North Creek's famous mosaic mural inspires more art

NORTH CREEK | Almost 15 years ago, artist Kate Hartley asked Town of Johnsburg residents and visitors, "Would you like to make some waves?" More than 2,000 children and adults responded affirmatively, volunteering to help create North Creek's amazing mosaic mural wall that portrays nature and recreation in the Gore Mt. Region. Bears, whitewater rafters, fishermen, skiers, moose, kayakers, herons, and tubers – they now cover what was once a drab concrete retaining wall on Main Street. Ever since, the colorful 230-by-10-foot mural has inspired even more art – much of which will be on display a block away in Tannery Pond Center's Widlund Gallery from Aug. 5 to Sept. 6 in a new exhibit, "Faces of Our Mosaic Mural and New Mosaics by Kate Hartley and Friends." Photos of youngsters and adults who assisted Hartley over 10 years in assembling roughly 200,000 glass mosaic pieces into images of water, forest and wildlife scenes will constitute one element of the exhibit. Johnsburg residents are sure to see dozens of familiar faces on the gallery walls. Hartley's success in directing the project helped her win a 2025 New York State Council on the Arts grant to create new mosaics inspired by the mural. Eight of these creations will be a second part of the gallery show. They include a glittery three-dimensional lake trout, a stately heron, a "Light Through the Trees" picture frame, and a "Lake Edge Table." Hartley has not been alone in building on the mosaic wall experience. Over the years, many of those who worked on the wall or took classes at Hartley's H'ART Studio & Gallery followed up with creations of their own. More than 30 of those pieces will also be on display. "I'm thrilled that our huge artwork continues to inspire people to create beautiful, mosaic pieces that they can take home with them," said Hartley. Examples include "Flight," by Carol Pearsall and "Rushing River," by Otto Semp, a 14-year-old Johnsburg visitor who took classes at Hartley's art studio. Debby Leigh, who volunteered on the wall for all 10 years, crafted a watery fall scene with her Hornbeck canoe. Seven local children created stepping stones depicting nature and recreation, the theme of the mural. And Lauren Zoppa constructed several pieces, including a photo and mosaic frame entitled "Elizabeth Point, 13th Lake." "They don't consider themselves professionals, but their work is really impressive," said a proud Hartley, who has been teaching art locally for more than 20 years – at her North Creek studio, for the Johnsburg Youth Committee, Johnsburg Fine Arts, Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC), the Adirondack Folk School, and the Queensbury Senior Center. The Widlund Gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm, and on Saturday from noon to 4 pm. Admission is free. An artist reception will take place on Aug. 8 from 5-7 pm at Tannery Pond, with local guitarist and singer David Hyde providing music throughout. This show is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by LARAC. Tannery Pond Center, which is dedicated to bringing the best performances, art exhibits and community events to the Gore Mountain Region, is on the corner of Route 28N and Main Street, North Creek.

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North Creek's famous mosaic mural inspires more art

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