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Artists-In-Residence Create “Sun Shine Through” Public Mosaic Sculpture for North Monroe Hill

If you drive past the North Monroe hill on the border of Spokane’s Emerson-Garfield and North Hill neighborhoods, you may soon notice a new mosaic sculpture shining through your commute. 

The Hive® Artists-In-Residence Lisa Soranaka and Mallory Battista have been working since October of 2022 on a collaborative public art piece called “Sun Shine Through”. This sculpture represents universal images of positivity and hope with clouds and a bright sun shining on south-bound drivers, and a colorful rainbow greeting those heading up the hill toward the Garland District. 

After receiving funding from the Spokane Grant Award (SAGA) program last year, Lisa and Mallory have been brainstorming, planning, and creating their soon-to-be 14×5 feet ‘mosaicked masterpiece’. This sculpture will contain hundreds of tiles handmade by community members that attended tile-making workshops at The Hive® in October, November, and February. 

“The community involvement element of this sculpture has been so rewarding. We really wanted to share the experience of creating public art as well as the sense of ownership of the finished piece. The more people who can later drive by and feel a sense of pride at having helped create it, the better. I am so excited for this sculpture to brighten my neighborhood, and having that excitement reflected in so many from the community who have made tiles or have just been following the process has definitely been fuel for us as we’ve been building it.” said Mallory. 

Lisa and Mallory are currently seeking funds for the concrete platform that will serve as the gateway sign and additional expenses like signage lettering, installation, lighting, and basic landscaping with drought-tolerant candytuft. Learn more and consider making a donation by clicking here.

Sculpture Progress Picture Gallery

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