DeSoto Falls Art Project

DeSoto State Park has become an artist's workshop for an exciting project that’s actively in the works. In mid-2018, DSP Naturalist Brittney Hughes conceived the idea of installing an ambitious public art project at DeSoto Falls—transforming the plain cement stairs leading to the viewing platform into a mosaic work of art.

Picture this: You’re standing at the bottom of the long flight of steps at DeSoto Falls, looking up to the top of the steps. On each of the 43 ‘risers’ is a mosaic of colorful stained glass pieces—each riser is a separate piece of art but seen collectively they create a design that is pleasing to the eye. Brittney’s design will feature the West Fork of Little River flowing down the length of the steps, and a famous John Muir quote in the middle of the design: “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul”~John Muir

The evolution of Brittney’s idea has been made possible thanks to the dedication of glass artists Linda Munoz & Jane Nuckolls & DeSoto State Park staff member Paige Norsworthy, who have dedicated many hours to the planning, logistics, and execution of the project to date. Little River Arts Council has supported this project with a financial donation to purchase supplies, and Kay Stone from Auburn University’s Museum of Natural History has donated over 30 boxes of scrap mosaic glass to the project. Stained glass artist Chuck Peters also donated glass towards the risers.

The step riser project has been done using the mesh technique, which allows the project to be mobile. A series of ‘design days’ were planned over the past few months in different locations, where the community was invited to work on the risers and inspire a sense of ‘ownership’ in the project. Participants of all ages worked on the project and learned the process of cutting and attaching the glass safely.

How it was set up: The technique incorporated ‘tile mesh’, which is cut to the size of each riser (and no, none of the risers are the same size!) As the accompanying photos show, pieces of plywood were cut to support the mesh and serve as the foundation for the glass work to proceed. The riser design was drawn on each board, the board wrapped in plastic wrap, and the mesh taped down on top of the plastic. The mosaic glass was glued onto the mesh, and the plastic will allow the mesh to be removed from the board on installation day at DeSoto Falls. The mesh will be attached to each riser with mastic, and once dry will be grouted into place. Installation will be over several days.

Updates on the project will be posted on this website and the facebook pages of DeSoto State Park & Little River Arts Council.

If you would like to be placed on the contact/volunteer list for this project email Brittney Hughes. If anyone would like to make a financial donation specifically to this project, contact the Little River Arts Council.

Tuesday 5/28 update from Brittney Hughes:
Linda Munoz & I went over the steps and applied some grout in places that had wore off/needed repairing.

The step risers are now ready to be sealed as the final step! (no pun intended 😉)

We will need help this Thursday May 30th to finish them up and get er done! Linda and I will be there from 7:00 am onward, if anyone can come and help us finish up anytime. We want to beat the heat by getting there early. If we have enough people we can finish hopefully in 1 day, but if we schedule another day I will update for sure.
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Thursday May 16th UPDATE from Brittney Hughes
The grouting on the steps is now FINISHED! Whew, what a job!
The final steps of this huge community project is to seal the steps, which will take place sometime after Memorial Day (duty calls, I gotta return to my normal job!)
We will be working on a design soon for a dedication/information sign to install somewhere near the bottom of the steps. It has been so fun watching park visitors walk down the steps like normal, and then as they turn around or go to leave the viewing platform....they catch sight of the mosaics and their total attitude changes! We have really enjoyed hearing the positive comments and sometimes total awe in their voices as they enjoy their walk back up the steps!
Stay tuned for more updates on work days, and for pictures of other mosaic projects in the works (thankfully, not as big as this project is!)
Thanks to all that have worked to bring this dream to reality :)