In this roundup titled Mad for Mosaics, C Magazine features tiles by clé and New Ravenna, both placements achieved by Bella Figura Communications. The John Whitmarsh Reconstruction Studies for clé and the Paul Schatz collection for New Ravenna are among the latest tiles to “boast sophisticated color ways, modern patterns and elegant finishes.”
San Francisco sculptor John Whitmarsh created the Reconstruction Studies that includes Board Form and Weathered Steel mosaics. The Board Form gypsum cement wall tiles are hand cast from Douglas Fir that has been salvaged from old buildings. The tiles are available in the rectangular dimensions of the original wood planks. The raw concrete color has the option to be ordered with a hand waxed finish, which highlights the rough hewn texture. Whitmarsh uses a process of acid and wax to achieve the variegated patina on the Weathered Steel tiles. The tiles come in three sizes, 12, 16 and 24 inches square and can be installed on walls and floors. Deborah Osburn, founder and creative director of clé feels that, “John Whitmarsh is an artist as fascinated with the study of materials as he is with the process of making things. A glimpse through John’s tile collections displays a series of materials that elevate urban surfaces to an art form. Often overlooked or even ignored, in John’s hands, these surfaces – created from shipping containers, textures of utility poles, or pieces of steel suspended in the height of their best stage of patina – become tiles that offer an industrial dimension to architectural surfaces.”
Whitmarsh began as a visual artist in photography and filmmaking, then shifted into sculpture after finishing film school. Wanting to create tangible objects with his own hands, Whitmarsh began working in ceramics for its range of possibilities. Entirely self-taught, Whitmarsh now works in a variety of materials having developed a style that places emphasis on the texture of surfaces. His tiles are hand-crafted from reclaimed materials such as pallets, roadside guardrail posts, and discarded metals. According to Whitmarsh, “Textures make surfaces more compelling and dimensional. Surfaces engage the viewer when they feel the need to touch it.”
Of the C Magazine placement, New Ravenna celebrates that the Almeria mosaics pattern from the Parterre Collection was included in the design trends section of their February issue. “We love this large-scale, geometric pattern,” the placement page on the New Ravenna site notes. ” The pillowed and honed stone gives the design a soft, luxurious feel underfoot.”