Artist's Statement

Expression as an artist for me comes through the medium of mosaics in the form of murals and three-dimensional sculpture. I carefully cut geometric pieces of glass, ceramic tile and/or found objects and “puzzle” them together to create something representational or abstract. Mosaics are like permanent textured paintings that reflect light and shadows. Most of my work is designed to be site specific. The challenge for me is to design in harmony with the natural landscape or existing architectural design, thus reflecting environment and culture.

I have always been fascinated by the historical and pre-historical context of humanity in its relationship with nature and how our world is constantly changing. Using motifs from nature and our ancient ancestors guides me in my work. The word “mosaic” of late has become a metaphor to describe the diversity in which we live. For me, the world is a mosaic made up of various cultures, conditionings, environment, time, and space each having their unique circumstance and yet bonded by the cement of life itself!

Selected Public Art Projects

“H2O (Water!) = Life”, Cerritos Regional Community Park, City of Cerritos and Los Angeles County Arts Commission, series of five mosaic sculptures placed in the center of a circular grass “henge” that represent the epochs of time going back 40 million years and marks the equinoxes.

2007	First “Mosaic Marathon” for the Society of American Mosaic Artists’ (SAMA) annual conference in Mesa, Arizona, five mosaic panels donated to the charity Southwest Human Development in Phoenix, and work created by SAMA members in four days.
2007 & 2006	Bannister Family House, UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, two phase donor recognition mural and bench supporting a home-away-from-home for families who’s loved ones are healing from extensive medical care.
2006	“Historic Flowers of Carlsbad”, Pine Avenue Park, City of Carlsbad, CA, five reinforced, cast concrete, mosaic flower sculptures depicting the history of flower farming in Carlsbad.
2005	“Ocean Dances”, Sun Harbor Marina, San Diego, mosaic sculpture water sculpture and fountain depicting tuna fishing off San Diego’s shores.
2003	“Between Bay and Sky”, Unified Port District of San Diego, General Services Facility, National City, CA, three mosaic benches, one wall fountain and five wall panels depicting the marine life of San Diego Bay.
2003	“May the Muse Be With You”, San Diego Repertory Theatre, San Diego, Donor recognition mosaic mural.
2002	“Oceanlife, Sun & Waves”, City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and Discover Pacific Beach Organization, three mosaic sculptures in the median of Grand Avenue in this beachside community.
2001	“Play Space”, Harding Family Center, Headstart & Citizens Council for the Arts, Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, mosaic for a community collaboration entrance sculpture with artist Harold Balazs and local youth.
2000	“Worcester’s Community Mosaic”, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA, community mosaic mural originally placed at museum entrance and relocated to museum courtyard, depicting the history and community of Worcester, MA.
1999	“Carley’s Magical Gardens”, Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego, giant mosaic hummingbird’s nest, fabric butterfly wings, in collaboration with artists’ team and architect Tony Figueras in garden design.
1998	“Pearl of the Pacific”, Shelter Island, Port of San Diego and Sister City Project, mosaic collaboration with Artist James Hubbell and architecture students from China, Mexico, Russia, and USA.
1996	Fritz Burns Park, City of La Quinta, CA, in collaboration with artist Alber De Matteis for twelve sidewalk mosaics and large shade and water sculpture.

Education

1991	MASTER OF SCIENCE, Historic Preservation of Architecture, University of Oregon, School of Architecture and Allied Arts, Eugene, Oregon.

BACHELOR OF ARTS, Fine Art, Art History, and Architectural History, University of Oregon, School of Architecture and Allied Arts, Eugene, Oregon.

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS, Interior Design, Bassist College, Portland, Oregon.

Significant Work Experience

1992-Present	Self employed artist specializing in mosaics and public art. Kim Emerson Mosaics, LLC was established in May 2004.
1996-2002	California Center for the Arts, Escondido, SUAVE Arts Coach. Mentor to teachers on how to use the arts in the curriculum, in schools located in North County San Diego.

Artist representative for James Hubbell, architect & designer, Julian, CA and throughout San Diego County.

Architectural assistant with Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson,
F.A.I.A., in San Diego County, area of Los Angeles, and Orange County.

Special Honors & Projects

2009	Conference Chair and Organizer of the 9th annual conference of the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) conference, San Diego, CA.
2008	Invited member of Public Address, public art advocacy group of San Diego County.
2004-2007	Public Art Committee Member for the City of San Diego, Commission for Arts and Culture. Served two terms.
2005 & 2006	Best of Show for Architectural Category for the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) annual conference exhibit, Washington D.C. and Chicago.
2002	Fulbright-Hays Group Grant Project study of the arts in education in Veracruz, Mexico, through the SUAVE program.
2000	Orchid Award presented to the design team of “Carley’s Magical Gardens” Children’s Hospital of San Diego, for excellence in landscape design and public art. The other collaborating artists are T.J. Dixon, Jim Nelsen, Mary Lynn Dominguez, Ellen Phillips, and Alber De Matteis.
2000	National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was the major source of funding for the “Worcester’s Community Mosaic” project at the Worcester Art Museum.
1999	Fulbright-Hays Group Grant Project study in Rajasthan, India “The Role of Puppetry in Education”, through the SUAVE program.