The old mosaics all have the same blue border and text on a white field.  But they are quirky.  There are several styles of each letter.   Some letters are backwards (original installer drunk or illiterate or a prankster?).  The original tiles were fresh set (pushed in the surface of the wet concrete) and some drifted out of alignment.


The blue color and tile size were not available for our new mosaics.  So we bought big tiles with color all the way through.  A group of about 30 neighbors used tile saws to cut 12”x12” tiles into hundreds of 3/4” squares.  During a workshop at the Ballard Community Center, Girl Scout Troop 639 prepared cartoon grids on drafting mylar so we knew where to place blue or white tiles.  We assembled the mosaics face down and glued nylon netting to the backs during 2 community workshops at Loyal Heights Community Center.  Ready for installation!

Central Ballard Community Council

and Seattle Dept of Neighborhoods

Ballard Street Name Mosaics

24th Ave NW  Seattle WA

Seattle Dept of Neighborhoods and Ballard Neighborhood

© 1995 Benson Shaw

Central Ballard Community Council

Seattle Dept of Neighborhoods

Page updated:

26 May, 2013

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