Quotes, Video, Photos and Resources here, with hopes to follow up about this impressive project:

“In our last mural celebration this season, a ribbon-cutting was held at Drake Village in Arlington Heights — site of an installation of large-scale mosaics created in an inspiring collaboration of senior residents and Arlington Public High School Students. ” (quote from ARTS ARLINGTON newsletter Dec 2024)

“In the video below, ACMi News covered the joyful event and shared an overview of the project — a partnership between the Arlington Commission for Arts & Culture (ArtsArlington) and Arlington Housing Authority.” (quote from ARTS ARLINGTON newsletter Dec 2024) (Correction note about the video: “one of the wetlands creatures is misidentified as a gecko, but is “actually a common amphibian in the area called the eastern spotted salamander.” )

“Sixteen mosaic panels have been added to the facility’s renovated patio. The artwork was created by residents at Drake Village, Arlington High School students and local artists, including Cambridge-based muralist David Fichter. ( quote from Your Arlington Archives Dec 2024)

“David Fichter has been creating community murals and mosaics for over 40 years, working all over the United States and in other countries, including Armenia, Georgia, and Nicaragua. He has worked with youth of all ages on over 200 permanent murals, in addition to another 70 commissioned projects. Project highlights include: a twenty seven year award winning environmental science mural about the Mystic River in Somerville, MA, working with high school students from the Mystic Housing Project…”(quote from David Fichter artist website, About the Artist)

PHOTOS with QUOTES on ARTS ARLINGTON FACEBOOK page June 2024 :

“A few snapshots from our first mosaic workshop at Drake Village in Arlington Heights, co-sponsored by Arlington Housing Authority. “

“We have put together a great team of Arlington High School students to work with artist David Fichter (@davidfichtermurals ) and residents on a public art project for the Hauser Building“

“We have started on a Spotted Salamander, two pumpkin seed fish, a dragon fly and water lilies— can you tell the theme is wetlands? “

“Curated by @ceciliachile for @artsarlingtonma Town of Arlington”

Photos above show some of the materials and processes during indoor workshops creating mosaic panels to be installed outdoors after completion.

Photos from Visit to Hauser Building, Dec 12, 2024:

Photos below allow focus on closely spaced tiles that fill or outline the images:

“Mosaic murals are made by combining small 1/4″ to 2″ size pieces of colorful stone, ceramic, or glass tiles which are then laid out to create a picture.” ( quote from Wikipedia article about murals)

“A mosaic mural is a large-scale work of art that uses small, colorful tiles (pieces of materials called tesserae) to create an image or scene on a wall or surface.” (from AI-generated description of mosaic mural in Google search)

“The panels were designed by muralist David Fichter…….. nine mosaic panels …. installed along with some panels painted by Fichter in the fall above a new patio area on the back of the high-rise Hauser Building. “(updated quotes Arts Arlington newsletter, Sept. 2024)

““David added a hummingbird and butterfly at the last minute because residents asked to have something in the front that friends and family would see coming in and out of the building; I think everyone is truly proud of how beautiful the panels are,” said Miller.” (quotes Arts Arlington newsletter, Sept. 2024)

Drake Village, in Arlington Heights, Hauser Building, 37 Drake Rd, Arlington, MA 02476 Patio installation includes mosaic panels depicting fish, waterlilies, dragonfly, spotted salamander, and goldfinch.

KEY RESOURCES:

ARTS ARLINGTON Newsletters: July, September, December)

ACMi News Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu4SKB_H2Ek

David Fichter Artist Website: Mosaic Murals

Arts Arlington Facebook page