5/31/15: Artist Jim Bachor started a Kickstarter campaign to fill Chicago potholes with ice cream mosaics. The project, called “Treats in the Streets,” is refreshing in its cheerful, childlike inventiveness. He did a similar project last year with floral mosaics in Finland.

https://soundcloud.com/dnainfo-radio/filling-chicagos-potholes-with-art

Bachor is doing his level best to bring the art of mosaics back, not just because they’re aesthetically pleasing, but also because they are nearly indestructible:

“In the ancient world, mosaics were used to capture images of everyday life. These colorful pieces of stone or glass set in mortar were the photographs of empires long past. Marble and glass do not fade. Mortar is mortar. An ancient mosaic looks exactly as intended by the artist who produced it over two millennia ago. What else can claim that kind of staying power? Using the same materials, tools and methods of the archaic craftsmen, I create mosaics that speak of modern things in an ancient voice.” -Jim Bachor, artist’s statement

And if you don’t happen to be in Chicago or Finland and would like to own one of his long-lasting works, you can inquire about purchasing them on his website. The last four pictures below are of pieces he’s recently sold. You can also enjoy more of his mosaics on Instagram.