Ocean Mosaics & Stained Glass Paintings

By Elissa Melaragno

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Dancing Quadrupeds

The Dancing Quadrupeds gallery that you see on this site is a new addition to my website. These little clay critters were created when I was teaching children how to make animals out of clay. I would hurriedly make a sample and throw it on the rack to be fired. They very often came out with one rear leg in the air. The children noticed this saying, “Miss Elissa, they look like they are peeing”. Then if they were slightly tilted the front leg went into the air and they looked like they were dancing. Thus the birth of the “Dancing Quadruped” (quadruped being the latin for “four footed”). As time went on I created stories to go with them and made them so that they can dance all sorts of ways – on their heads, tails, right side up or upside down. And the question remains “what is their continual source of Joy?

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Elissa Melaragno

About Elissa

Growing up by the side of my sculptor father, I was introduced to museums, Galleries and artists studios starting at four years old. Yet to this day the formalities of the art world are avoided and I am most exhilarated by working on sites where art and the public environment meet. Perhaps because my father was often working on massive friezes and sculptures, over the years for me the most exciting projects have been the ones involving public spaces.

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What Clients Say

pam

As an art consultant, I first introduced Elissa’s “Ocean Mosaics” to Cape Cod Healthcare in 2008. The first piece they purchased became so popular with patients, staff and visitors that they ended up adding another 35 mosaics to their collection throughout the Cape. Still to this day, when I enter a building that has her work, every time I ask the staff how clients like these mosaics, they respond with great enthusiasm as to how much they are loved by patients and staff!

Pamela Wilkins, Wilkins Art Associates, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

dancing quadraped testimonial

Elissa’s Quadrupeds have brought me joy for many years. I now have two in my collection, and they sit in different windowsills so I can see them in more than one room. My husband and I play a game, where we’ll turn the Quadrupeds to contrasting poses to reflect our moods. Currently the blue-glazed Quadruped is perched exuberantly on his hind legs. I recommend these beautiful objects for all ages and stages!

Anne Beal, Anne Beal Animation, NYC, NY

Over the last 25 years, I have commissioned Elissa to undertake many creative projects in several of my commercial properties. Professional and reliable, she has always easily understood my hopes for these public spaces and beautifully added her creative input to give me just what was needed — on time and reasonably priced. I highly recommend working with her.

Bob Quattlebaum, Quattlebaum Enterprises, Hendersonville, NC