"Mal'occhio Numero Otto (The Scrooge)" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2003
1999 - 2014
D.A.T.C. (During After Through Children)
This page will undergo revisions soon ......
"Soft Futures Redux" 3.75"x12.25"x1" glass mosaic on wood with photo, text and nails ©Diana Maria Rossi 2007
"Soft Futures Redux" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2007
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"Soft Futures Redux" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2007
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"Mal'occhio Numero Otto (The Scrooge)" 9"x7"x3" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2003
"In Blue" 11.5"x5"x7" glass mosaic on wood with photo and copper wire ©Diana Maria Rossi 2009
I made "In Blue" with our backyard ancient lemon tree in mind. In fact, the yellow shape on the bottom left is a photo of this tree.
I love copper wire and it was fun to use it in this piece while thinking of the sinewy lemon tree branches.
I love copper wire and it was fun to use it in this piece while thinking of the sinewy lemon tree branches.
"Devil Time*" *song title by Claudia Schmidt (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2009
"Devil Time*" *song title by Claudia Schmidt (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2009
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"Devil Time*" 3"x11"x2" glass mosaic on wood with wristwatch, ruler and text * title of song by Claudia Schmidt ©Diana Maria Rossi 2009
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The title for “Devil Time” is taken from the lovely song by
Claudia Schmidt, called “Old Devil Time”. I combined my discarded Timex watch, a broken ruler, smalti, glass, and text (all on wood), to try to express my ever more distasteful relationship with measured time. “Devil Time” is number 671 out of the 704 mosaics that I have made. Some things I still like to measure! |
The Standard Issueds
In 2002, after having made over 600 mosaics with maybe two thirds of those that included a heart shape, (not really sure about those numbers, but there were A LOT of hearts!), I was becoming a bit heart-weary. But the silliness of the idea: "Standard Issue", as if whatever makes us human could ever be re-producible in standard fashion, re-lit my fire and I made nine Standard Issueds, moving onward in my making. Each sculpture included text.
"Standard Issue # 1 (Know the Game/But Know When to Stop Playing)" 5.25"'x6.25"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"Standard Issue #2 (Speak Truth/Gird Your Loins)" 5.75"x7"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"Standard Issue #3 (Listen Softly)" 6"x6.25"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"Standard Issue #4 (Apologize Furiously)" 7.25"x6"x.75" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"Standard Issue #5 (Eat What You Want/Dance, Dance, Dance)" 5.5"x6.25"x.75" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"Standard Issue #6 (Laugh Well/Through Tears)" 6.25"x6.5" x.75" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"Standard Issue #7 (Try Kindness)" 5.75"x6.25"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"Standard Issue #8 (Story River)" 5.5"x7.75"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"Busload of Faith" [title from song by Lou Reed] 6.75"x5.75"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2004
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"Busload of Faith " [title from song by Lou Reed]" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2004
Text reads: "mourning day in berkeley 11-3-04"
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"Gold is All Around Us, Said Rosa" 5.75"x6.75"x1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2004
"Junior High" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
"Junior High" 10"x 6.5"x2.5" glass mosaic on wood with text and nails ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
"Junior High" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
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"Junior High" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
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"Junior High" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
"The State of Things" 5.5"x10.25" x1" glass mosaic on wood with wrapping paper and text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2004
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"The State of Things" ( detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2004
Text reads: c i v i l w a r / s o r r o w
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"Gloriosa" 8"x5.75"x1.5" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2005
"The Spring That Felt Like Summer" 7"x10.5"x.75" glass mosaic on wood with pressed flower ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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"The Spring That Felt Like Summer" (detail) glass mosaic on wood with pressed flower ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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H O V E R
These six pieces, "A Little Bit of Beauty to Remember #1 through #6 ( for Us, for George)" were made for a show in 1999 called Hover , which was sponsored by the San Francisco Art Institute Artists' Committee. The show was held throughout the Art Institute and these sculptures were temporarily installed in the
Anne Bremer Library.
I printed cards containing the paragraph of text featured on the front of each sculpture and used the floor of each sculpture as a spot to hold the cards. The viewer was free to take the cards home if she/he wished. These words were the basic inspiration for the pieces and they were written by George Manupelli when he was Dean of the San Francisco Art Institute . George's words were printed as the Introduction to the 1983 College Catalogue.
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"A Little Bit of Beauty to Remember #1 (for Us, for George)" 10"x10"x5" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999 [text by George Manupelli]
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"A Little Bit of Beauty to Remember #2 (for Us, for George)" 7.75"x8"x4" glass mosaic on wood with photos and text [Text by George Manupelli] ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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"A Little Bit of Beauty to Remember #3 (for Us, for George)" 5.75"x13.5"x4.75" glass mosaic on wood with text and photos [Text by George Manupelli] ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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"A Little Bit of Beauty to Remember #4 (for Us, for George) 6.25"x11"x5" glass mosaic on wood with photo and text [Text by George Manupelli] ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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"A Little Bit of Beauty to Remember #5 (for Us, for George) 7.25"x13"x4.75" glass mosaic on wood with photos and text [Text by George Manupelli] ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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" A Little Bit of Beauty to Remember #6 (for Us, for George)" 8"x12"x4.75" glass mosaic on wood with text [Text by George Manupelli] ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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"The Secret Odor of Roses" 8"x7.25" x 1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2000
"You Take the High Road" 7.25"x7.25"x3" glass mosaic on wood with plaid (fabric) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2005
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"You Take the High Road" detail ©Diana Maria Rossi 2005
"You Take the High Road" ©Diana Maria Rossi 2005
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"Why Oh Why Can't I?" 5.75"x8"x1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2004
"Let The Children Play (A Kindergarten Critique)" 5.75"x8.25"x1.5" glass mosaic on wood with slate ©Diana Maria Rossi 2000
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"Perfect Geometry" 4.75"x5.25"x2" glass mosaic on wood with photo ©Diana Maria Rossi 2004
"She Shines" 5"x7.5"x1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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"I Am Tired of Being What You See" 7.5"x7.5"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
"I Am Tired of Being What You See" detail ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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"Santo Romano" 7.25"x.7.25"x.75" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2006
Is this a holy Valentine ? Who knows, but it IS so pink, with lots of different textures. I used old jewelry and candy-like Venetian smalti .
St. Valentine happened to be Roman.
St. Valentine happened to be Roman.
"Us II - She Be Me" 3"x3"x1" glass mosaic on wood with photo, text and nails/ photo ©David Leeson AP ©Diana Maria Rossi 2003
A.P. photograph by David Leeson
"Us II - She Be Me" (detail of back) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2003
I made this mosaic using an A.P. photograph by David Leeson that I found in the San Francisco Chronicle. This photo haunted me for months and quietly distilled all my words and emotions in opposition to the Iraq War.
I had been using the heart form for many years, (with and without the proximity of nails), and in this case, it felt appropriate and right to use nails as a means to express an intensity of feeling and the very corporeal quality of that which occurs in war-torn areas of the world. By using the simple text of : "She Be Me", I wanted to remind myself and the viewer of the fact of fate -- the accident or fortune of birth that places us on this very small planet. The use of these words was also a nod towards the poetry of Black American English and another attempt to make a cross-cultural connection.
The color scheme of "rainbow" was bequeathed to me by my then six-year old daughter and by my enduring admiration for the work of Marc Chagall.
"Us" 12"x7.75"x3.5" glass mosaic on wood with A.P. photo by David Leeson, text and nails ©Diana Maria Rossi 2003
"Us" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2003 -------------------- AP photo ©David Leeson
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"Us" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2003
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"Us" (detail/ side view) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2003
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"Crater Lake (Chapter 3)" 8.25"x8"x 1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2005
"Are We Free in Funtown at Last?" 6"x8.5"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text
©Diana Maria Rossi 2000
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"Are We Free in Funtown at Last?" text detail [Text from "Letter From Birmingham Jail" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.] mosaic ©Diana Maria Rossi 2000
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"A Rare Bird (in Honor of Rose Bird) 4"x10"x1" glass mosaic on wood with painting ©Diana Maria Rossi 2000
The Lateness Trilogy
I made these pieces because I have a hard time dealing with time.
I made these pieces because I have a hard time dealing with time.
" I)The Lateness Trilogy: The Status Quo" (detail) glass mosaic on wood with wire, clock, and text. Text by William Blake. ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
Text On The Top: TIME IS MONEY
Text On The Bottom: “By Satan’s Watch-fiends tho’ they search numbering every grain of sand on Earth every night, they never find this Gate.” by William Blake |
" I) The Lateness Trilogy: The Status Quo" 8"x13.5"x2" glass mosaic on wood with wire, clock, and text. Text by William Blake. ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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I made these three mosaics in 2002 while I was having trouble getting my kids to school on time. I often dropped them off 5 minutes late. (Okay, maybe a bit more!) Much to my chagrin, this became a very big deal at their public charter school. It became such a big deal that I started to receive punitive embarrassing letters from the director saying that if I could not get my kids to school on time I would have to meet with the director, teacher and the governing board I balked at this. Eventually, the school changed how they dealt with tardy parents like myself and I worked harder at getting my kids to school right on the dot! I found a way, though, to channel my resentments and nervousness about falling short as a parent who had trouble with time in the morning --- "The Lateness Trilogy" was born!
 " II) The Lateness Trilogy: Wonderland" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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" II) The Lateness Trilogy: Wonderland" 6.5"x12.5"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text, illustration by John Tenniel, and clock ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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" II) The Lateness Trilogy: Wonderland" (detail) [illustration by John Tenniel] ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"III) The Lateness Trilogy: Bali" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
"III) The Lateness Trilogy: Bali" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"III)The Lateness Trilogy: Bali" "12"x14"x3" glass mosaic on wood with photo, text and dried flowers ©Diana Maria Rossi 2002
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"Mutuality / Mutualità" 5.25"x6.75"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2006
“Amor ch’a nullo amato amor perdona”
“Love, which insists that love love shall mutual be.”
“Love, that excuses no one loved from loving.”
“Love, that denial takes from none beloved.”
by Dante Alighieri from Inferno (Canto V, 103)
“Love, which insists that love love shall mutual be.”
“Love, that excuses no one loved from loving.”
“Love, that denial takes from none beloved.”
by Dante Alighieri from Inferno (Canto V, 103)
"Latin Lesson #1 (mater dolorosa) " 5.25"x7.25"x1" glass mosaic on wood with nails and text and drawing ©Diana Maria Rossi 2006
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"Latin Lesson #1 (mater dolorosa)" [detail] ©Diana Maria Rossi 2006
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"You Get What You Need" 6"x6"x1.5" glass mosaic on wood with fur ©Diana Maria Rossi 2006
"A Tangerine for You" 6.5"x6"x1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2003
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"Little Bit" 5"x7.25"x1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 1999
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"More Than Broken Toys" 5.25"x6"x1" glass mosaic on wood with nails ©Diana Maria Rossi 2000
"Moon Landing" 6.75"x7.75"x1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2000
"Three Tears" 5.75"x6.5"x1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2005.jpg
"He Blooms" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
"He Blooms (for Kamala in Appreciation)" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
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"He Blooms (for Kamala, in Appreciation)" 5.75"x9.25"x1" glass mosaic on wood with drawing and text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
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"He Blooms (for Kamala in Appreciation)" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
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"Baci, Baci, Baci" 6.75"x6.5"x1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2006
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"Be Unbroken/ For Nancy" 7.25"x6.5"x1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2006
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"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} I) Earth" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010
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"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} I) Earth" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010
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"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} I) Earth" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010
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I began this Tecza-Arcobaleno Set series in 2010. The goal was to have each set deal with a different color and there would be 3 pieces in
each set. I began with the color grey, because I was feeling grey. I normally do not care for the color and that is why I chose to begin with it.
I enjoyed making the grey pop with purple and yellow. I think it works, or at least it works for me!
I was working out some anxieties, hence all the numbered worries swirling about (the text). The worries, are SO of the Earth.
The word "tecza" means rainbow in Polish. (However, I have mis-spelled the word because I am having difficulty using a Polish keyboard, hence no
accents.). And "arcobaleno" means rainbow in Italian.
each set. I began with the color grey, because I was feeling grey. I normally do not care for the color and that is why I chose to begin with it.
I enjoyed making the grey pop with purple and yellow. I think it works, or at least it works for me!
I was working out some anxieties, hence all the numbered worries swirling about (the text). The worries, are SO of the Earth.
The word "tecza" means rainbow in Polish. (However, I have mis-spelled the word because I am having difficulty using a Polish keyboard, hence no
accents.). And "arcobaleno" means rainbow in Italian.
"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} II) Fire" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010
"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} II) Fire" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010
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"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} II) Fire" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010
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"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} II) Fire" 8"x6"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text/ Text from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010.jpg
"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} III) Air Water" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010
This is number three in the Tecza-Arcobaleno Set #1, Elements of Gray. I couldn't decide between the elements of air and water --- they felt
intertwined for me, so I decided to combine them.
I first heard the Latin phrase "lacrimae rerum" while listening to the audio rendition of the Geraldine Brooks' novel, Year of Wonders.
Lacrimae rerum can mean "tears in things" in English. What more is there to say?
intertwined for me, so I decided to combine them.
I first heard the Latin phrase "lacrimae rerum" while listening to the audio rendition of the Geraldine Brooks' novel, Year of Wonders.
Lacrimae rerum can mean "tears in things" in English. What more is there to say?
"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} III) Air Water" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010
"{Tęcza-Arcobaleno Set #1 Elements of Gray} III) Air Water" 6.25"x8.25"x1" glass mosaic on wood with text ©Diana Maria Rossi 2010
"Ah, the Nourishment...." 10.5"x9.5".1" glass mosaic on wood ©Diana Maria Rossi 2009
The real title of this sculpture is, "Ah, the Nourishment..... said Rosa". One day, many years ago, when my daughter was about 10 years old, I was in the car driving her and I reached back and handed her some M&M's. "Ah, the nourishment!" said my daughter. How could I NOT but be inspired ?!
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W H E N I W A S N' T S U R E I F I C O U L D M A K E A N O T H E R H E A R T
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"My Swan Song (Perhaps)" 6.5"x7.5"x.1" glass mosaic on wood with text and jigsaw blades ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008.jpg
"My Swan Song (Perhaps)" - detail - ©Diana Maria Rossi 2008
Internal crisis reared its ugly head again, in 2008, when I stumbled upon a brochure for a workshop on how to make and complete a mosaic heart in
just two days of a weekend workshop. Why in the world was I doing this? Should I ever make another heart again? Once again, the making became
its own best therapy and I made "My Swan Song (Perhaps)". After I made this piece, my existential quandary was averted and I continued onward.
I think it was a combination of the writing of "I just can't do this anymore" over and over ad nauseam and those jigsaw blades that did the trick!
just two days of a weekend workshop. Why in the world was I doing this? Should I ever make another heart again? Once again, the making became
its own best therapy and I made "My Swan Song (Perhaps)". After I made this piece, my existential quandary was averted and I continued onward.
I think it was a combination of the writing of "I just can't do this anymore" over and over ad nauseam and those jigsaw blades that did the trick!
"Reliquary" 9.75"x9.75"x2.5" glass mosaic on wood with photos, text, wire and prisms ©Diana Maria Rossi 2012-2014
#683 "Reliquary" (detail) ©Diana Maria Rossi 2012-2014
