LithoMosaic Research Lab - Dulzura, CA

Project

Brailsford Public Art

2012

Dulzura, CA United States

Artwork Budget: $150,000

 

Project Team

ARTIST

Robin Brailsford
Brailsford Public Art
 

ARCHITECT

Steve Florman
Florman Architects

 

ARCHITECT

Jim Brown
Public Architecture

 

ARTIST

Wick Alexander

 

INDUSTRY RESOURCE

Ruben Gallegos
Silverline Construction

 

Overview

In Dulzura California we have built a modern home and large studio with top architects on 13 chaparral-covered, mountainous acres. The land abuts a national wilderness; the road ends at the national border. Here we have created a joyous and pristine environment for art and life. Quail, roadrunner, and coyotes are the soundtrack, sunset views of Baja scared mountains and thunderheads are an ever-expanding source of inspiration.

 

Goals

The property includes the LithoMosaic Research Lab, The Alexander Foundation (for painting exhibition and study) as well as space for painting, silver-smithing, two dogs, our home, and extensive native gardens. A 1955 Airstream trailer plays temporary host to Dutch jazz musicians, border videographers, Hollywood cameramen, and through-hikers on the Pacific Coast Trail. The house was built a few years previously by the same team - the RL is an addition to that original, and superb building.

 

Process

Brailsford invented and patented the public art process LithoMosaic - a means of casting large mosaics in monolithic concrete pours. Alexander is a painter. One requires unobstructed floors, the other the same for walls. Based on WWII buildings at the airport where Brailsford had a studio for 13 years, the LMRL is open, bright, and celebratory. Transparent doors open to patios and loading dock, glass cullet in the form of constellations are embedded in the wall. A Panelight loft allows views from above. The space is used for projection, fabrication, openings, storage, workshops, and openings - as well as day to day life.

 

Additional Info

All of our work is clean - no toxins, debris, or waste. To the property, we added two 5000 gallon water tanks, underground electricity, a leach field, and a deep well that produces exceptional drinking water. We heat with woodburning stoves as needed, and occasionally succumb to the airco the County insisted we install. Getting the house and LMRL structures approved by the County was a bear... they could just not wrap their minds around what we were doing or why!