The OWEGO Animal Mosaic project, spearheaded and managed by Tioga Arts Council (TAC) will be installed at 57 North Avenue and beautify the alleyway located between 55 and 57 North Avenue leading to The Joshua House.

Background: Two years ago, The Joshua House representatives approached TAC about a mural project to beautify the alley located at 57 ½ North Avenue, leading to the entrance of the facility. The Joshua House is a non-profit unique outreach center with the hope of transforming lives. Its goal is to inspire, teach and strengthen the youth and adults in the community. However, the alleyway leading to its entrance is dark and somewhat blighted.

According to Americans for the Arts, public art and murals can create identity; to improve the well-being of those who help create it and those who observe it; to enhance the physical environment; to help reduce crime; and to make high-quality art freely accessible to the public. While The Joshua House is the impetus, this project will benefit the whole community once complete.

About Emily Jablon: Selecting an artist who specializes in mosaics was a high priority for this project. Mosaics are typically made from durable materials like glass, stone, and ceramic. These materials are resistant to weathering and fading, so they can withstand the elements for many years to come.

Emily Jablon is an award-winning community artist raised in Binghamton, New York. She attended the University of Vermont for her degree in Chinese, before returning to Binghamton to pursue a career in the arts. She specializes in mosaic work and glass work. Currently, she runs art classes from her local studio and is a leader in the Binghamton arts community. Her various public works projects have transformed the city, creating an arts culture for residents and visitors to enjoy. Emily takes a placemaking approach to her design of public spaces in that she actively seeks to promote people's health, happiness, and wellbeing through her public work. She develops underutilized space to enhance the urban experience of Binghamton community members and visitors.

Project Description: The alley for this project is located at 57 ½ North Avenue, between Roasted Coffee and La Bella Rae Bridal.

TAC is facilitating the creation of a five-piece artwork series for the OWEGO Animals Mosaic Series. Each individual panel will be 2.5’ x 2.5’ and feature an individual animal mosaic adhered to a panel. Once affixed to the panel, each will be mounted on the building – minimizing its impact on the structure and removeable – and line the alleyway. The animals selected for the project are all native to New York State, and represent various, local wildlife. They are:

  • Osprey

  • Woodchuck

  • Eastern Newt

  • Golden Shiner Fish

  • One-Eye Sphinx Moth

 A plaque has a QR code that visitors can scan and learn about the mosaic as well as the featured wildlife species. It will also have information acknowledging project sponsors and partners.

What Makes it Special: To build community goodwill, TAC and Emily Jablon agreed to host a format that allows community members – at any level and experience – to participate in building the art at “mosaic making sessions”. Through a “mosaic by numbers” approach, Jablon guides participants as they assemble each panel of the five OWEGO animals. From July 2024 through January 2025, the group has volunteered approximately 60 hours to building the panels.

Through this process, TAC has had approximately 8 consistent volunteers – almost of all of whom are retired and have no prior art experience – building a beautiful work of public art. All have loved the process and are committed to seeing it through. Once complete, these individuals, and the larger networks they relate to, will steward the care of this work and advocate for its care and maintenance.

Due to the community-based approach of this project and the nature of production, the process of building panels is slow. The group worked hard to complete it prior to December 31, 2024, but a combination of illness and holidays further slowed down the timeline.

This is a project that has the potential to be the first of a series of public art projects that transform the blighted alleyways along North Avenue in the Village of Owego.