Overview
From 2008 to 2009 Betsy Schulz created mosaic murals depicting the history of San Diego, California, installed on ten columns on the track side of the Sapphire Tower residential condominium in downtown San Diego. Each column mural represents a different period of San Diego history. The artist tapped many different sources to gather information, images and the rights for photo reproduction, including the San Diego Historical Society, Huntington Library, Barona Band of Mission Indians, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, and countless books, journal articles and internet resources. Each column mural provides a glimpse into the history and feeling of the times as researched and interpreted by the artist. In conjunction with this project, Schulz sponsored two workshops, with McKinley Elementary School and the ARTS (A Reason To Survive) program. All extra mosaic tiles and grout were donated to ARTS for their ongoing projects with children.
| Name: | Sapphire Tower Columns, The Tracks We Leave Behind |
| Artist: | Betsy Kopshina Schulz |
| Medium: | Handmade sculpted, screened and mosaic tiles |
| Size: | Ten columns of 40 sq. ft. each / 400 sq. ft. of tile |
| Duration: | January 2008–June 2009 |
| Location: | Sapphire Tower, 1262 Kettner Boulevard., San Diego, CA (on the west or trolley-track side of the building) |
| Client: | Centurion Partners, LLC |
| Thanks: | Centurion Partners, AVRP Studios, San Diego Historical Society, Barona Band of Mission Indians, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Kathryn Schmiedeberg, Katie Pelisek, John LaGrange, Insu Nuzzi, Kathy Tanaka. |
