Gail Hercher
"Safe Heart" Mosaic Gail Hercher
'Safe Heart,' a mosaic piece by Gail Hercher, reminds us to take care of our hearts, health and the environment. Trained as a painter/printmaker, Gail taught these subjects for many years but, after becoming ill from the solvents used in printmaking, she moved on to the 'cleaner' arts of paper and book making. Later, while living in Hawaii, she became keenly aware of the harm that art processes inflict on the environment and the contribution they make to landfill. Today, she works entirely with recycled, repurposed and reclaimed materials in order to reduce her impact on our world. Her mosaic style is featured in the book Mosaic Art Today (Shiffer, 2012).
In New England, Gail taught drawing, design and color at Montserrat College of Art (MA), Salem State College (MA), and Montserrat College of Art (MA), as well as in museums and art centers. For many years she also served as an artist in residence in schools through the Massachusaetts Cultural Council. During her years in Hawaii, Gail taught weaving with sustainable plant material (lauhala) and mosaic work at the Honolulu Museum of Art and The Kamehameha School Creative Arts Program. Gail moved to Ojai in 2013 where she teaches mosaic work and mosaic meditation in her studio.
In New England, Gail taught drawing, design and color at Montserrat College of Art (MA), Salem State College (MA), and Montserrat College of Art (MA), as well as in museums and art centers. For many years she also served as an artist in residence in schools through the Massachusaetts Cultural Council. During her years in Hawaii, Gail taught weaving with sustainable plant material (lauhala) and mosaic work at the Honolulu Museum of Art and The Kamehameha School Creative Arts Program. Gail moved to Ojai in 2013 where she teaches mosaic work and mosaic meditation in her studio.