By MARY ANN O’TOOLE HOLLEY
Correspondent
The Missouri Department of Conservation logo is likely a familiar image to the thousands of trades men and women who enjoy hunting or fishing in the Show-Me State.
The recognizable raccoon, fish and oak leaf triangle logo is found on all of the Department of Conservation materials, permits and more.
Now, as a gift from Tilesetters Local 18 apprentices, it’s been preserved as a mosaic image with carefully cut and placed tiles, and will hang in the St. Charles County office of the Missouri Department of Conservation.
A ‘CRAFT’ PROJECT
“We do a ‘craft’ project for fun, something they may not usually do,” said Local 18 Apprentice Instructor Charlie Reiter. “We figured most of the trades men and women hunt and/or fish, so we decided on the Missouri Department of Conservation logo.”
The beautiful piece, custom framed in red cedar by amateur woodworker Matt Mauger, will now adorn the lobby for all to see.
Nicholas Hardwick, a first-year apprentice, said he appreciates the artistic value of his trade and enjoyed helping to create a piece of art that will hang in the Conservation office.
Reiter said he first enlarged and laid-out a photo of the logo, created a mesh overlay, and the individual pieces were then cut by the apprentices to fit the exact shape needed in any particular location.
“It’s beautiful,” said Local 18 Apprentice Christian Moore. “It was fun to make and amazing the way it turned out.”
FUN AND TRAINING
The apprentices are a mixture of tile setters, tile finishers, terrazzo mechanics, terrazzo finishers and residential marble and granite top installers. Besides receiving on-the-job training, apprentices are also required to attend in-classroom learning, giving them an opportunity to do fun projects that get their feet wet in other areas of the trade, Reiter said.
“To complete the mosaic piece, the apprentices used problem-solving techniques, planning and cooperation along with skills learned on the job,” Reiter said. “We are pleased to put our craftsmanship to use to create such a beautiful mosaic. By displaying this mosaic logo at the local MDC facility, it will ensure that the apprentices and the public will enjoy it for years to come.”
Apprentices who worked on the project included: Tim Jansen, Jacob Baldi, Brandon Saringe, Chad Walker, Ezekial Sevcik, Nicholas Hardwick, Greg Parks, Kwayera Jackson, Cody Kelly, Scot Bergt, Damion Hillig, Martin Greenwood, Jacob Lewis, John Davis, Christian Moore, Avery Hollaway, Zackary Sevcik, Corbin Peirce and Matt Mauger.