Local News

Mosaic to mark raceway

PAMELA GLINSKI
Published: January 21, 2013

SEBRING - Over the next three months, a new 312-foot mosaic mural designed by artist James R. Hahn will be going up on a wall at the E-Stone USA Corp. manufacturing plant across from the Sebring International Raceway.

The artwork, titled "Trend at the Track," is slated to be completed by this year's 12 Hours of Sebring race in March.

Hahn said that he was contacted by the Trend Group, an international manufacturer and distributor of mosaic tiles based in Vicenza, Italy, to create a mural that would be in direct view of the raceway.

The mosaic will incorporate the Trend Group logo at the ends of two different day and night race scenes set against a backdrop of Florida palms, race fans and checkered flags.

Hahn explained that because the mural is 30 times longer than it is tall, the digital design for the mosaic had to be broken down into small sections. The files were then converted to CAD drawings so that Trend's design technicians could create the "corresponding mosaics that mimic the color of each pixel."

"We have completed this phase and are about to move into the physical phase of turning the design into an array of beautiful, individual mosaics that will be in sections," said Hahn.

Hahn is known for his work as the original muralist for the iconic Cabbage Patch Kids dolls.

"We received the call and offer to create the design for the wall because of our reputation for unusual large-scale work," said Hahn of his company, James R. Hahn Productions.

He and his wife, Kay, have built their professional reputation in the art industry over the past 30 years with high profile projects that include murals, paintings and nightclub and theater redesigns.

Though Hahn will have some oversight as the project progresses, Trend and its subsidiary E-Stone will be doing the actual construction.

"My main work was to create the scenes, make sure they work in size, ratio and flow," noted Hahn. "They are the best out there. They have been efficient and detail-oriented and fast."

E-Stone USA Corp., located at 8041 Haywood Taylor Blvd., produces manufactured granite and imports mosaics and glass tiles.

"It (the mosaic) is a good idea … it will give us some good PR in this area," said Jim Fortner, the company's purchasing manager. He added that the race mural will bring attention not only to E-Stone but to the numerous businesses and manufacturing facilities operating out of the Sebring Regional Airport.

Hahn said that panels of tiles will be installed "like a finished puzzle" to complete what will be a highly visible piece of art that will be seen not only by race fans but by anyone visiting the airport area year-round.