In commemoration of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda’s 50th anniversary at Bhaktivedanta Manor, a special mosaic was commissioned and recently unveiled on the wall adjacent to the Ladies’ Cottage. The project was led by mosaic artist Wendy Phillips and a core team, as well as an extended team of 400 community members contributing their talents. It took over 8 months to complete in boathouse art studio by the lake.
The mosaic consists of three large panels that flow one into another, depicting some of the main activities of the temple. Materials include glass tiles, porcelain, and mirrored tiles which reflect the sunlight.
“This mosaic came about after I saw the work of the artist in a village in Blagdon Somerset and was inspired to see something similar at the Manor,” explained project co-ordinator Guru Carana Padma dasi. “It took on a life of its own gathering momentum and interest far and wide”.
“…Besides the finished product which is magnificent, I think everyone who participated will agree that it brought different elements of our diverse community together, ” she continued. “Many stories were shared during the creative process and with much laughter, joy, healing and sometimes tears were experienced and these are all embedded in the mosaic. We tried to articulate in artwork the story of Bhaktivedanta Manor over the past 50 years and creating this stunning piece of art was truly an amazing journey!”.
Member of Parliament for Watford Dean Russell MP, who officially unveiled part of the mosaic, said “It was a true pleasure and honour to be the chief guest at the mosaic unveiling. Creativity and the arts are areas I have a personal passion for, so to be part of the event to show the beautiful mosaic for the first time was really inspiring. The local community have created a piece of art that will rightfully last for generations to come!”
Other special guests during the official unveiling included representatives of Smile Clinic Group, which made a substantial donation to the project.
Photography by Ferdo Fulgosi
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