March 2016:
The first step is the collection of colored glass bottles
The neck and bottom of each bottle is removed using a diamond-blade saw, and then the remaining body of the bottle is cut into two halves down the middle
To make the pieces flat, the glass is placed in a kiln and brought up to 1450 degrees Fahrenheit gradually, and then slowly cooled back to room temperature.
After an eight hour cycle in the kiln, the glass is flattened through a process called "slumping," and can be cut apart and used for the mosaic
August 1, 2016...We clear the grounds so we can begin the mosaic. The wall is in the center of the property, and stands empty with the exception of a few bushes, which are dug out with gusto by the crew.
Medina and Bianca getting ready to mix the thin-set mortar to prep the wall for mosaic-making
The wall is prepared by spreading a thin layer of white mortar on the surface so that it creates a continuously smooth and clean surface to glue the glass onto
This prep process takes several days and two layers of thin-set mortar
Becca smoothing the mortar
The girls offering a hand
Alyssa learning some trowel techniques
The crew
Bianca, cutting and placing the first squares of flattened bottle glass onto the wall to begin the mosaic. It has taken months to get everything ready and plan for this project, and will be be weeks and weeks more to its completion.
And so it begins....the design is of the Santa Ana mountains, and we begin with the ground
The boys learning to cut up the glass using hand tools...safety first!
Kola and Medina adding to the mosaic.
Learning the finer points of glass cutting....like don't smash it into a million little pieces!
Shama placing pieces
Natalie cutting glass
Even the mormons wanted to help during their visit to the property! Thanks guys!
Brian and Medina making progress
Medina and Bianca
Safety first, y'all!
The wall is two feet tall and 120 feet long. It's a big project, and will take us months to complete
Adding green bottle glass to the tops of the mountains
Nathan cutting glass. Every day it seems someone new shows up to help
Atal, Balal, and Warissa making a mountain range in their own names
Trinh making her mountain
October 28, 2016, evening time
April 17, 2017...We begin grouting the mosaic and it's gonna be messy.
May 10, 2017