The Floor Artist by Hipchickindc

Vincent Rush is a neighbor of mine in the Bloomingdale neighborhood in NW DC. He grew up in a house literally built by his father’s own hands. Having been surrounded by construction, he found himself attracted to the trades, but for the craftsmanship and creativity.

One of the first things Vincent said to me this morning when I stopped by for a cup of coffee was, “if someone is looking for a price per square foot quote on a tile job, I’m probably not the right guy.”

Vincent’s creations are better described as ‘custom mosaic’ than laying tile. While it has a functional aspect, each installation is a unique work of art. The floor of the front porch of his home features a dramatic blue spiral comprised of pieces of ceramic, glass, mirrors, and other found objects, including a domino and a relief sculpture from South America. The items that become incorporated into the work become reminiscent of where they came from or the people who donated them. Rather than working with tiles of a uniform shape and size, each composition presents a challenge in that the materials used are of different depths, textures, and densities.  Continues after the jump.

There is an environmentally friendly component to the mosaics in that resources are used that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill. “Green design is very trendy right now, but it’s been part of how I live my life for a long time,” explained Vincent.

In addition to the mosaic tile work, Vincent professionally refinishes old wood floors. Again, he sees this is as the sustainable option, not to mention that older wood floors are generally of a much higher quality than commercially available new wood floors. He restores flooring that already exists in a home and sometimes works with re-claimed wood. Since older wood planks often have lost their tongue and groove edges over time, he reshapes pieces by hand to fit them together. He is also adept at patching and repairing.

A true artisan, I highly recommend Vincent Rush and his company, My Mosaica. His mosaics can be done as floors or as wall embellishments for either residences or businesses. He is available for floor refinishing and possibly for consultation. Please visit his website at www.mymosaica.com.