Maxwell Mosaics
Riverside, CA 92506
ph: (951) 398-8875
studio32
About the Artists
Maxwell Mosaics was established in 2003 by artists Greg, Cathy and Erin Maxwell. Their art studio, formerly located in the historic Life Arts Building in downtown Riverside, relocated in July of 2007 to their Riverside home.
Cathy Maxwell
Cathy Maxwell of Riverside is a self-taught mosaic artist. After working for 20 years as a Legal Support Assistant and raising four children with her husband, Greg, she retired from her "day job" in 2010 to concentrate on her art. Fifteen years ago, Cathy began experimenting with the folk art practice of pique assiette ("broken plate") mosaic work using terracotta pots, stepping stones, picture frames, vases and furniture. Becoming quite addicted to her "art therapy", she then felt inspired to create mosaic images in handmade frames. Cathy, Greg and their daughter, Erin, rented a small, working studio in the historic Life Arts Building in Riverside and became active participants in Riverside's monthly Arts Walk. Studio 32 was born in 2004.
Cathy first exhibited her work locally at her studio in the Life Arts Building, at Back to the Grind and at the Arts and Culture Grove at Riverside's Orange Blossom Festival.In June of 2005, Cathy and Erin were chosen by the Riverside Arts Council as two of ten featured artists to exhibit work for the ongoing, biannual Artscape Exhibition at the Riverside County Administrative Center from July 2005 to January 2006. Cathy has also shown her work at the Division 9 Gallery's annual Day of the Dead Exhibition in Riverside. Cathy and Erin's Day of the Dead work was also displayed at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum for an exhibit titled Ofrendas de Cultura, a Prelude to Dia de los Muertos in 2006.Cathy has exhibited her work, in the past, at the Riverside Art Museum during the Annual Member Exhibit. She has shown work in exhibits at the Riverside Community Arts Association and the Division 9 Gallery.Cathy and her husband, Greg, took part in the Riverside Art Museum's fund raiser, the Giant Orange ARTventure in 2006, designing and creating mosaic work on a five foot tall fiberglass orange.In 2006-2007, Cathy and Greg collaborated on another giant orange for the City of Riverside as a gift to Sendai, Japan, Riverside's oldest sister city. Cathy and Greg traveled to Sendai for the formal dedication ceremony of the giant orange, "Riverside: Sister City Across the Sea".In 2008, Cathy's mosaic piece titled, "Once Upon a Midnight Dream" was chosen by the Riverside Arts Council as one of five art works for the Imagining the Future of Reading 2008 contest. Cathy's original art was purchased by the City of Riverside and is on permanent display at the Marcy Branch Library in Riverside.In 2009, Cathy participated in the Riverside Art Museum's fund raising project, Banner Art. Her art, "Winter Walk" was sponsored by Waddell and Reed.In 2010-2011, Cathy was chosen by the Riverside Arts Council as one of the featured artists in the Artscape Exhibtion at the Riverside County Administrative Center. The exhibition ran from October 2010 to March 2011.In 2012, Cathy's mosaic piece titled, "Story Time", was chosen by the Riverside Arts Council as one of five art works for Imagining the Future of Reading 2012. Later that year, Cathy participated in OrangeAID: A Grove of Riverside Art, a fundraiser for the Riverside Art Museum.On March 2, 2013, Cathy, Erin and Greg began work on a 320 square foot mural for the Arc of Riverside www.arcriverside.org . The mural, "The National Wall of Respect, was completed in September 2012 and was unveiled at a large public ceremony on October 25, 2013.Cathy has been teaching Beginning Mosaic Workshops at her home studio since 2010. She has also taught several Beginning Mosaic Classes at the Riverside Art Museum. Over the past few years, Cathy and her daughter, Erin, have designed art and worked with elementary school students to create "hands on" school murals in the Inland Empire.Cathy has also worked as an Independent Arts Educator in the Arts & Minds Program for the Riverside Arts Council. She taught mosaic art to elementary and middle school students in the Riverside Unified School District in the after school program.Over the last decade, Cathy has been creating private commission pieces, including school murals, memorial garden benches, custom kitchen backsplashes, custom work for businesses and the Children's Hospital Central California, Madera.Cathy is proud to be a Professional Member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists - SAMA.Greg Maxwell
Greg Maxwell, a native of Riverside, is a General Contractor who specializes in residential remodeling and renovations. Greg enjoys being creative when installing custom tile and stone designs for kitchens, bathrooms and floors.See Greg's work at maxwellconstruction.weebly.comGreg has been dabbling in mosaic art for over 30 years. Greg has displayed framed mosaic art work at Back to the Grind, at the annual Members Exhibit at the Riverside Art Museum and at several Members Exhibits at the Riverside Community Arts Association. His works often reflect historical sites, wildlife and his love of sailing.
In 2006, Greg and Cathy were chosen as two of 32 artists for the Riverside Art Museum's fundraiser The Giant Orange ARTventure and helped to raise $125,000.00 for the Art Museum programs. They spent three months completing "Under the Citrus Sun", a four foot high fiberglass orange that they covered with mosaic work. After being placed in downtown Riverside for three months,"Under the Citrus Sun" has been donated to the Riverside Plaza by Waddell and Reid, the sponsors for the orange.
In August of 2006, Cathy and Greg were chosen by the City of Riverside as the artists for another giant orange. This orange is a gift from Riverside to their oldest sister city, Sendai, Japan. The orange, "Riverside: Sister City Across the Sea", was unveiled and presented to Japanese delegates from Sendai, Japan on March 20, 2007 at White Park in Riverside. The giant orange was shipped to Sendai, Japan in September 2007 and has been permanently placed at the Sendai International Relations Association. Greg and Cathy travelled with a delegation from Riverside to Sendai, Japan in October/November 2007 for the dedication of this gift.In 2009, Greg took part in the Riverside Art Museum's "Banner Art". His art, "Built on Citrus" was sponsored by the City of Riverside and raised $500.00 for the Art Museum.In 2010-2011, Greg was chosen by the Riverside Arts Council as one of the featured artists in the Artscape Exhibtion at the Riverside County Administrative Center. The exhibition ran from October 2010 to March 2011.In 2012, Greg took part in the Riverside Art Museum's fundraiser "OrangeAID: A Grove of Riverside Art", and created mosaic images of Riverside on a baskball sized orange.On March 2, 2013, Greg, Cathy & Erin started work on a mural, 9' x 43', for the Arc of Riverside (www.arcriverside.org). The mural, "The National Wall of Respect", was completed in September 2013 and was unveiled at a large gala on October 25 2013.Erin Maxwell
Erin Maxwell, an enthusiastic mosaic artist, began creating her mosaic artwork over twelve ten years ago. She uses a combination of various materials including ceramic tiles, broken china, stained glass, pebbles and found objects. Her art is mainly inspired by Mexican Folk Art, which is reflected in her current Dia de los Muertos collection.
A UC Riverside graduate with a B.A. in Theatre, Erin lived in San Francisco for six years and worked as the Director of Operations for Robert Friedman Presents, a bay area artist management company. Erin also was the Production Manager for 42nd Street Moon Theatre in San Francisco. She returned to Riverside in 2011 to pursue her education.
Erin spent a great deal of time being very active in the Riverside arts community and at the Divsion 9 gallery. She also taught mosaic workshops at the Riverside Art Museum with her mom, Cathy.
In 2012, Erin was commissioned by the City of Riverside to create mosaic art on six instruments. The instruments are on permanent display on the 2nd floor banquet room of the historic Fox Theater.
On March 2, 2013, Erin and her parents, Greg & Cathy, started work on a mural, 9' x 43', for the Arc of Riverside (www.arcriverside.org). The mural, "The National Wall of Respect", was completed in September 2013 and was unveiled at a large gala on October 25 2013.
Erin has been teaching Theatre at Orville Wright Middle School in Los Angeles since 2014. She continues to pursue her love of mosaic art and shares her enthusiasm, creativity and inspiration with her students.
Cast Iron Friends by Erin Maxwell
Riverside, CA 92506
ph: (951) 398-8875
studio32