#juliebender

Armed with a fine arts degree, Julie Bender shifted gears and became one of the first two female graduates from the LA City Fire Academy. While staying home and raising four children Bender continued to paint and began working with clay and today has become a specialist in glass-infused, hand sculpted mosaics. "The history of San Pedro is being lost" says Bender and in 2017 she took the first steps toward fulfilling a 10-year dream of turning 2,000 feet of retaining wall along 25th St into a visual tribute to the city. After an arduous two year process of navigating resident permissions, bureaucratic hurdles, and fundraising efforts Bender guided the work of 300 volunteer helpers and the completion of her finished wall was celebrated in June, 2019.

To see more of this masterpiece, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/25th-street-mosaic-mural-los-angeles

Inspired by the “colors and movement in both natural and mythical landscapes” Bender collaborates with residential, community, and commercial clients melding their visions with her unique creative design, fabrication, and installation skills. Using a combination of hand-sculpted, hand-painted, and glass-infused clay pieces this is one of two works—this one on 7th St. as well as one on 8th St.—Bender completed for Rainbow Services in San Pedro, California. In the major port city of San Pedro, Bender’s mermaid and child represent Rainbow Services’ mission to “provide support and assistance for women and children dealing with family violence,” and as with many of her community projects the mosaic is woven through with names of those who helped on the mosaic.  @julie.bender.mosaics  @rainbowservices

Just met #mosaicartist #juliebender former #firedepartment worker (at Sirens Java & Tea)