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On the Town: Art Alfresco

Wednesday, May 18, 2016


Glass shimmers among the pottery pieces in this mural that Meryl Weber created at Romney Urban Garden. Photograph by Ruta Elvikyte

May 18, 2016

Alfresco Art
Meet the artist behind Romney Urban Garden’s mosaic mural and get instructions for bringing the art form to your own green space


written by Anna Evans

Mosaics can add artful color and texture to most any outdoor space. Take the inspiring example at downtown’s Romney Urban Garden, where a 50-foot-long mural sprawls across a cinder-block wall, broken pieces of tile and glass depicting a tree of life buzzing with bees, butterflies, and birds.

Local mosaic artist Meryl Weber created it last June with help from 40-some volunteers. “Some sections may not be as perfect as others, but that’s what I love about mosaics—they don’t have to be perfect to look beautiful,” says Weber, a retired arts educator who today creates in-school murals with area students, teaches adult classes at Clay Cottage in Mount Pleasant, and completes mosaics for private clients.

Want to create a piece of your own? Start with a stepping-stone, suggests Weber. For her step-by-step instructions, including her favorite sources for materials (hint: they include Habitat for Humanity ReStores), click here.

The Romney Urban Garden is hosting a family movie night (featuring a segment from the documentary Cooked) this Saturday, May 21. To find details, visit the garden’s Facebook page here, then cross your fingers for dry weather!