I made the Mosaic Map of the Ancient and Medieval World on three panels of marine plywood. A paper cartoon was laid over each panel and outines of land masses, oceans,etc. were traced through. I used P.V.A. glue to adhere glass to the wood. After the outlines were mosiaced with lines of tiny pieces, I filled in the surrounding areas with larger pieces. No two pieces are the same.
The pieces are made from molten glass which is poured onto tables and then rolled into thin sheets of various colors and textures. The sheets are purchased by mosaic artists. With glass cutters and special pliers the sheets are reduced to strips which are cut again into squares, rectangles, and other small shapes. These pieces, called tesserae, are then sorted by size and color. The main colors in the map are green for land, blue for water, and cream for deserts.
At the Walters Art Museum, the three panels and a wave border were joined and then secured permanently to the wall. The Map measures 9' x 12' and contains over 150,000 glass tesserae.
  • Artist and mosaic in progress
    Artist and mosaic in progress
    Rick Shelley and one panel of the Mosaic Map showing unfinished mountains.
  • Panels in studio
    Panels in studio
    Working on a panel of the Mosaic Map in the Mt. Royal Studio.
  • Mosaic Map in progress
    Mosaic Map in progress
    Gluing blue glass and green glass onto marine plywood panels.
  • Paper cartoon, atlas, and guide maps
    Paper cartoon, atlas, and guide maps
    Sketching in land masses, rivers, and European cities.
  • Ship in progress
    Ship in progress
    Mainsail and topsail with artist's name. Sketch of cabin and ship below.
  • Ship in the Indian Ocean
    Ship in the Indian Ocean
    The artist's name is written in the ship's sails and the date of completion appears on the ship's cabin. Rick Shelley and his assistant peer out of the round windows.
  • Paper outline of India and Sri Lanka
    Paper outline of India and Sri Lanka
    Tracing the paper cartoon to transfer outlines onto the wood panel underneath.
  • India, Sri Lanka
    India, Sri Lanka
    Filling in the Indian sub-continent with green glass and beginning the blue glass outlines in the Indian Ocean.
  • Ship, India, Middle East
    Ship, India, Middle East
    Section of the finished map showing land masses, oceans, rivers, mountains, and ship.
  • Mosaic Map of the Ancient and Medieval World
    Mosaic Map of the Ancient and Medieval World
    Completed map with wave border. 9' x 12' in the second floor lobby of the Walters Art Museum.
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