As an artist in residence, Jane has worked with numerous grade school students, parents and teachers to create large scale tile murals at six Phoenix Area schools. Most recently, she was commissioned to create a large scale public art piece at Paradise Valley Community College.

Jane designed a twelve foot tall, free-standing sculpture based on one of her abstract porcelain horse sculptures for the college. She worked with nine students and Ceramics Instructor David Bradley to build the sculpture on the south plaza of the new Center for Performing Arts. They constructed the horse of fiberglass reinforced concrete and hand made ceramic tile over a steel and Styrofoam armature.

The columnar legs and simplified body of the blue-green stained horse become a gateway, enticing one to walk under its 7’ tall belly while a bright yellow bird rides atop the horse’s back. This over life-size, yet engaging piece is entitled “Gateway to a Life-Long Journey of Learning.”

"Gateway to a Lifelong Journey of Learning"

Ceramic Model for 12 foot tall sculpture
Spirit Bird
porcelain with underglaze
26” X 22” X 10”
2002
private collection

Gateway to a Lifelong Journey of Learning
Concrete and tile over Styrofoam and steel armature
12’ X 11’ X 3’
2007
Paradise Valley Community College Public Art Collection Phoenix AZ

Detail
View from in front of The Center for Performing Arts

  Detail

 Back view with mosaic stepping stones created by each student depicting their personal "journey of learning".


 

View looking back to the main campus

                                                                 Detail of mosaics on stepping stones


 

Detail of mosaic on stepping stone

The Making of "Gateway to a Lifelong Journey of Learning"

A structural engineer designed the interior framework and a professional welder fabricated the frame out of 4" diameter steel pipe.  The basic Styrofoam form was cut by a hot wire guided by a computer at a Styrofoam manufacturing plant in Phoenix

The foam forms were cut in half vertically to fit around the steel frame. Many hours were spent refining the foam by gluing on pieces where more volume was needed and carving and shaping areas with saws and wire brushes

The legs of the steel frame were embedded in 4' deep concrete footings.


 

Rough foam form belted to steel
frame in place, viewed with 4'model

Final additions of mane and tail applied before gluing the foam to the steel frame

                              Students applying the first coat of concrete and fiberglass mesh

A student applying second coat of 1 Kote, a concrete mix with polymer, sand and chopped fiberglass fibers.

                    Students applying concrete and testing layout of tiles.

                  Students attaching tiles with thin set mortar.
 

Final coat of white 1 Kote has been applied and first coat of water base cement stain is being sprayed on.


 

The bird is lifted into place shortly before the final coat of
stain is applied


 

Jane, students and David Bradley honored at the Dedication Ceremony.