Enzo also  colaborates  with very important  contemporary artists in order to interpret their works in contemporary mosaic.The “Oculus “ mosaics created with the roman mosaicist Rinaldo Piras,for the artist Ginzel and Jones ,at the Subway stations in New York city, are one example.Oculus is a constellation of marble and glass mosaic in the underground labyrinth of interconnected subway stations of lower Manhattan.More than 300 Roman Mosaic eyes drawn from a photographic study of more thab twelve hundred young  New Yorkers ,made together with the Mosaicist Rinaldo Piras , are set into the white tile walls of the World Trade Center/Park Place/Chamber Street Stations. For Enzo ,this was an extraordinary experience in which Enzo he was responsible for creating the prototype of the “First Eye” and many multiracial others.As Jones and Ginzel say:” The work’s detailed renderings of the eye.the most telling, fragile,and vulnerable human feature-offer a profound sense of intimaci within a public space.Together , the images create a sense of unity and flow:animating, orienting and humanizing the station.OCULUS invites a dialogue between the site and those who move through it.

Oculus Mosaic

The mosaic ‘Dov’è la Vittoria’, created in collaboration with the artist Luca Buvoli, is another example of how mosaic can interpret the sensibility of the artist. This mosaic, in marble and glass paste, is mounted on honeycomb aluminum.

Mosaic reproduced for new SS. John and Paul Church

SS. John and Paul Parish in Franklin Park/Marshall Township, nearing completion of construction on its church building, this month installed a large-format mosaic of the Blessed Mother on the exterior of its bell tower.

Italian mosaic artist Enzo Aiello arrived to personally adhere his “Mater Ecclesiae” (“Mother of the Church”) creation to the structure.

The artwork, measuring 5 feet 9 inches by 10 feet 6 inches, faces the parish’s main driveway and will be one of the first images visitors see.

The story of the parish’s new mosaic, according to Father McCaffrey, pastor, is an example of “how Divine Providence worked into this, with how flawlessly it has worked out.

“We have the feeling that the hand of God is on this,” he said.

The original image of the Blessed Mother, known as the Altar of Our Lady of the Column, was painted on a column in the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. After Vatican II, Pope Paul VI named it “Mater Ecclesiae.”

In 1981, after the attempt on his life, Pope John Paul II commissioned a mosaic reproduction of it for the outside wall of the Apostolic Palace in thanksgiving to the Blessed Mother, whom he credited for his survival. It carries the pope’s motto, “Toto Tuus,” at the bottom.

Father McCaffrey led a pilgrimage of parishioners to Rome to attend the ceremonies elevating the parish’s founding pastor, Archbishop Daniel DiNardo, to the rank of cardinal.

Standing in line to enter St. Peter’s, Father McCaffrey noticed the mosaic, hanging between the basilica and the papal residence. He was impressed by its beauty and soon learned its history.

“I said to Bob and Chris Pietrandrea, who were on the trip with us, ‘It would be nice if we could get a replica and place it on the church as a beautiful connection with Pope John Paul II and the universal church,’” Father McCaffrey recalled.

The couple, later standing in line for another audience following the ceremonies, were talking about the idea, when a man, overhearing them, said, “I’m a mosaic artist.”

It was Enzo Aiello.

Soon, the match was made.

Father McCaffrey and the couple returned several months later to visit Aiello’s studio and view his drawing of the proposed mosaic and make the commission official.

The blue-and-gold image of Mary and the Child Jesus created for SS. John and Paul is a much larger version of the original, as interpreted by Aiello. He worked on the project for four months, creating it in sections. He then installed the replica by section.

Aiello is pleased with the result.

“It’s getting a great emotional reaction from people,” he said. “The image of the Madonna is a very powerful symbol.”

Aiello has worked as a mosaic specialist for 20 years, beginning as an apprentice in the Vatican Studio of Mosaic in Vatican City, which dates back to 1727.

Today he lives and works in Rome, where he also restores antique mosaics and teaches. His works are on view at sites in New York and other parts of the country.

“The result was unexpected,” he said, noting the response of people seeing the image for the first time was emotional and positive. “It’s receiving lots of compliments. I was very surprised.”

Father McCaffrey said, “It’s a thrill to look at it. It’s just magnificent. It truly does look just like the one in Rome — just bigger. And it strengthens our ties between Pope John Paul II and SS. John and Paul.”

As the scaffolding was being removed, Aiello was putting finishing touches on the brickwork framing the work and cleaning the mosaic before attending its unveiling on Sunday, Sept. 20.

The parish is hoping to dedicate its completed church on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12, pending completion of construction work. That work involves masonry both inside and outside of the structure, followed by paving of access sidewalks.

http://www.stsjohnandpaul.org/TopNav/Mater_Ecclesiae.jsp

http://www.stsjohnandpaul.org/TopNav/Mosaic-092009.jsp

http://www.pittsburghcatholic.org/newsarticles_more.phtml?id=2587

RELIGIOUS ARTWORK:

The History of Byzantine Mosaic

Noted for its rich use of ornamental domes and colorful mosaics, the Byzantine style of architecture has found new life. Perhaps no other single style of architecture combines ancient ecclesiastical forms with sacred artworks as lavishly as the Byzantine. The style developed during the Byzantine Empire (500 A.D. and thereafter) and is characterized by complex vaulting with domes, large open spaces, and lavish decoration with mosaics, gilding, and paintings of Christian subjects. In 323 A.D., Constantine the Great moved the capital of the Roman Empire to the Greek town of Byzantium and established a formal culture of Church and State. Byzantium was renamed Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) and became the seat of this ecclesiastical government. Today, the term “Byzantine” refers to the entire Eastern Roman Empire and Byzantine art represents the final, Christian stage of antiquity. The relocation of the capital to Byzantium resulted in the division of the Roman Empire by the beginning of the 5th century, followed by a religious split: the Eastern, or Orthodox Church, was headed by the Emperor and his appointed patriarch; and the Western, or Catholic church, was headed by the Bishop of Rome and separate from the powers of the State. Early Christian architecture, the first constructed expressions of the new faith in Constantinople, was based on a new building type called the basilica. The form and use of this building, derived from Roman courthouses, became the basic model for western medieval church architecture and remained important in Byzantine architecture. The basilica form featured a rectangular nave with columns supporting a pitched roof; an altar and apse at the east end; and an atrium or narthex at the west end, often with an exonarthex (an open porch with columns). Constantinople was the source of inspiration and guidance for the Orthodox Christians of the Byzantine Commonwealth, which included Asia Minor, the Balkan states, Greece, eastern Italy and Sicily; it also influenced Slavic, Carpatho-Russian, and North African cultures. Furthermore, Byzantine art, at its zenith when the Romanesque style emerged in Europe, permeated Romanesque ornament and even intermingled with Celtic art in Scotland and Ireland. The Byzantine style is characterized by the dome and the cruciform shape, round arches, and circular windows. Buildings are formal and symmetrical, with compact, functional plans. Exterior walls are smooth and plain. Popular materials include buff brick in large, flat sizes; light-colored stone, often in bands; and stucco or plastered and painted concrete. Interiors strive for a dematerialized effect, with floating domes over open spaces, ethereal light, and shimmering mosaics or gold leaf. Iconographic murals are typical. Ornament is inspired by historical precedent, often reinterpreted in an original manner. Carving is simple, in bas-relief.

Mosaic in churches

In the Episcopal Chapel in Ravenna there is an inscription that reads: “Whether born here or held prisoner here, in this place light reigns freely.” The only technical advantage mosaic has (that of humidity resistance) is not enough: glass mosaic’s real advantage lays in its relationship to religious symbolism in the Christian aesthetic. Glass and gold mosaic’s durability and brightness make it a natural choice when decorating the walls and vaults of Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox and other churches. The use of precious gold and the highly-reflective surface of gold tesserae are extremely effective at enhancing light, a quality highly prized in Byzantine art. Its durability and an almost infinite number of color gradations – over 28,000 different hues and shades – make mosaic the ideal choice to replace oil painting or frescoes, maintaining its vivid colors and clear lines over centuries.

An important innovation of Byzantine mosaic art, as the Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna from the fifth century AD show, was that it was no longer necessary to ensure a perfectly flat surface such as was needed for walking on. The glass tesserae and the newly introduced gold tesserae were affixed directly in place on walls and arches, and were deliberately set at varying angles in order to reflect light. So, along with the element of color, we now have the element of light. The stimulating effect of color reinvigorated by the play of light remains one of the fundamental objectives of a mosaicist. The Byzantine mosaicists were masters of this technique.  It is crucial that all the many tiny pieces, inserted by the mosaicist to make the whole, acquire the property of reflecting light. Just as the heavenly bodies in space reflect the sun’s light, the tesserae give the impression every hour of the day of being sources of light themselves, and in fact, having absorbed the light, radiate it back out to illuminate a dark space. Anyone who has entered the tomb of Galla Placidia in Ravenna knows what I am talking about.

Enzo can execute mosaic portraits of saints and Madonnas which are noted for their ability to reflect light skillfully and beautifully. One example of his work is the wonderful 60-sq-foot glass mosaic “Mater Ecclesiae”, created to decorate the bell tower of Saints John and Paul Catholic Church in Sewickley, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

http://www.stsjohnandpaul.org/TopNav/Mater_Ecclesiae.jsp

RESIDENTIAL

Aiellomosaics specializes in Architectural Mosaic Design. Our mosaics have been widely specified for commercial and residential,hotels, villas, boats, private homes, swimming pools, wellness  spas, yachts, bathrooms and wall or floor decors,whirlpools baths ,artistic murals, hotels, airports, and interior and exterior applications throughout the world.The ancient Romans used to decorate fountains,grottos, Nymphaea,Musaea using mosaic .These sanctuaries were places of repose , providing cool  relief from the summer heat, a place where poets and philosophers could converse.Today Pools ,thermal baths and spas  keep this tradition alive and due to  its water-resistant qualities, mosaic is perfect for water areas: it doesn’t deteriorate in humidity and provides a slip-proof surface when stepping out of the shower or bath. Glass mosaic also maintains its brilliance, and is actually enhanced by water. With full mosaic floors, walls or smaller decorative inserts, it is possible to create a one-of-a-kind bath, shower or pool area.

KITCHENS:

Another possible application of mosaic is in the kitchen, as an artistic design element or, more practically, as an attractive, impermeable surface to protect the wall behind the kitchen counter and sink. A glass tile backsplash is particularly beautiful, and easily installed in any kitchen.

BATHROOMS and POOL AREAS :

Would you like your bathroom or pool area to be as beautifully decorated as an ancient Roman villa? Full mosaic murals can be installed on walls, floors and surfaces, or smaller decorative inserts can be added according to your taste. Proper construction and installation – either created directly on-site or pieced together and then permanently mounted – ensure that you will have a beautiful, unique, waterproof and slip-proof environment in your bath or pool area, a thing of beauty to enjoy daily.

FLOORS :

Marble – noted for its versatility and wide range of colors, textures and unique veining – has been the material of choice in fine art for thousands of years. Using marble mosaic for the floor is one of the best ways to create a unique look for any room, creating an artistic yet naturally integrated effect. When properly installed, marble mosaic floors can last a lifetime in any home.

Custom Mosaics

In the hands of a master, the placing of mosaic tesserae is a very versatile technique where the personal sensibilities of the artist can be expressed – whether it be a reproduction of mosaics or paintings, or a new, unique creation of the artist’s own design.Enzo can create custom mosaics for residential and commercial settings, whether the location is exterior or interior.  Examples include:

TABLES ,

FLOORSCAPES,

MEDALLIONS ,

WALL MURALS,

VAULTS,

CEILINGS,

SWIMMING POOLS,

MAUSOLEUMS,

GARDEN FEATURES,

FAMILY CRESTS AND COATS OF ARMS

And so on…

Custom service includes:

·     Personalized inspection and measurement of the site

·     Design and material consultation with the client

o     Enzo can create a customized design or use a design provided by the customer.

·     Fabrication and installation will be personally executed by Enzo.  Extremely large projects would require professional, experienced project management and support team, all of whom have met the qualifications determined by Enzo.

·     Custom mosaics for permanent installation typically are fabricated in the studio, and then delivered in sections to the installation site and installed by Enzo personally.

·     Custom mosaics may be fabricated on panels for independent, non-permanent hanging and installation.

·     Enzo uses only the finest materials, including

o     Premium marble from around the world

o     Handmade glass tesserae (smalti) from Venice and Spilimbergo

o     Premium mosaic tiles

·     Enzo uses the most appropriate technique suitable to the project – including antique techniques from 2,000 years ago

Pricing

The price of a mosaic is per project and is dependent upon the following factors:

·     Size of the project

·     Customized design by Enzo verses fabrication-ready design provided by client

·     The materials chosen, including the quantity of specialized material, for example, gold tesserae.

·     Technique

in general lines, the client can choose at least 4 different options:

1)Roman Mosaic :natural marble mosaic in the Roman Tradition , (stones size 1/3 of one inch):

2)Byzantine  Mosaic :Venetian glass mosaics Smalti  in the Byzantine style (stones size 1/3 of one inch) ,

3)Contemporary mosaic : venetian glass smalti , natural marble ,semi-precious stones, pebbles,golds,stones,terracotta,fossils

(different stones size  )

4)Micro Mosaic Opus Vermiculatum(size stones 1/9 of one inch) ,

4)MicroMosaic in smalti filati,Filate Enamels Technique (size stones less than 1/25 of one inch)

Enzo is one of the very few mosaic artists in the world to make mosaics using MICROMOSAIC IN SMALTI FILATI  called also FILATE ENAMELS technique(size stones less than 1/25 of ine inch)the very secret mosaic technique dated 1700, coming from Vatican Mosaic Studio.  Enzo learnt directly this technique at the Vatican Mosaic Studio under Great Masters .The FILATE ENAMELS  allows the realization of microscopic tesserae and consequently the production of incredibly minute mosaics.With this extraordinary technique it is possibile to execute mosaics in brooches,necklaces,earrings,rings,bracelets,plaques,pendants,snuffboxes,jewellery boxes,jewel cases,paperweights,tabletops,hanged pictures in micromosaic,panels in micromosaic.