New mosaic installed outside Canadian Clay and Glass gallery in Waterloo

An old concrete wall just outside the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo has been turned into a beautiful work of art.

The mosaic is comprised of hundreds of pieces of ceramic, tile and glass and was designed by two local artists – Kat Looby and Eekta Trienekens. The material came from hundreds of donations from the community and workshops at the gallery over the last six months.

Peter Flannery, the senior curator and collections manager at the gallery, said the goal of putting the mosaic at the back of the building was to show the thousands of people who use the trail and the ION what the museum does everyday.

“There are so many people that pass by every day and they maybe don’t know the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery exists,” Flannery said. “So it was an opportunity to engage the community and share with the people outside the building what goes on inside.”

Flannery added that the artwork is to celebrate the museum’s 30th anniversary. Funding for the artwork came from the regional arts fund and the Waterloo Uptown BIA.

The mosaic is weather-safe and is being installed with mortar and grout to ensure it can last all year. Installation began last month with 40 volunteers lending their hands. It is set to be completed by June 20.

All of the ceramics, glass and tile used to make the piece were donated by hundreds of members of the community.