Mosaic honors Andrei's memory

Tom and Natalie Rutkowski, at the dedication of "Mythos" mosaic mural in honor of their son, Andrei.

Somewhere, Poseidon is smiling.

The bearded god of the sea in Greek mythology held off the rain Monday night, while providing a suitably damp backdrop to the dedication of a mosaic in his stern visage, to honor the memory of 13-year-old Andrei Rutkowski, who died of leukemia in April 2006.

The 6-ft. by 18-ft. mural, designed by Racine artist Jane Casico, is filled with images of the things Andrei loved: the sea, myths and turtles. Poseidon dominates the middle section; Icarus flies too close to the sun on the right panel, over swimming turtles; and the left panel represents the island of Crete. The mural's name is "Mythos," which means a collection of myths.

"This shows you what happens when you give talented kids a chance," said Harold Solberg.

More pictures here.

The dedication ceremony on the Lake Michigan Walkway, alongside the beach where Goold Street meets Michigan Boulevard, was a moving affair, remembering a child who died too young, and recognizing the many organizations that worked together to create the memorial.

Andrei's parents, Tom and Natalie Rutkowski came up with the idea. Aided by Debra Karp, Lorna Hennig, Donna Newgord, the Main Gallery, the Racine Arts Council, the Wisconsin Arts Board, Racine Parks and Recreation Department and others, including mayor and aldermen, they put the plan in motion.

Casico, whose normal media are pastels and watercolor -- but who has done murals at the Historic Century Market and at the Crosswalk Park on Main Street (opposite Salute's) -- was an eager participant.

"We were all new at it; we're all self-taught," Casico said. She introduced some of the teens from Main Gallery, all wearing pirate caps for the occasion, who actually put together the mosaic she designed -- on mesh squares later installed on the walkway's concrete wall by Floortech, under the supervision of Peter Hannes. There are 144,000 individual tiles used in the project, along with some beach glass and broken mirror.

"Everyone here, their heart and soul was in it," Casico said.

Main Gallery, said Mayor Gary Becker, "is a wonderful program for kids. Thank you all for your energies, talents and emotions." (He said that before Casico told one and all that the face of Poseidon was modeled after the mayor's. She was kidding, I think.)

Andrei "relished each day," said his father.

The mural is not his only memorial. The fund established by his parents at the Racine Community Foundation also has provided a typically quirky Bill Reid sculpture of a turtle for the children's room at the Racine Public Library -- a turtle whose broad shell serves as a chess board.

And there is a park bench at Riverbend Nature Center, with a haiku written for Andrei:

The firefly departs,
so quickly, so breathlessly,
it leaves its light behind.