THE AMAZING MOSAIC OF MEMORIES: NAPLES PIER PROJECT
Last month Florida’s eminent art dealer Emillions Art finalized and presented the glorious result of the Mosaic of Memories: Naples Pier Project. This noble and inventive action was aimed at restoring the Naples community and celebrating the resilience and strength of the city itself. Needless to say, we are mighty proud that our colleagues chose mosaic art to do so.
Hurricane Ian struck the state of Florida on 23rd September last year and was the deadliest one to hit this area since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. It raked a path of destruction throughout the southeast United States, leaving Florida and its Gulf Coast to deal with horrible consequences. One of the cities devastated by the hurricane is the city of Naples. Among things lost in the wake of the disaster is the iconic Naples Pier.
Today, Naples has come a long way since the hurricane. A lot of progress has been made on the recovery front. The city is now free of debris and the rebuilding of numerous structures has already started. Back in December, wonderful people over at Emillions Art have taken a step to help their city and the local First responders by launching Mosaic of Memories: Naples Pier Project.
They asked the community to send in some happy photos taken at their beloved Naples Pier, and the community did exactly that and so much more. Thousands of pictures have been gathered and given to the famous photo-mosaic artist Robin Austin. Last month renowned artist unveiled his masterpiece at the Naples Pier, during a public celebration.
The amazing mosaic artwork is truly an iconographic triumph in its own right. Robin Austin proved that he truly is the best at what he does. The magnificent, in both scale and appearance, The Mosaic of Memories art embodies the vibrant energy and the everyday life that used to take part in the lovely Naples Pier. 100 limited edition prints of the artwork are created, with the profits going to Collier County as a support to the families of local responders and the City of Naples for extensive restoration efforts. 20 f the 100 prints will be auctioned off through a series of public events, with the proceeds going toward a cause.
Robin Austin is the inventor of the art of photo-mosaic and one of the most sought-after digital artists in the world. He is famous for his work with numerous celebrities, which kind of comes as no surprise because he spent the first thirty years of his amazing career successfully working in marketing. once he sold his own company, he decided it was time for a change.
He created his first photo-mosaic piece as a birthday present for his son James, using the TV show Breaking Bad as a theme. Later on, he made Princess Diana photo-mosaic art, followed by Nelson Mandella and Mick Jagger artworks. One of his most notable works is the photo-mosaic portrait of David Bowies, which he created by using 3,500 tiny photos. Today, Robin Austin has more than one hundred amazing pieces in galleries all over the world.
Art has always served a purpose. Whether it was to heal in the present, celebrate life, or send a message through centuries, mosaic art in particular has always been a medium that conveyed wholesomeness and longevity. With the Mosaic of Memories project mosaic art is taking part in rebuilding and strengthening communities in the truest sense of the word.
