Patina Park
* mosaic paver
* stained glass artist
* metalworker
* ceramic artist
* painters (2+)
Gentle Life is an organization for people with PTSD or similar situations who want to treat their condition with lifestyle changes. It works very well for those who want a peaceful place to concentrate on healing, although not so much for those who keep wishing they could get back to their old activity level. Gentle Life mostly features farms and artistic communities far out in rural areas, although they have some cohousing locations for suburban or urban dwellers. They concentrate on building a support network in the community and making happy new memories. Art therapy, music therapy, organic farming and cooking are typical offerings. Some of the farms also work with abused animals or do other animal-assisted therapy. Patina Park, Tranquil Table, and Todos Santos are among the Gentle Life communities.
Doris Clacher -- She has fair skin, brown eyes, and short brown hair. She is 26 years old in 2014. Doris does great when working with her hands, but flounders in more academic areas. She has traumatic stress from her school experiences, including some sexual assaults. She never had any interest in college. Instead Doris earned two trade credentials, first in masonry and then in mosaic art. She enjoys making decorative paths, plazas, and steps. She also lays interior tile and countertops. She lives in Patina Park, Portland, Oregon. Doris enjoys making safe, comfortable space for the people around her, and it was her idea to add Gentle Life to the original theme of an artist colony.
Qualities: Good (+2) Kinesthetic Intelligence, Good (+2) Mosaic and Masonry, Good (+2) Practical, Good (+2) Strength, Good (+2) Teamwork
Poor (-2) Academics
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to masonry.
Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Construction Trades and Extraction Worker Supervisors 678,300 12.6%
Brickmasons and Blockmasons 100,500 10.3%
Tile and Marble Setters 64,000 9.8%
Stonemasons 20,700 9.5%
BRICK AND STONE MASON LEVEL I
at the Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater, OK
Masonry is more than bricks and mortar. It’s creativity, innovation and design on a supersized scale. In this program you’ll learn foundational elements for residential and commercial construction projects using a variety of bricks and blocks. In addition to focusing on the basics of bricklaying, you’ll also learn how to create landscape and outdoor living spaces that include fireplaces and outdoor kitchen ovens. Roll your sleeves up and get ready to mix some mortar!
HOW YOU’LL LEARN HANDS-ON
Get out of the classroom and into the real world with projects such as:
• Laying brick and tile on various housing and building projects
• Working on a Habitat for Humanity house
WHERE IT CAN TAKE YOU
Use the skills you’ll learn in this program to find a career you’ll love. Possibilities include:
• Mason
• Working for a brick manufacturer
• Tile Worker
• Entrepreneur
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Course Hours
Construction Core 120
Introduction to Masonry 60
Masonry Tools & Equipment 30
Measurements, Drawings & Specifications 30
Mortars & Grouts 15
Masonry Units & Installation Techniques 90
Residential Plans & Drawing Interpretation 15
Residential Masonry 60
Grout and Other Reinforcements 15
Construction Techniques & Moisture Control 30
Placing and Finishing Concrete 60
Stone Masonry 90
Total 615
BRICK AND STONE MASON LEVEL II
at the Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater, OK
Expand your masonry skills with advanced training. This course will build on the skills you learned in Brick and Stone Mason Level 1. This advanced course will focus on
Brick and Stone Mason Level 1 is a pre-requisite for Brick and Stone Mason Level 2. For students who attend part-time, Brick and Stone Mason Level 2 can be completed in one year. This is a morning only program.
HOW YOU’LL LEARN HANDS-ON
Get out of the classroom and into the real world with projects such as:
• Laying brick and tile on various housing and building projects
• Working on a Habitat for Humanity house
WHERE IT CAN TAKE YOU
Use the skills you’ll learn in this program to find a career you’ll love. Possibilities include:
• Mason
• Working for a brick manufacturer
• Tile Worker
• Entrepreneur
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Course Hours
Advanced Bricklaying Techniques 90
Becoming a Crew Leader 15
Commercial Masonry 120
Estimating 30
Advanced Residential Masonry 90
Site Layout One – Distance Measurement and Leveling 30
Specialized Materials and Techniques 90
Advanced Stone Masonry 90
Workforce Staging 30
Working in the Green Environment 15
Total 600
CMS Certification Program
at the Chicago Mosaic School in Onion City, Illinois
One of distinctions that make CMS a truly one-of-a-kind organization, one program in particular separates us from other art centers and educators that offer instruction in Mosaic Arts– our Certification Program.
The main mission of The Chicago Mosaic School has always been to provide serious training in mosaic arts overseen by academically trained artists who are acknowledged experts in their medium. In 2014, responding to a significant gap in both collegiate fine art curricula and the mosaic arts world, CMS launched the Certification in Mosaic Arts Program. The program–which takes approximately 3 years to complete–is designed with advanced-level requirements and focuses on key elements of any formal art education: material knowledge, proper technique, aesthetic sensibility, and developing an artistic voice. The sequence of timing of classes has been constructed with both the local and long-distance student in mind.
The program’s intent is not only to help create a higher standard of formal expectations in mosaic arts, but also to contribute to a new generation of artists trained to teach a millennia-old art form and steward it into the future.
CMS looks for the Certification Program to play a significant role in our long-term growth as well as enable us to partner with accredited universities and colleges to fill in the gaps in their fine art curricula using our long-established reputation for artistic expertise and high-caliber techniques. Our reputation as an academically rigorous organization is already being acknowledged by local educational institutions. CMS has partnered with Columbia College, Northeastern Illinois University, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Harold Washington College to create and teach course offerings.
Details
Interested students who have completed specific foundational courses at CMS may apply for the program. If accepted, Certification Students follow a curriculum of 8 Required Program Classes and 2 Elective Workshops. After each program course, students return to their studios to create individual projects that implement the techniques and materials recently learned. Throughout the program, the works are subject to strict academic critique from the CMS faculty. Students are supported and challenged in their development and are expected to devote focused studio time to incorporate standards and techniques as they continue to build their voice and body of work.
Prior to applying for the program, potential applicants complete 6 foundational courses which are useful for anyone interested in a core mosaic education, even if a more serious study is not followed.
Prerequisites Foundational Courses
• Mosaic I
• Mosaic II
• Mosaic III
• Hammer & Hardie Workshop
• Design Fundamentals
• Andamento Drawing for Mosaics
Upon completion of those 6 courses, interested applicants are given several projects to complete to enable the faculty to evaluate retention and integration of fundamental concepts as well as gauge if the program would be a good fit for the both the student and the requirements of the school. Once accepted, students must take the Required Program Courses and 2 Elective Workshops.
Required Program Courses:
• Under the Mosaic: Bases, Substrates and Foundations (was Undulation Workshop)
• Ravenna Method: Ancient & Modern
• Clay in Mosaics: Tiles & Elements
• Architectural Mosaics with Gary Drostle (Indirect Method)
• Smalti Dimensions
• Texture Workshop
• Professional Development Seminar Series
• Advanced Materials and Process
Elective Workshops (choose 2):
• Dugald MacInnes - Mosaic as an Expressive Art Form
• Sculptural Forms / Substrates
After a Certification Student has completed the required and elective courses and built a cohesive body of work, they must participate in a portfolio review, pass a written and practical exam, and present a research paper on a historical mosaic topic prior to being awarded their CMS Certification.
Cy Michaelsen -- He has fair skin, brown eyes, and short ash-brown hair receding on top. He doesn't have much of a circadian rhythm, which makes it hard for him to follow a standard schedule like most people do. He is 32 years old in 2014.
As a teen, Cy investigated art schools, but they seemed like a huge waste of time and money without really focusing on much that he wanted to learn, let alone how he liked to learn it. Instead, he took a Get a Life tour based on art. He chose a mix of countries famous for artistic traditions and those breaking new ground. In each country, Cy explored art galleries and museums, taking as many art classes or workshops as he could get. He visited Mexico, Spain, France, Britannia, Austria, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Kenya, India, Indonesia, and Japan. As an adult, Cy still supports the Get a Life program, and every year he sponsors at least one young artist.
Currently Cy lives in Patina Park, Portland, Oregon where he works in painting and mixed media. Most of his work is abstract in soft earth tones that go well with rustic design. This makes him one of the most popular artists in the Portland area. People like having something quiet yet interesting that doesn't clash with anything. Cy knows emotional first aid and has a relaxing presence.
Qualities: Good (+2) Abstract Artist, Good (+2) Dexterity, Good (+2) Naturalistic Intelligence, Good (+2) Relaxing to Be Around, Good (+2) Wealth
Poor (-2) Following the Beaten Path
Many artists never got a college degree in art. Some people find one useful, but it's not necessary.
The Get a Life program assists creative youth in personal development. It offers tour guides and travel programs at two levels, one for people who want to travel between high school and college, the other for those who want to do it after college; and participants may do both if they wish. It includes many options ranging from two to three month summer sessions on up to full year sessions. About 10% of high school graduates do not immediately go into higher education or employment, and taking a travel year is a popular option. Some travelers choose a regional destination and meander within it; others cover the whole globe. In the year-long package, it's common to choose three or four different continents and move from one to another. Themed packages are available for people who wish to study particular subjects such as architecture, crafts, literature, or the environment. Another popular option is to visit multiple countries all sharing a world language, such as Spanish or French. The formal packages customarily include at least one "serendipity" stop, and travelers may choose more if they wish, up to selecting the entire itinerary at random. Get a Life also offers support for people 18+ who wish to backpack or otherwise travel on their own but still have access to the group's hostels, maps, lesson plans, and other resources.
The program attracts primarily writers, artists, and musicians but also dancers, sculptors, computer programmers, and various other creative types. It upholds the principle that in order to make great art, you need to experience life. Traveling around the world is a terrific way to cram a lot of experience into a relatively short span of time. Often participants find a culture or career they love, which shapes the rest of their life and work. College-age travelers are more likely to find a life partner. (Participants are encouraged, but not required, to use a long-term form of birth control while traveling, so that is available to everyone at no extra cost.) The program also supports travelers in finding places to live and work after returning home, with ties to a wide range of publishers, galleries, and performance art companies.
Prices vary depending on destination and length of session. However, Get a Life is heavily subsidized both by the National Foundation for the Arts and the Department of Education. Another major source of funding comes from their own graduates. Most successful graduates fund at least one new traveler; many have set up ongoing scholarships. Those who can't afford to contribute such sums can choose between a general scholarship fund supported by graduates, or one open to the public at large, both of which offer a variety of categories in which applicants can qualify.
Get a Life is so effective at improving maturity, tolerance, diversity, and excellence in its participants that many high schools recommend it to creative seniors instead of going directly to college. Conversely, most colleges -- and almost all fine arts schools -- view it more as alternative education than as a vacation in terms of accepting applicants. Often they let high school seniors apply and then defer enrollment in college until after completing their Get a Life tour. College seniors may announce plans to travel after college, and use that to gain admission to classes that will help them in that endeavor. This results in a higher level of artistic quality and cultural awareness in Terramagne.
Best Arts & Culture Cities
Contemporary African Art Countries
Contemporary Asian Art
Favrile (Francis Sauvie) -- Ey has tawny skin, black eyes with an iridescent sheen, and short black hair. Eir heritage includes American, Asian, Hispanic, Multnomah, and Oglala. Ey speaks English, Kiksht (Multnomah tribal language), and Spanish. Ey is two-spirit. Ey is 28 years old in 2015. Francis was a powwow baby; eir Multnomah mother spent the weekend with an Oglala man and came home pregnant. She raised em with her relatives, and each of eir siblings has a different father. Ey has historic trauma from tribal issues. Francis struggled in school and never graduated from high school. Ey collected broken glass for crafts and eventually learned stained glass work, taking the name Favrile. Eir art became popular across multiple cultures. Currently ey lives in Patina Park, Portland, Oregon.
Origin: Eir mother worked in a factory around toxic fumes, so ey was born with superpowers.
Uniform: Favrile wears practical unisex clothes, often with a mix of warm and cool colors.
Qualities: Good (+2) Fearless of Heights, Good (+2) Multicultural Awareness, Good (+2) Stained Glass Artist, Good (+2) Two-Spirit, Good (+2) Visual-Spatial Intelligence
Poor (-2) Never Finished High School
Powers: Good (+2) Enhanced Vision
Motivation: To keep the Sacred Circle.
Historically, the Multnomah tribe lived on Sauvie Island and other areas around what is now Portland, Oregon.
In Terramagne-America, the Multnomah Nation is based in the Sauvie Island Reservation, about 26,000 acres. Much of the area is wilderness or wildcrafted rather than farm or urban space. The small town of Wapato holds about 2,000 people of whom just over 1,200 belong to the Multnomah tribe.
Favrile
Iridescent glass patented by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the 1894, produced by the exposure of hot glass to metallic fumes and oxides,characterized by a “rainbow” effect when seen from different angles.
Libo (Linus Halsey) -- He has fair skin, brown eyes, and short shaggy brown hair. He is tall and rangy. He is 25 years old in 2015. Linus grew up in a small coastal town and joined the Navy right out of high school. He didn't do very well there, and quit as soon as his tour ran out. He's still jumpy from that, and when he doesn't feel good, he avoids work. However, Libo learned first aid and metalworking as part of his job maintaining and repairing ships. After he got out, he turned to making practical and decorative metalwork for buildings and parks. Currently he lives in Patina Park, Portland, Oregon.
Qualities: Good (+2) Agility, Good (+2) Bohemian, Good (+2) Mechanical Intelligence, Good (+2) Metalworker, Good (+2) Teamwork
Poor (-2) Navy Veteran
Eartha Konstantina -- She has fair skin, brown eyes, and shaggy chestnut hair to her shoulders. She is short and slim. She wears glasses, and can barely see without them. Even with them, her vision remains poor. She orients more by touch. Because of this, she doesn't fit well in mainstream society, but prefers small communities. Her heritage is American. She speaks English and Esperanto. She is 23 years old in 2015.
Eartha grew up in artist colonies and occasionally communes. As a teen, she attended the Earth Mother School of Ceramics, which has studios and workshops across North America. She earned certificates in Fine Art Ceramics, Practical Ceramics, Ancient Claywork, and Wheel Throwing. Her favorite mode is sculpture. She also does some practical work such as tableware, cookware, flowerpots, and vases. She spends about three weeks per month on sculpture and one on practical ceramics. Her calm nature has a grounding influence. Currently she lives in Patina Park, Portland, Oregon.
Qualities: Expert (+4) Ceramics, Good (+2) Calm, Good (+2) Communard, Good (+2) Touch-Dominant
Poor (-2) Needs Glasses
Faceclaim: Shary Boyle
Eartha attended the Earth Mother School of Ceramics, which is actually a distributed institution with studios and workshops all over North America. Most are in communes or artist colonies, but some are in art galleries, community centers, trade schools, or colleges. The school awards a number of certificates including General Ceramics, Fine Art Ceramics, Practical Ceramics, Ancient Claywork, Bioceramic, Brick and Tile, Earthenware, Stoneware, Porcelain, Eclectic Handbuilding, Coil Ceramic, Pinched Ceramic, Slab Ceramic, Slipcast Ceramic, and Wheel Throwing. Eartha has Fine Art Ceramics, Practical Ceramics, Ancient Claywork, and Wheel Throwing.
Fine Art Ceramics
Core
History of Ceramic Art
Introduction to Fine Art Ceramics
Intermediate Fine Art Ceramics
Advanced Fine Art Ceramics
Electives (choose 4 or more)
Glazes for Fine Art
Firing Fine Art Ceramics
Stoneware for Fine Art
Porcelain for Fine Art
Ceramic Sculpture
Figure Studies
Live Model Studio: Animal
Live Model Studio: Human
Portaits in Clay
Fine Art for Small Business
Practical Ceramics
Core
History of Pottery
Introduction to Pottery
Intermediate Pottery
Advanced Pottery
Electives (choose 4 or more)
Earthenware for Practical Ceramics
Pottery Studio: Wheel-Throwing
Topics in Pottery: Cups and Bowls
Topics in Pottery: Flowerpots and Planters
Topics in Pottery: Making Consistent Sets
Topics in Pottery: Plates and Platters
Topics in Pottery: Vases and Containers
Ancient Claywork
Core
The Prehistory of Clay
Digging and Cleaning Clay
Ancient Claywork Techniques
Electives (choose 3 or more)
Topics in Ancient Claywork: Earth Religion Figures
Topics in Ancient Claywork: Lamps and Lanterns
Topics in Ancient Claywork: Replicas of Artifacts
Wheel Throwing
Core
History of the Potter's Wheel
Introduction to Wheel Throwing
Intermediate Wheel Throwing
Advanced Wheel Throwing
Electives (choose 4 or more)
Stoneware on the Wheel
Porcelain on the Wheel
Wheel Techniques: Carving
Wheel Techniques: Handbuilding
Topics in Wheelwork: Cups and Bowls
Topics in Wheelwork: Plates and Platters
Topics in Wheelwork: Vases and Containers