Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 21, 2009

Jim Powers' Mosaic Tiles Bring Art to New York Streets
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2624880:A6F02AD83191E1604980D445415A58E1C030207A0BD70133&
 
For over two decades Jim Powers has been tiling street corners in New
York City's Greenwich Village as way to preserve history, share his art
with public 
>From the Mesopotamian era to the Renaissance to modern day, the art of
mosaic has attracted admirers of all types. Today, street art and
recycled art is growing in popularity. For 22 years one man has blended
both the art of mosaics and street art by using recycled material on
public property. His vision has changed the face of a city. Jim Powers,
who is known as the 'Mosaic Man' in New York City"There's a lot of
people out there that don't have a lot of friends. They may be very
lonely; it's part of the way we live in New York City," says Artist Jim
Power, "I'm not one of them people; I've met way more than a million
people. I'm known as the Mosaic Man. It's kind of stuck." Power's
mosaics have become an integral part of the Lower East Side in New York
City, where you can't help but run into mosaics that pay homage to
people, Web sites and locations but also give directions, send messages
and promote businesses. "I have set out to try to change the course of
art!
  globally through using mosaics built from discarded or reused
material," he explains. "The tributes out here are real tributes to
public workers and that's what the bottom line is along with being
public art. and I thought wouldn't it be wonderful to come down Park
Avenue and do something nice on these otherwise dull planters. By 1987 I
was moved back into the Lower East ended up quitting an $8,000 a month
job to do mosaics out in the public. And just got pulled into it. It's a
wonderful place to work." Like hieroglyphics, Jim's mosaics are built to
last and are structured so they're safe for the public to interact with.
Mosaic designed by artist Jim Powers"You have to run your fingers on
this and feel how smooth that is. All the edges are removed. Isn't that
amazing? Here, [on] the streets become our living. My work is out there
like its hanging on some museum wall except, everyone can enjoy it. And
everyone does," Jim says. "So there's a lot to be said!
 , but we need it globally, we also need to get the youth involved."Som
e of Jim's work honors those who have passed. He is also very involved
in showing the history of September 11th by creating messages to honor
those that have fallen. "I'm a history teller," he confesses, "because I
put a lot of history into these things that somehow connects. Without
the public's involvement it really wouldn't mean anything. Just another
piece of work out here. I'm not doing this to stay sane. I came out here
to do something. And all I know is one thing, everybody is wondering
what they're doing on the planet. I'm not. It's my job. I've no choice."


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