STONE AND TILE MOSAICS
Created by Artist Eric Rattan

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
ON HANDMADE TILE AND MOSAICS

Dates: TBA

Pictures and Info on Previous Workshop:
Bethel Horizon's Art Ventures & Eric Rattan
Spring Green, WI
Handmade Tile, Mosaic 10’ x 10’ Mural

Bethel Horizon's Art Ventures and Eric Rattan offered a four day ceramic mosaic tile mural workshop. Attendees executed an approximately 10'x10' wall mural, starting with wet clay for fabricating the tiles, firing, applying the cement board substrate, then mudding and grouting to achieve a completed ceramic mural.

Eric Rattan combined the hands-on experience of tile making with lectures on it's technical challenges, shrink testing, warpage, frost free considerations etc. Similarly the project offered attendees a hands-on installation experience combined with a lecture on the many technical considerations required to achieve a permanent "1000 year plan" finished tile mural.

Bethel Horizons is located near Spring Green Wisconsin, in the beautiful rolling hills of the driftless region in southwestern Wisconsin. It is located approximately eleven miles from Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin home. Attendees were able to extend their trip by a day to tour this architectural landmark.

The $690.00 workshop fee included five nights of lodging, all meals, tuition (including materials), and transportation to and from Madison's Dane County Airport.

Dress was casual with work clothes recommended for the hands-on portion. Attendees with skin sensitivities were advised to bring rubber gloves. No other tools were required. The workshop was open to all skill levels. Registration was on a first come first served basis.

Cancellations for a full fee refund required thirty days notice. The workshop was limited to 15 attendees or fewer. To reserve a space attendees sent a $690.00 check to Bethel Horizons, 312 Wisconsin Ave Madison WI, 53703. Checks were made out to Bethel Horizons, Art Ventures.

Members of the Society of American Mosaic Artists, Tile Heritage Foundation, Handmade Tile Association LLC, or the Wisconsin Handmade Tile Guild, were offered a $25.00 discount which was deducted from the $690.00.

For more information on workshops call Eric Rattan @ 608-231-1883, or email Eric.
Also, may contact Kathy Hunt at www.bethelhorizons-artventures.org

OTHER PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS

Eric Rattan gave a five-day intensive workshop at his Madison, WI home/ studio 4/16- 4/2009. The workshop was timed to precede the 2009 Coverings international stone and tile show which is taking place in Chicago 4/21-4/24. Chicago is approximately three hours from Madison. See Coverings.com for information, on workshops, and show registration.

The 5 day intensive class featured 3.5-4 hours of lecture each morning covering the technical aspects of handmade tile and mosaic installation. Each afternoon involved "hands on" tile/tessarae making starting with wet clay and finished with pieces fired to 2200 degrees. Technical installation "hands on" methods was also conducted in the afternoon. The studio remained open in the evenings for those who desired "full immersion!" Each student completed handmade tiles, and or a tile mosaic to take home.

Eric Rattan has consulted for the stone masonry restoration efforts at Frank Lloyd Wrights home, Taliesin in Spring Green WI. For attendees who wished to arrive a day or two early, free transportation to and from Taliesin was provided (house tour ticket extra).

Airport pickups for attendees was available. Attendees arriving in Chicago can catch a Van Galder bus to Madison.. Tuition for the 5-day workshop was $690. Transportation to and from the airport (if arriving and departing according to the scenarios listed above) was included at no extra charge. Members of The Society of American Mosaic Artists, Tile Heritage Foundation, The Wisconsin Handmade Tile Guild, or The Handmade Tile Association (a certified THF "Tile Joint") received a $25 discount.

WORKSHOPS AT SANTA FE DESIGN STUDIO

Santa Fe Design Studio & Gallery 5745 Elder Place - Madison, Wisconsin 53705 -

Mr. Rattan occasionally gives workshops at his home studio location. Attendees not requiring housing can deduct $100. Attendees who prefer to stay in a nearby motel will receive round trip transportation each day for a total of $50 (includes all 5 days.) We have 40 acres of woods behind the house/ studio. Tent camping is welcome.

Food at his workshops has always been paid for and organized collectively. Accommodations are very basic, shared occupancy at the Rattan handmade tile and mosaic house/studio. It is a rather small house, but a huge undertaking (always a work in progress), which to date has in excess of 45,000 installed handmade tile and cut stone tessarae. Eric Rattan received the 2008 International Spectrum Tile Design and Detail award for his master bedroom, which has 8000 handmade reproduction arts and crafts era tiles on the floor.

Admission is first come first served. All skill levels are welcome. These workshops are limited to 10 students. To reserve your space please mail tuition to Eric Rattan, checks made out to Santa Fe Design Studio, at 5745 Elder Place Madison, WI 53705. If you have any questions, please call me @ 608 231 1883. No email inquiries please except for those residing outside of the U.S.