Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings from NYT
New Works from New York Tilemakers, Inspired by Covid-19
EMBRACING DIGITAL TIMES
From self-isolating during Covid-19 to going virtual for Coverings 2020, New York Tilemakers has continued to push through creatively during this fully digital reality.
A new project came about in May 2020 when New York Tilemakers began producing the Covid Relief Tiles in various colors and sizes.
MEMORY HOLDERS
We’ve created these new works not only in response to the worldwide pandemic, but as memory holders whose purpose is up to the customer’s interpretation. These vessels have morphed into wall hangings and miniature sculptures, and are interchangeable throughout the home.
MATERIALS USED
The Covid Relief tiles are approximately 8″ to 9” in diameter, while the memory holders are 9” diameter and 4” in height. They are created by the same process as our Art Tiles and made of glazed earthenware.
COLLECTION AND INQUIRIES
We are currently producing Covid Relief Tiles in our studio in Long Island City, Please contact us at nytilemakers@gmail.com or 989-ART-TILE for information about pricing and to bring one of these home.
OUR CLIENTS
One of our clients in California has chosen to display their Covid Relief Tile upon the living room mantel among a growing sculpture collection. In a way, the tile becomes a sculpture itself. A client in New York has wall-mounted one near their home workstation and another client in New Jersey used theirs as decoration in the entryway.
Most recently one of our Covid Relief Tiles found a home tucked away on Vashon Island in Washington State.
Most recently one of our Covid Relief Tiles found a home tucked away on Vashon Island in Washington State.
WORKS IN PROGRESS
New York Tilemakers is producing custom versions of the Covid Relief tiles and memory holders (while social distancing) inside our studio in Long Island City. Check out the latest works in progress below:
ARTICLES
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings...
How We Created The “We Are The Bronx” Mural
HOW...
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings...
The Digital Experience of Coverings 20202
Insights...
Inspiration in the Arts and Crafts Movement
We are...
Inside Our Studio
New York Tilemakers moved to the heart of Long Island City in 2019. Taking with it the inspiration gained from many years in the inspiring landscape of North Brooklyn.
How We Created The "We Are The Bronx" Mural
HOW THE "WE ARE THE BRONX" MURAL CAME TO BE
Artist Jim Drain was the finalist for a mural which was to be a new addition to a NYC public school lobby. The School Construction Authority chose his composition, which includes elements from the area around this school, PS46X, in Kingsbridge, The Bronx.
Jim hired New York Tilemakers to fabricate and install this mural, combining our process and his artistic vision. This is the 1st mural made from NY Tilemakers new location in Long Island City, Queens.
Jim hired New York Tilemakers to fabricate and install this mural, combining our process and his artistic vision. This is the 1st mural made from NY Tilemakers new location in Long Island City, Queens.
ABOUT THE COMPOSITION
The four themes in the background are winter, spring, aquatic, and autumn. The title “We Are The Bronx” reflects the borough as both an urban and natural habitat, bringing in elements from nature to illustrate and encompass these seasonal themes.
ABOUT THE PROCESS AND MATERIALS
The foreground motifs are glazed mosaics; the background is made with a process in which each color was silk screened onto the tile. We made about 300 square tiles, which were then transported to Rhode Island, where Jim and his helper applied underglaze, utilizing the silk screen process. That process was similar to how one would print a T-shirt or wallpaper, but instead of using ink, underglaze (a liquid, colored clay) passes through a stencil “burned” into a mesh screen.
Those tiles were returned to us at our studio, where then we applied clear gloss glaze.
Those tiles were returned to us at our studio, where then we applied clear gloss glaze.
All tiles were then fired a second time, in our kilns. The foreground animals and plants were made by us in a process where we hand cut and smoothed the needed shapes. After drying, the tiles were bisque-fired in the kilns, and glazed in colors specified by the artist. The foreground tiles were then fired a second time.
Fabrication of the mural, in our workspace, took about 4 months, and 3 artisans assisted with the various tasks.
Fabrication of the mural, in our workspace, took about 4 months, and 3 artisans assisted with the various tasks.
ARTICLES
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings...
How We Created The “We Are The Bronx” Mural
HOW...
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings...
The Digital Experience of Coverings 20202
Insights...
Inspiration in the Arts and Crafts Movement
We are...
Inside Our Studio
New York Tilemakers moved to the heart of Long Island City in 2019. Taking with it the inspiration gained from many years in the inspiring landscape of North Brooklyn.
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings from NYT
New Works from New York Tilemakers, Inspired by Covid-19
EMBRACING DIGITAL TIMES
From self-isolating during Covid-19 to going virtual for Coverings 2020, New York Tilemakers has continued to push through creatively during this fully digital reality.
A new project came about in May 2020 when New York Tilemakers began producing the Covid Relief Tiles in various colors and sizes.
MEMORY HOLDERS
We’ve created these new works not only in response to the worldwide pandemic, but as memory holders whose purpose is up to the customer’s interpretation. These vessels have morphed into wall hangings and miniature sculptures, and are interchangeable throughout the home.
MATERIALS USED
The Covid Relief tiles are approximately 8″ to 9” in diameter, while the memory holders are 9” diameter and 4” in height. They are created by the same process as our Art Tiles and made of glazed earthenware.
COLLECTION AND INQUIRIES
We are currently producing Covid Relief Tiles in our studio in Long Island City, Please contact us at nytilemakers@gmail.com or 989-ART-TILE for information about pricing and to bring one of these home.
OUR CLIENTS
One of our clients in California has chosen to display their Covid Relief Tile upon the living room mantel among a growing sculpture collection. In a way, the tile becomes a sculpture itself. A client in New York has wall-mounted one near their home workstation and another client in New Jersey used theirs as decoration in the entryway.
Most recently one of our Covid Relief Tiles found a home tucked away on Vashon Island in Washington State.
Most recently one of our Covid Relief Tiles found a home tucked away on Vashon Island in Washington State.
WORKS IN PROGRESS
New York Tilemakers is producing custom versions of the Covid Relief tiles and memory holders (while social distancing) inside our studio in Long Island City. Check out the latest works in progress below:
ARTICLES
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings...
How We Created The “We Are The Bronx” Mural
HOW...
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings...
The Digital Experience of Coverings 20202
Insights...
Inspiration in the Arts and Crafts Movement
We are...
Inside Our Studio
New York Tilemakers moved to the heart of Long Island City in 2019. Taking with it the inspiration gained from many years in the inspiring landscape of North Brooklyn.
The Digital Experience of Coverings 20202
Insights from Coverings, the annual tile and stone experience.
by Andru Eron, New York Tilemakers
Coverings took a new direction this year and transformed into #CoveringsConnected, a fully digital experience that made the most of this new remote reality. In year’s past, I have attended the Coverings show, and found my place in this year’s virtual mix by listening in on various webinars throughout the week.
From the April 20 webinar 'Full Spectrum Ceramics'
I enjoyed the webinar entitled “Full Spectrum Ceramics: Industry Solutions & Best Practices.” The presenters were Ryan Fasan, Technical Consultant/Creative Development at Tile of Spain/Centanni Tile and Scott Conwell, FAIA, FCSI, LEED-AP, Director of Industry Development at the International Masonry Institute.
First, Ryan asked the virtual audience why tile?
He went on to talk about gauging budgets to optimize client’s needs and discussed tiles purpose in our built environments, as well the inherent benefits and characters that ceramic tile brings to the table.
” With key foci for clients today being health, safety, ROI & ease of ownership – ceramic products are usually the best option for many projects.
Speaking of connections, tile is one of the oldest building materials with one of the longest standing histories, which is why both the makers and purchases of this product feel a strong connection to it in their homes.
“There’s decades of artisanal know-how and history that builds into the story of this material.”
Ryan also touched upon tile’s environmental footprint and the health of the product.
Following Ryan’s presentation, Scott shared his insights on how to design with tile and what to look for with standards and qualified labor. He also spoke to us on certification programs and critical points in tile setting and specifications.
During the webinar, an Interior Designer asked, how fast is the installation education getting out to the contractors? With IMI being the organization that trains tile setters, Scott answered about training the labor force and the IMI’s mission of training installers, including on the union end and non-union end – and keeping that training up to date.
During the webinar, an Interior Designer asked, how fast is the installation education getting out to the contractors? With IMI being the organization that trains tile setters, Scott answered about training the labor force and the IMI’s mission of training installers, including on the union end and non-union end – and keeping that training up to date.
View the webinar recording here, and learn more about Coverings 2020.
ARTICLES
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings...
How We Created The “We Are The Bronx” Mural
HOW...
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings...
The Digital Experience of Coverings 20202
Insights...
Inspiration in the Arts and Crafts Movement
We are...
Inside Our Studio
New York Tilemakers moved to the heart of Long Island City in 2019. Taking with it the inspiration gained from many years in the inspiring landscape of North Brooklyn.
Inside Our Studio
New York Tilemakers moved to the heart of Long Island City in 2019. Taking with it the inspiration gained from many years in the inspiring landscape of North Brooklyn.
Inspiration in the Arts and Crafts Movement
We are committed to making great ceramic tiles, in the Arts & Crafts tradition.
New York Tilemakers recreates decorative Victorian art tiles and field tiles, influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement. You can spot the influence in the patterns that make up our Client and Contractor Series.
The Arts and Crafts movement was a movement in the decorative and fine arts that flourished in Europe and North America between 1880 and 1910. It stood for traditional craftsmanship using simple forms, and often used medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration. It advocated economic and social reform and was essentially anti-industrial. It was a reaction against a decline in standards that became associated with machinery and factory production. Distrust for the machine lay behind the many little workshops that turned their backs on the industrial world around 1900, using techniques to create what they called “crafts.”
These disciplines included architecture, furniture, textiles, and other decorative arts. The worn or fractured antique look finds itself in the ceramic tiles we create. As we go through our Process here in our studio in Long Island City, though we may be using modern equipment and practices, our primary influence holds strong.
All of our products are handmade by skilled artisans in small quantities. And no two tiles are alike. We think that’s pretty cool.
These disciplines included architecture, furniture, textiles, and other decorative arts. The worn or fractured antique look finds itself in the ceramic tiles we create. As we go through our Process here in our studio in Long Island City, though we may be using modern equipment and practices, our primary influence holds strong.
All of our products are handmade by skilled artisans in small quantities. And no two tiles are alike. We think that’s pretty cool.
ARTICLES
Covid Relief Tiles: New Memory Holders and Wall Hangings...
How We Created The “We Are The Bronx” Mural
HOW...
Inside Our Studio
New York Tilemakers moved to the heart of Long Island City in 2019. Taking with it the inspiration gained from many years in the inspiring landscape of North Brooklyn.