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Artist Teresa Cox Creating Memorable Experiences with Terrazzo

With award-winning, accessible public art installations

“Public art is a chance to recognize the value and power of spaces.”

Such is the credo of Teresa Cox, a visual artist who has designed two award-winning terrazzo floors in her native state, Minnesota.

Creating a memorable space is always her goal in designing public places. Even in large areas, the partnership of terrazzo and public art can create “an intimate, meaningful, beautiful and profound experience.”

If it’s a well-designed space where people can reflect and slow down, it impacts them,” she said.

Her “Glacial Twist,” in the Amsoil Arena-Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, winner of the People’s Choice 2014 CODAworx International Video Award, reflects local topography and cultural symbols, from arrowheads to boats.

“Continuum” in Winona State University’s Maxwell Hall, was inspired by the concepts of seeking, learning and discovery. It was the recipient of a 2009 Honor Award from the National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association.

“Terrazzo as a medium is compelling as it allows for the creation of strong, custom design in a rich, permanent material,” said Cox, who started painting 40 years ago. “The effect created from the marble and glass chip helps unify color and form while lending depth and vibrancy to the flat surface. This complexity and layering of material with the image content appears limitless.”

Glacial Twist Skyway Entry

Unique to her work is hand-selected, hand-cut Minnesota stone aggregates that add richness and significance, aesthetically and symbolically, to the imagery.

“The big stones are a visual reminder that it is an organic material,” she noted.

Cox, who has terrazzo installed on the floor of her own studio in St. Paul, likes it for its practicality and permanence. It’s easy to clean and typically doesn’t need to be replaced, as do other floorings. Further advantages of terrazzo for public art include the sustainability of its materials, using recycled chips that might otherwise be considered waste.

Fish detail

Close up of fish detail

“Paintings can be precious, but public art should meet people halfway,” Cox said. “Bringing together terrazzo with public art gives the artist the capacity to make her designs directly accessible to the public that they represent.”

Terrazzo is art where touching is allowed.

 

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