Neptune Rising
“Neptune Rising” is a mosaic installation in the sculpture garden at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Adjacent to Owen Hall, this mosaic tells the story of rising sea levels as a result of climate change, and the significant impact it is having on the rich cultural history of Venice, Italy. The artwork comments on humankind’s impact on the environment and its impact on us.
The detailed Venetian part of the mosaic includes stones sourced from Horizon Tile & Stone, Artistic Tile, and Tennessee Marble Company. The rising tide of water is made of Pennsylvania bluestone sourced from French Broad Stone & Supply. We fabricated this piece in our Asheville shop and installed on site in May 2023.
Connecting to the Design
I visited Venice in 1999. I had only recently started working with stone, building the drystone walls and patios that still comprise the bulk of my professional work. The floors of Venice, particularly Basilica San Marco, were unlike anything I had ever seen before. I still consider them to be the most beautiful and mesmerizing works of stone art in the world. They inspired my work and spurred my creative pursuits in mosaic and opus sectile. The mosaic section of this design is based on the actual floor of Basilica San Marco.
Throughout my travels in Italy, I was fascinated by the layers of history. Literal layers, of stucco over brick over stucco over stone. The modern peels away to reveal the past. Likewise the present slowly buried the past. Neptune Rising speaks to both processes: the unveiling and the burying.
Inspiration
Basilica San Marco was built in Venice almost 1000 years ago. The Basilica is a wonderland of stone. The floors, walls, and fixtures are adorned with all types of marble, porphyry, serpentine, and semi-precious stones from around the world. Some of its original floors still survive, a testament to the quality and creativity of the artisans of the time. Venice was an affluent state, an important seat of commerce and culture in the world at the time. The construction was ornate and embellished and pushed the technical and creative limits of the builders. Even now, such floors are challenging to build.
Venice was built in a marsh on soft ground, barely above sea level. As that soft earth subsides, compressed by the city above, and as ocean levels rise, Venice is slowly sinking back into the Earth. Flooding is frequent and disrupts daily life as well as the tourist economy that supports the city.
“Neptune Rising” tells the story of the sea encroaching and reclaiming Venice. It’s about climate and change, cultural history, and natural forces.
The mosaic is a 10’ x 10’ square and will serve as a patio for students and visitors to the University. Immediately adjacent to the concrete sidewalk, it is ADA compliant and offer people a place to rest, to gather, and to enjoy the sculpture garden.
See more of the gallery on the Project page.