,9) The mosaic was started during the city’s
annual Fiesta Del Sol in order to give residents and visitors an
opportunity to see the work in progress. Everyone was encouraged
to help put on tiles or grout. The community reaction to the work
was very positive, in part because everyone was able to take ownership.
It’s truly community art, not just a solitary expression of
the artist’s design.
(10,11) The mosaic was finished June 22, 2005.
It was applied to three columns, and the front and back of the shower
wall.
(12,13,14) All the sea creature tiles were modeled
after those found in and around Fletcher Cove. Even the shells were
collected
(for the last 30 years) by a local resident. All throughout the mosaic,
inspirational words and statements are embedded into the tiles. This
is a trademark of Schulz’s work.
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