CMS students! We want to display your work! Check this out: (fb)

For two weeks in September 2025, The Chicago Mosaic School (CMS) hosted a multi-layered event—a reflective and aspirational gathering to celebrate 20 years of the school and to look to the future. International and American artists assembled in Chicago to collaborate and share their knowledge, practices, and philosophies, aiming to expand the field of mosaic arts education. On behalf of the CMS community, I would like to thank the more than 150 Symposium participants who travelled from around the world for workshops, lectures, tours, panel discussions, dinners, and gallery talks. Your enthusiasm for mosaics and your appreciation for our outstanding faculty, visiting artists, staff, and facilities will stay with us for a long time. The symposium was a great success, and as we look ahead, we are grateful for all the energy, creativity, and generosity that make our community so unique. CMS mentor and Maestro Verdiano Marzi sent a special tribute highlighting the “incredible role of this wonderful school, which serves as a cultural, artistic, and therapeutic social tool and is absolutely vital for humanity today. I sincerely hope that this need for art, especially mosaic, endures.” This experience was especially meaningful for me to share and reflect upon the last two decades with mentors, teachers, artists, and students. I am grateful to many of you who have contributed to building this caring and creative space over the years, offering your support in numerous ways. We have aimed to keep you engaged, curious, and enthusiastic about learning through the arts by fostering meaningful educational connections at CMS. We have created a survey to learn more about your experience and key takeaways, and we would be very grateful if you could share your feedback (there may also be a discount at the end for you). Thank you for travelling from near and far to share this fantastic experience. Stay tuned to hear more about our new schedules and opportunities. With Great Gratitude, Karen Ami Founder & Creative Director (fb)