A Tribute to Project Spotlight: December 2008

Location: LATICRETE Distributor: Zoo, Steve Irwin Drive, Beerwah. Qld Australia LATICRETE Australia – Qld Manager Ken Fisher MURAL DESIGNER: Tile Installation System: Sandy Robertson - Mosaic Artist/Team OzMosaics Studio. LATICRETE International, Inc., Bethany, CT Mural presented as a gift to Zoo Mosaics Created as Everlasting Tribute to Steve Irwin By Ron Treister Just two years ago, our planet lost one of its than 350 segments for the mural from across the most engaging and memorable human beings. globe ranging creatively from “ants to gigantic Steve Irwin was an iconic Australian television camels!” At that point, she declared, “We have personality, expert and conservationist been receiving mosaic art on fiberglass mesh to who achieved worldwide fame from the compile our huge mosaic mural from beginners television program, “The Hunter,” an to professional mosaic artists in Canada, USA, internationally broadcast wildlife documentary Europe, New Zealand Australia and other locations. series co-hosted with his wife, Terri. Together, All of these have been made with love; all they also co-owned and operated Australia Zoo, mosaicparticipants completed a questionnaire and which was founded by his parents in Beerwah, the caring stories are being compiled to present . Steve tragically passed away in to as record of the mosaic making, 2006 after his chest was fatally pierced by a dedicated to Steve,” continued Robertson. barb while he was involved in directing “These mosaics will form 10 huge murals each a film on Australia’s Great Barrier . The (96" x 48") which will be constructed as panels impact he left on the world will be everlasting. on cement sheeting to be given to Australia Zoo Therefore, it made sense for some kind of as a tribute to the great Steve everlasting tribute to be created in memory of Irwin. It’s emotional, wonderful and exciting. this very unique man. Most importantly, they will be onpublic view at An idea of creating mosaic designs as a tribute Australia Zoo forever!” to Steve Irwin for Australia Zoo surfaced shortly “Fabrication has begun and, of course, I am using thereafter, the Steve Irwin Mosaic Tribute all LATICRETE products in this mural. I would not Project was initiated. Mosaic artist and teacher, be the artist I am or have the mosaic methods Sandy Robertson of OzMosaics and President that are now recognized worldwide if not for the of MAANZ (Mosaic Association Australia & support of LATICRETE…it’s quite an incredible New Zealand), the person who spearheaded story of how I began my journey with LATICRETE this amazing project, stated, “I was shocked to and it has become quite a legend in the mosaic hear of Steve’s passing away. As I worked on a world. Through forums I moderate with thousands mosaic that day, I could not get out of my head of mosaics artists attending,” stated Robertson, the vision of how so many people were paying “I only recommend LATICRETE materials. For tribute with flowers, kindness and messages at me, there is no substitute for the quality, service Australia Zoo and the outpouring of emotions and flexibility of these products in the mosaic art worldwide.” form.” “I posted a note on the mosaic addicts’ group From the onset of the project, Sandy worked internet site about how sad I felt, and later directly with LATICRETE Technical Sales posted again with the idea of making a mosaic Representative, Ken Fisher. Fully aware that this mural and presenting it to Terri Irwin, perhaps would be not only an incredibly unique project, but for Australia Zoo or somewhere in Queensland,” also one which would be highly visible for years continued Robertson. “I had decided to make to come, it was paramount to him that the most the mosaic with the help of some amazing efficient installation system would be used when friends, (all mosaic addicts), but then wondered installing the panels. “This was no ordinary tiling how many people may get behind a community project,” Fisher stated. “There are a few mind- mural from around the world! The support from blowing effects that have resulted from curious the mosaic addicts group was beyond belief!” minds and a little bit of experimentation.” Sandy Robertson had no idea the outpouring of The fibrous cement sheets used for the substrate response would be as huge as it was. Two years must be installed externally, so two coats of after her original post, she had received more LATICRETE® Hydro Ban™ were applied prior to

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adhering the tiles. Sandy and her team used component offered with LATICRETE SpectraLOCK LATICRETE® 4237 Latex Mortar Additive for the PRO Grout. “Some one-of-a-kind, fascinating adhesive and LATICRETE 500 Series Sanded Floor effects were created,” added Fisher. “For Grout in a variety of colors to bond to the mesh, example, I saw the mixing of a thin, runny mix remembering some of these pieces had been of LATICRETE 4237 Latex Mortar Additive and donated from around the globe and that the LATICRETE 500 Series Sanded Floor Grout. From system used had to perform at a level of which there, small amounts of this concoction were they were 100 percent confident. poured into bottles and then rolled so a vein-like “These products gave Sandy the opportunity to pattern appeared on the underside of the glass. adhere and mould much of her art resulting in a This same mixture was also used as a paint to three-dimensional effect. When using the meshed shade some of the grouted areas, which visually, pieces, she pointed out that the LATICRETE 4237 was great for bringing life to tree trunks and Latex Additive and LATICRETE 1500 Sanded Grout other focal designs.” in the color white was useful in some instances, MAANZ “Art from the heart program” supports to hide the white mesh under transparent glass charities such as the Starlight Children’s tesserae. Foundation and its Grant-a-Wish Program; “In later parts of the project, the use of LATAPOXY® children suffering from various illnesses have also 310 Rapid Stone Adhesive helped in speeding up been able to participate in this project. Clients of the process by bonding pieces together prior to the Brisbane Endeavour Foundation were keen adhering panels to the substrate.” participants and made a beautiful koala. “Once adhered,” continued Fisher, “the pieces Ken Fisher (whose wife and youngest son made could be grouted using a variety of colors. two Wrasse fish for the mural) has been invited LATICRETE 500 Series Sanded Floor Grout is to make a presentation relative to the mural fortified with LATICRETE 1776 Flexible Grout project at the MAANZ Symposium to be held Fortifier. Even though these very large panels in Brisbane, October, 2009 which will include were supported by the temporary framework, until mosaic artists not just from Australia and New they were completely in place, much movement Zealand, but from around the world. Sandy occurred due to changing studio work areas, Robertson’s studio, OzMosaics, also donated storage transport and installation; necessitating a materials needed to put the mosaic together and flexible system.” managed the team which worked so closely on this labor of love. The amount of pro-bono work The materials used in this immense project which was put into the Steve Irwin Mosaic Tribute were not limited to ceramic or even glass tile. Project for Australia Zoo was unprecedented. “The imagination shown by these artists was totally unparalleled,” exclaimed Fisher. Creative There are no questions whatsoever that this materials used included china plates, cups and mega mosaic masterpiece will be a focal and mugs; several different colors of glass bottles long-lasting visual experience for all who have and jars…and, much more, all adding to the the pleasure of seeing it firsthand. And, if kaleidoscope of hues, textures and colors being Steve were around today and could witness incorporated into the Steve Irwin Tribute. In this amazing production, we all know what he addition, LATICRETE SpectraLOCK® PRO Grout*, would say. a revolutionary grout offering maximum stain “Crikey!” resistance, color uniformity, durability and ease of use, was used in the most creative way with its glow-in-the-dark component. Sections of background ocean surrounding the fish and seaweed in the underwater mural panel were coated with the glow-in-the-dark and glitter Note: LATICRETE 500 Series Sanded Floor Grout not available in the USA * Invention Patent No.: 6881768 (and other Patents) 3 A-1944-1208 ©2008 LATICRETE International, Inc. LATICRETE, LATAPOXY, SPECTRALOCK and the logo are Registered Trademarks of LATICRETE International, Inc.