A Community Art Project for Our Park
The Middle Shooks Run Neighborhood Association (MSRNA) is leading a neighborhood project to create colorful mosaic tile artwork on the newly installed lamp bases in North Middle Shooks Run Park.
If you’ve walked the trail near the tennis courts, you’ve likely seen the beautiful tiled lamp bases created years ago by neighbors and artists. With several new lamp posts recently installed along the trail, we have an opportunity to continue that tradition and bring more community-made art into the park.
After consultation with Concrete Couch and reaching out to neighbors with ceramics experience, we realized that the neighborhood has the equipment and skills to complete the whole project. It will be a hands-on neighborhood collaboration, where residents help design, create, and install ceramic tile mosaics that celebrate our neighborhood. We will even make and fire the tiles right in here in the Middle Shooks Run using a neighbor’s kiln.
How the Project Works
MSRNA will lead a series of community workshops where neighbors can learn the process and help build the mosaics. There are over 20 concrete lamp bases (caissons) in our neighborhood parks. We’ve decided to start small and work through multiple complete cycles or work sessions to complete the mosaics in batches.
The project will include four community work sessions:
- Making ceramic tiles
- Glazing tiles and learning mosaic techniques
- Installing the mosaics on the lamp bases
- Grouting and finishing the artwork
These sessions are designed so anyone can participate, regardless of experience.
Our Funding Goal – $500
We are raising the remaining $500 to cover materials and workshop facilitation.
Every dollar goes directly toward:
- Ceramic clay and tile materials
- Glazes and mosaic supplies
- Workshop instruction and facilitation
- Kiln usage
- Installation materials
If we exceed the goal, additional funds will allow us to tile more lamp bases along the trail.
Volunteer Opportunities
We also need neighbors to participate in the creative process.
Volunteers can help with:
- Tile making
- Mosaic design
- Installation days in the park
- Final grouting and finishing
Work sessions will take place this summer, with a goal of completing at least one lamp base during MSRNA Summer Fest on August 8. We’ll finalize dates as we gain community interest and donations.
Why This Matters
This project is about more than decoration.
It will:
- Beautify North Middle Shooks Run Park
- Create a lasting piece of neighborhood art
- Bring neighbors together through a hands-on project
- Continue a tradition of community-made public art in our park
Every tile will be part of a story created by the people who live here.
Donate or Join Us
Please consider contributing to help bring this project to life. If you can’t donate, we would love to have you join a workshop and help create the mosaics.