Harford County, Maryland, commissioned a public art project as part of a year-long semi-quincentennial celebration in 2024. After a public vote on the finalists’ proposals, I was selected to create 4 3’x5′ mosaic panels that would be installed in trailhead kiosks at a local park. The mosaic images I created reflect both the publicly chosen theme, “Rooted in History, Lighting the Way to the Future,” and the character of the county itself. The community was invited to participate in the creation of the mosaic by contributing materials and small items that could be embedded as part of the mosaic. Along with the material, the contributor was asked to submit a short explanation of their connection to the county.

More than 180 items were donated to the project from residents, visitors, businesses, and governmental bodies. The materials were incorporated into the designs by their significance, texture, or color. The first panel depicts the county’s rural setting (a barn) and a historical site (Jericho Covered Bridge). The second panel has images of iconic images in the county (the Havre de Grace lighthouse and Bel Air’s Main Street clock). The third panel has an image of the historic courthouse’s cupola on a background of a barn quilt, part of a self-driving tour. The final panel has an outline map of the county superimposed on the state’s flag.

Each panel has a QR code tile that takes the viewer to a PDF on my website that has a photograph of each donation along with its story. Additionally, select items have an embedded NFC tag next to them that the viewer can scan to hear the story.

The finished mosaics are installed in two, double-sided, accessible outdoor kiosks along the walking path at a local park.