Description

When mosaic art is properly assembled and installed, it can be the perfect solution for durable signage placed in exterior and public spaces. Featured here are three selected projects that Kim Emerson either designed, or worked to create in collaboration with other professionals. 

Listed from the most recent, are the following:

1. The first phase of this signage project for Pine Avenue Park was constructed in 2006, when Kim Emerson first collaborated with Bravo Sign & Design of Anaheim, CA. Kim did not fully design this particular sign, but when the City of Carlsbad requested the City’s Bird of Paradise logo in mosaic, she knew just what to do. The sign with recessed areas for the mosaics was pre-cast and installed by Bravo, and the artist installed her mosaics on-site. In 2017, Bravo and Kim Emerson were called back to create two additional signs when Pine Avenue Park was more than doubled in size. The address of Pine Avenue Park is located at 3209 Harding Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008

2. Lloyd Ruocco (1907-1981) was a mid-century modern and very influential San Diego architect and educator, and some also considered him to be a philosopher and a poet. Ruocco Park, named after him, is located at 600 North Harbor Drive, downtown San Diego, and is situated at the water’s edge and a highly visited destination. In 2011, Kim Emerson was commissioned by Concrete Contractors Interstate (CCI), who was contracted by the San Diego Unified Port District, and Kim was put to the task to develop mosaics for two park components. The first is the official freestanding park sign with the recessed area made in the traditional mosaic method adhered to a pre-cast concrete sign. The second is lettering directly cast into the concrete pavement, while the concrete was being poured, one tesserae at a time on-site. Inspired by Lloyd Ruocco, the artist had the idea to utilize his personal style of hand-writing for both components. The concrete pavement with spaced mosaic lettering was built to withstand the highest of possible traffic usage by joggers, bicyclists, skateboarders, fisherman’s moving carts, and anything moving over it. A special THANK YOU goes to Concrete Contractors Interstate (CCI) for their vast experience and expertise in everything concrete!

3. In 2004, Kim Emerson was commissioned to design and create mosaics for a gateway roadside marker leading into the community of City Heights in the City of San Diego, sponsored by the Fairmount Park Neighborhood association. Kim Emerson designed the entire marker, created the cattail design mosaics, but she had the other portions assembled and built by other vendors. The metal center of the sign, with cut-out letters, is powder-coated steel, and held by two flanking Arts & Crafts style columns that are embellished with river rock, colorful mosaics, and each topped with large river boulders.