Mosaics – telling a story in little pieces

You can feel the buzz of busyness and the hum of community when you walk into Heather Fahnle’s mosaic studio in Ventnor.

It’s a room that houses a big wooden table, a scattering of stools, walls filled with containers of this ‘n that, displays of works in progress, and a kitchen corner with kettle, cups and a jar of bikkies, often homemade.

It’s welcoming, cosy and packed with ideas.

This seems to be the key ingredient in the creativity and cohesion of the groups of students (as they like to be called) who come along each week, either Wednesday and Thursday mornings or afternoons.

It’s something that “just happens” according to Heather, who is very accustomed to the easy manner in which her students gel together in a short space of time.

“Perhaps it’s the creativity that brings people together,” she says.

They come along as individuals and end up as friends, not only sharing in their everyday lives but in the projects.

The time seems to fly as they immerse themselves in their art works, seeking guidance from Heather or each other.

“I’ve learnt heaps,” says Ann, who has now become one of the Thursday morning students since coming along two years ago. She’s found it a way of belonging when she retired to her holiday home nearby.

“Heather’s a very good teacher – she guides us in our thinking and planning,” she says, as she works on her bird bath adornment.

Heather

Mosaics have come to play a large part of Heather’s life. 

“I started as a florist and worked in a nursery but I always wanted to do art,” Heather says.

“I’ve dabbled in ceramics and I used to make my own tiles.”

Her love of mosaics (“they’re one of the oldest forms of art in the world”) began in earnest pre-Covid, when she decided to conduct classes, from home, where she could share her ideas and passion with others.

“Mosaics is telling a story in little pieces. Along with the art form, it’s got a very therapeutic nature in that you can immerse yourself in what you’re doing and in those around you.

“It’s a story, and it invites people to tell their story through their art.”

Along with her classes, Heather also shares her talents with younger people. Once a week she travels to a private girls’ school in Melbourne where she is artist in residence; and with local indigenous youth where she works alongside volunteers at the Koala Conservation Centre (KCC) in Cowes in the creation of a fire pit in the Yarning Circle project.

Her talents and expertise are well recognised and were on show recently at an exhibition in Yarram. She encouraged many of her students to have a go and enter their art works in the Birds of a Heather display. Using a template of a bird, that her builder husband Manny had made for each one, the exhibition was a success, particularly for the entrants who had the thrill of seeing their creations purchased by admirers.

There was also a personal connection in that each bird held the story of each artist and how it came to be.

“It was a thrill to have your own work bought and admired by others,” says Ann, who had never considered herself an artist.

The enthusiasm and excitement that permeates the studio each gathering is indicative of the love of mosaics that Heather generates.

It is an artform that her students have taken on board and are now embracing, piece by piece.

Details: heatherfahnle.com/