A memorial for the Survivors of the Butte Fire

Pieces, Mountain Ranch, CA

 The Butte Fire began burning in early September, 2015. When this destructive wild fire was finally put out over 500 homes were burned, many people were displaced and the land was left black and bare. Our home in Murphys was spared but the closeness of the fire threatened our sense of security. This could happen again and those of us spared may not be next time. Many people wanted to find a way to reach out and help those that suffered so many losses. This community in the California foothills of Calaveras County had to find a way to heal. I conceived of an idea to take items that were left from the fire into a mosaic. This would be a creative way to transform these losses into something meaningful for the community. Knowing I could not do this alone I contacted The Calaveras County Arts Council.

The Calaveras County Arts Council adopted the idea and the Pieces Project was begun. We sent out a call to the community to save debris such as pottery, trinkets, small pieces of metal, tools and glass. Those that wished to make donations left them at the Arts Council office in San Andreas or at a recovery site in Mountain Ranch. After about 4 months we had enough material to create a mosaic.

It was also decided to have a traveling exhibit of Pieces that could be a vehicle to talk about the memorial and the effect the fire had on the people of the area. At this time the Exhibit is being developed. We are collaborating with local writers for words and stories to go with the individual items to be displayed.

All of the Pieces for the mosaic are now in my studio in Murphys and being prepared for the installation. They are being cleaned and sorted and broken and nipped into small pieces to be placed on a wall in Mountain Ranch, the center of the fire's destruction. The wall will be completed by September, 2016 and will be unveiled at the anniversary of the fire on September 10, 2016.

I will continue to add to this web page as the project progresses.

February, 24, 2016.....updates to follow......

Update - July 6, 2016

We have begun to mosaic. I have a traveling studio in my car. Anne Cook and I meet at 6:45AM in Mountain Ranch. In just three days we have accomplished a lot. We enjoy the passersby who share about their losses due to the fire. And some have returned to bring us things to incorporate into the mosaic.


Update - April 28, 2016

The wall for the mosaic memorial is now in construction. The wall builder is Paul Eastridge of Mountain Ranch who is donating all of his time and talent to the project. For Paul this is an opportunity to give back to his community and to offer some of himself to a greater good. It is healing for him. This is perfect as this project has been created for the healing of the community.

Other parts of the design are coming along. I am working in my studio to create elements for the final top of the wall. We are also in the process of designing the presentation event which will mark the one year anniversary of the fire. It will be a community gathering honoring the courage of the victims and offering art as healing.

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Here are a few recent photos of the process including the wonderful guys of Mountain Ranch.......posted 4/28/2016

This slideshow shares many of the Pieces that have been collected since
the beginning of the project.

Pieces was introduced as a project of the Calaveras County Arts Council on the public access channel for Calaveras County on the show
Mondo Calaveras with Mike Taylor.

And there was a very nice article and video in the Union Democrat. http://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/3992669-151/murphys-artist-to-create-mosaic-of-butte-fire#.Vr5nZgpMxEU.facebook

Sacramento Fox 40 News
February 27, 2016
http://fox40.com/2016/02/27/artist-transforms-butte-fire-rubble-into-pieces-of-art/