Arts & Entertainment

Work Begins on Thrasher Park Mosaic

A new piece of art will soon grace the downtown park.

Installation began yesterday for a whimsical, tiled circular mosaic in Thrasher Park, centered on a heart-laden guitar with vibrant stars, a sun and a moon.

The colorful piece was adapted from a work by Norcross artist Anne Labaire, who also displays at the Kudzu Art Zone. It will be 11 feet in diameter with brick pavers framing it.

The Norcross City Council approved the plan for the mosaic on Dec. 6. Each park in the City of Norcross has a designated space for public art. 

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Johns Creek artist Jennifer Freeman will produce the mosaic. She has also done projects for Duluth City Hall and for the City of Suwanee through her business Mosaic Odyssey.

A print out of her plan was on hand as the concrete pourers made their way to the park. “I love it, I really love it,” said Freeman of the design that she and Labaire finally agreed on. “It is very colorful, very whimsical—just perfect for a park.” 

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Her method is to break the mosaic down into segments, then put it together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Freeman said she has been laying out the tile in her studio in segments on mesh. She’ll bring the laid out pieces to the park—and anticipates completing the entire installation on July 8. 

Interior Thru-Out, Inc. is the contractor working with the artist to install the artwork. Steve Haney of Interior Thru-Out said that the day’s work will include pouring about 1/8 an inch of concrete with a slight crown in the middle so water will run off the work. 

He anticipates that they'll start the artwork in the middle, then work their way out. “That’s the intricate part,” he said. “The tile is so thin, you’ve got to get it just right.”

Check back in with Norcross Patch for updates. 


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