Our Story: Damien Center Community Mosaic
Currently, Empact team is on a mission to complete an ambitious mosaic installation for the Damien Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. As Indiana's oldest and largest HIV/AIDS service organization, the Damien Center serves over 12,000 individuals and is a full wrap around service for the LGBTQ+ community. The mosaic installation, "Our Story," is over 1700 sq. ft and consists of two layers of mosaic incorporating thousands of hand made ceramic pieces as well as handblown glass from local artist. The design, created by Duffy and Ali was inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.. That quilt like feel has been captured through the creation of the organic figures that have created by over 3500 different touches by community members, making this one of the largest community mosaics created!
For this project, Empact Art teamed up with Indianapolis art therapist and painter, Joani Rothenberg and Ben Aquila, who have been a vital part of the outreach and have facilitated dozens of community workshops throughout Indianapolis. To date there have been over 80 workshops offered for this project. The Empact Art team have been traveling back and forth to help facilitate workshops and engage with the Damien clients, staff and community since June, when the project was kicked off during the Pride Festival. This project is not only one of the largest community art mosaics ever made but it is extremely intricate and multilayered and full of texture. The project is scheduled to be installed in 2025.
