THANK YOU to all who made Intersections: An International Mosaic Arts and Education Symposium 2025 a success!

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 traveled 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.


Thank you for traveling from near and far to share this fantastic experience.


With Great Gratitude,
Karen Ami
Founder & Creative Director

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