My piece for IPAF was a form of pique-assiette mosaic, which evolved over the course of two weeks. Because I was working on/outside a family's home, it was important to have all design decisions be absolutely collaborative. We used mosaic tiles, beads, shells, bric-a-brac and mirrors. Decisions around imagery and colour were made together; the girls/women all created their own mosaic projects which we embedded into the wall; and the owner of the house gave me some of her exquisite crockery to use, which her late husband had bought for her twenty years ago. Kids from the neighbourhood arrived most days after school to add bits and pieces. The heat and wind played a role, grouting the mosaic under those conditions was particularly tiring. One night towards the end of the festival, in an attempt to get finished, the family and I worked with coffee until 11pm under a spotlight donated by the neighbours. It was a privilege to have the creative project be welcomed by the family in such a way.
