Daniel Mayer
Daniel Mayer, instructional specialist and studio manager for the ASU School of Art's Pyracantha Press, received international and regional awards for his public art projects located at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The Award of Merit for Art in Public Places was awarded to Mayer's glass murals. The murals are also featured in the publication Franz Mayer of Munich: Architecture Glass Art. The '2013 Job of the Year' announced in Milan, Italy, was awarded to Mayer's terrazzo design.
Mayer was commissioned two large-scale projects through the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture Public Art Program. Mayer designed and oversaw both projects that spanned five years of production in coordination with architects, engineers, fabricators, lighting specialists, aviation and city staff and an international team. The terrazzo design is located at Terminal-4's Sky Train Station platform and the glass murals are located in two walkway connector bridges.
The "Award of Merit for Art in Public Places" was presented to Mayer's glass murals at the 33rd Valley Forward Environmental Excellence Awards. The awards set standards for achieving a balance between the built and natural environment in the region's physical, technical, social and aesthetic development. Arizona Aviation Journal cited that Mayer's stunning glass mural projects at PHX Sky Train were recognized at the annual Arizona Forward event, considered the "Academy Awards" of the environmental community. Also sharing in the Merit Award is Mayer's fabricator Franz Mayer of Munich (no relation), glass installers Walters and Wolf and the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture Public Art Program. Arizona Aviation Journal
The National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association awarded the "2013 Job of the Year" for Mayer's design and fabricators Advance Terrazzo of Phoenix. The NTMA cited the distinct, large-scale works of public art for their "spectacular designs and graphics" and "intricate patterns and vibrant colors."
Mayer's platform design measures 400 x 500 and includes eight terrazzo colors, recycled blue glass, crushed mirror, handwriting as pattern and 1000 aluminum letterforms fabricated at Marzee Water Jet of Phoenix. Creative production of Mayer's glass murals started by impressing Arizona leaf patterns onto metal foils through an etching press. The original prints were digitally scaled-up for screenprinting ceramic glazes onto glass. The rich surfaces and vibrant colors were carried out by hand painting each panel with transparent ceramic washes and then kiln-fired at an industrial glass factory in Austria. Overall, Mayer designed 112 4 x 9 glass panels that used 200lbs of ceramic glazes and weighs 14 tons. The glass was shipped in a cargo container from Hamburg via the Panama Canal to Long Beach and trucked to Phoenix.
Founded in 1847, Mayer of Munich is one of the world's foremost studios for mosaics and stained glass. Dedicated to the execution of contemporary projects for artists and architects worldwide, the publication chronicles the company's long history, from its genesis as an ecclesiastical sculpture studio to the establishment of a stained glass department in 1860, mosaics in 1925, and contemporary projects. Daniel Mayer worked closely with the Munich studio to carry out his vision for the glass murals using innovative and traditional medieval stained-glass techniques.