The Finished Mosaics

The finished mosaic columns completed by the Feb 2013 International Volunteers-(L-R)  column 1-jan and Adam; column 2- Anita; column 3-Jody and team; column 4-Adam; column 5,6,7 - Sue and team. (I only did a small bottom part of column 1)

closeup of Anita's column

The columns have been completed and all the volunteers except Alan and I have left the Rock Garden one by one. What remains for posterity are seven columns (one out of view)on a hall in Phase III completed by the team of international volunteers who gave their valuable time and experience to the park. 

closeup of Adam's column

When you look at the enormity of the park, and of the millions of hours of labor that went in to creating the park and its sculptures, seven columns seems almost insignificant in the total scheme of things. However, I can tell you, those columns took hours and hours of hard labor and each of the volunteers are leaving with an experience that will remain a strong memory for the rest of their lives.

One of the gifts of living in the park for so long, is that you actually become familiar with the mosaics that embellish walls, amphitheaters, sculptures, stairs, houses and any other cement structure at the garden. Over time, you get to know who did which ones as much as is possible in a park this size. 

What becomes clear is just how many thousands of hands contributed to making it the artistic environment it is today. 

Portion of  Guest House Mosaic done by French woman and team

You get to know about the French woman who came for a year and stayed in our guest house to complete the magnificent mosaic on the front of the house. 

View of finished columns from interior walkway

Or you hear the story of a side wall that is still waiting to be completed that Sarah worked on in a group of volunteers. 

Another wall mosaic done by volunteers

Worm's eye view of finished columns from interior of walkway

And suddenly you are not one person coming out of nowhere to create mosaics, but part of an international pilgrimage of artists and volunteers and social activists who somehow find their way to this site to advocate for the continuation of Nek Chand's original vision of a fantasy world of gods and goddesses, mermaids and peacocks that delight adults and children alike.

Sue's third column

Sue's first two columns

Next, a progress report on our work to identify, sort and archive memorabilia from Nek Chand's office.