Art Tile Murals
by ceramics artist Susan Martin Serra
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The Prayer. Hand-painted maiolica glaze
on earthenware. 22" high x 38" wide.
This mural combines flat, hand painted tile and with a carved
border in high relief that is cut in puzzle-piece fashion.
The scene depicted in this mural is inspired by Zane Grey's
novel, Riders of the Purple Sage. The mural is made
of low fire red earthenware clay and is glazed in white maiolica.
It is hand painted with mineral pigments in many layered washes
that build to a rich colorful finish. It is twice fired; the
final firing in an oxidation environment to 1940 degrees F.
This triptych mural presents Jane, the main character of the
novel, kneeling in prayer at her local community church. Behind
her stands the local cleric, a corrupt and evil man who uses
his position in the church and community to try and force
Jane into an arranged marriage that would eventually strip
her of her land and water. In the foreground, Little Faye
offers a white lily up to Jane, a symbol of purity and faith.
The center section of this mural is flanked by the mirrored
image of a church sitting high on a rock mound with a swirling
night sky brightly lit by a white full moon. The forces of
good and evil clashing create a force so strong that the steeple
of the church bends from its dark pull.
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