I have finally finished Poof!,  my entry for Ciel Gallery's upcoming exhibition, Mosaic Vision,  http://cielcharlotte.com/section/164080_Upcoming_Exhibitions.html .   I re-worked this piece too many times to count, ripping up tile, trying to fine-tune various aspects.  My inspiration came from some coral pieces that I've had lying/laying (shameful that I'll never get that one right) around my studio for a few years.  They have always reminded me of dandelions, so I decided to finally attempt to articulate the image I've had in my head.  The finished piece does convey what was in my head, but I'm unsure whether the  photo above translates the subtleties of my mosaic.  And just in case I haven't  conveyed what I intended to...
What we have here is a monochromatic image of a child blowing a dandelion.  I purposefully played with the andamento on the child's profile and cheek, and used a more linear opus for the black background. I just happened to have some tempered glass that had shattered in kindof an upward pattern, which I felt could be  "breathy". I debated about colored grout for the breath to set it apart from the background, but decided one's breath has no color. So, neither does the breath in my mosaic. The white seed specks blown loose by the breath transform into gold.  "W hy?" you may ask.  Because they can. 
Below is an accompanying poem that does give additional insight into the image.  I apologize for my tone in this post, it is purely one of frustration, nothing else.  At some point, I'll try to get a better photo with more detail after cleanup and post in the gallery section of this site.  So, do you think an artwork is unsuccessful if you have to go into great detail to "explain" it?

Carolyn Wagner, The Edge
18 x 12
smalti, vitreous, porcelain, shell
©2009

So, here I go.  Finally, just jumping in the waters without a clue as to how to swim.  The photo of my artwork  above, and the poem that follows, both appropriately titled The Edge, reference this hesitation.  Yes, it's nice to just dip your toes as I always have done.  One can feel refreshed, by simply staying at the waters edge, but you sure can miss a lot in life by always erring on the side of caution.  (Thank you, Florrie).  I wanted to do a  piece that reflected the environment in which I live, (albeit pre-BP spill).  This one also happens to reflect how I live--cautiously.  I'm not saying it's a fault, but I sure would like to lighten up a bit.  I'm still trying to work out kinks with font size, selection, color, etc. within this new world of blogging.  So, please, just bear with me as I fumble through.  And send me a note if something isn't loading or working properly.  Oh, great.  No spell check?

The Edge
I’ll just stay on the edge.
Looking for flotsam
Hidden among the daily ripples of life.
Ripples uneven, yet rhythmic.
Strangely calming.

One big delightful wave could erase them all,
Displacing the wrinkles
With more smoothing, soothing waters.
Or engulfing,
With more hurling, swirling, exciting turbulence.

But I know veiled currents lurk,
Dancing in tandem,
Poised for their cue to suck out courage,
And spit back timidity.

I’ll just stay on the edge.
Again…
                                                      ©2009 Carolyn Wagner