Family Matters

Title: Family Matters
LC Subject: Pottery Tiles Mosaics studio ceramics ceramic tile mosaics (visual works)
Creator: Kaserman, Roberta
Description: A large, ceramic mosaic that depicts a bird, an egg, a snake, and two other creatures amidst geometric patterning. Completed on September 4, 1991 Roberta Kaserman; Family Matters; Family Studies Center, OSU The Oregon Arts Commission has ten Regional Arts Councils that provide delivery of art services and information. The Council for this location is: Linn-Benton Arts. You may view their website at: http://www.artcentric.org/
Location: Child Development Center, Bates Hall, Oregon State University >> Benton County >> Oregon >> United States Benton County >> Oregon >> United States
Street Address: 110 S. W. 26th Street, Corvallis Oregon
Award Date: 1991
Identifier: 1992_osu_merc-bates_01_a01
Accession Number: 1992_osu_merc-bates_01_a01
Rights: In Copyright
Dc Rights Holder: Kaserman, Roberta
Type: Image
Format: image/tiff
Measurements: 16 x 4 and 6 x 6 feet
Material: Ceramic art cut tile mosaic using commercial tile and terra cotta relief adhered to wonderboard backed with .75 inch plywood. Writing was done using a gravity flow pencil and overglaze which was then fired on the tile prior to installation
Set: Oregon Percent for Art
Primary Set: Oregon Percent for Art
Relation: 1992 Oregon State University Mercedes Bates Family Studies Center 1992_osu_merc-bates
Has Version: photograph; black and white; documents
Institution: Oregon Arts Commission University of Oregon
Note: Known affectionately by generations of Oregon Staters as *Betty Crocker,* Mercedes Bates was the head of the world-famous Betty Crocker Kitchens at General Mills starting in 1964. Two years later she became the company's first-ever female corporate officer. A fictional character created to bring visual continuity to the marketing of the company's numerous products, Betty Crocker was further developed by Bates, and it was under her direction that the persona of the character flourished, changing from advertising symbol to American cultural icon. Provided the major financial support to fund construction of the Mercedes A. Bates Family Study Center on the OSU campus, which opened in 1992 as the first center in the United States dedicated to studying families during their entire life span. (information obtained from the Oregon State University Alumni Association)
Color Space: RGB
Biographical Information: What is a family? In recent years we have had to broaden our definition of this word. In my experience, a family is a very curious, complex and ever changing unit that is composed of many independent and interdependent parts. Sometimes the family acts together, as a single unit, and other times the parts may act completely independently. In some ways, the family is like flowing water, continuous, yet ever changing, never the same. The art work for the Mercedes Bates Family Studies Center addresses these contrasting aspects of the family. The larger of the two mosaics addresses the security of the home. This piece includes a tall, thin house form that has sprouted roots reaching down into the earth. Contained within the house, a large bird watching over its egg makes reference to the human soul, marriage, and the cycle of life. A ram's head floats above them, also a reference to cycles and regeneration. The tiles around these creatures contain the names of the major donors that have made this building possible, and thoughtful quotes about the family. These names have been permanently fired on to the tile using an overglaze process. Undulating across the roof is a snake. The snake has been used universally as an image of transformation due to its ability to shed its skin. Outside the house, it is a reminder of the forces of change that act upon the family. Ever watchful, above it all is a horned animal, like a goat, the guardian of young life. On the opposite wall is a square mosaic that addresses the dynamic nature of the family. Characters from the larger piece are each in individual boats that are spiralling out from the center where the house is located. The family members are acting individually. Parts of the mosaic are created in low relief using terra cotta clay. This piece of art is inviting to touch, and visitors are welcome to do so. Tile was chosen for its brightness and durability, both of which are important to this site. (Kaserman, 1992)