Artwork copyright Reham Aarti. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Reham Aarti. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Reham Aarti. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Reham Aarti. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Reham Aarti. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Reham Aarti. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Reham Aarti. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Reham Aarti. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Reham Aarti. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Bloom Where You're Planted!, 2014

Reham Aarti
(Arab American, born 1972)

Location: Shining Mountain Elementary School, Spanaway

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

These 28 round mosaic panels in a variety of sizes are the indoor element to the Bloom Where You're Planted! series. The mosaic artworks are colorful, playful, and touchable – and they have hidden surprises such as words, animals, and other symbols and pictures to tempt students to look closely and “to engage and entice them as art should”. Mosaics are artist Reham Aarti's favorite metaphors for life, who notes that "to create beauty from the broken and discarded allows us to see things with new eyes." The series also includes mosaic art on the concrete benches and planters outside of the school and over the main entryway.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Bethel School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Reham Aarti creates mosaics for public places. She works primarily with glass, plus a variety of other materials. Aarti says, “working in mosaics gives me a daily reminder of the triumph of the human spirit.”
Aarti has taught mosaic classes for a variety of ages, including adult mosaic classes for cancer survivors and caregivers at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. She grew up in Kuwait and now lives in Boise, Idaho.