Sasabe

Three key aspects of Sasabe's past and present inspired Susan Furini's mural of carved clay tile.

First, the work honors Sasabe's historic role as a farming community.  Its border station was a nexus of trade for local products depicted in the work:  corn, wheat, abode block and cattle.  The Sasabe vineyard, illustrated by grape leaves and clusters of purple fruit, still produces wine for sale in Mexico and southern Arizona.

The birds on the mural pay tribute to the nearby Buenos Aires National preserve and Refuge, a renowned wildlife sanctuary.  The largest images depict the masked bobwhite, highlighting the efforts of the refuge to protect this species from extinction.

The third point of inspiration was the architecture of the border station itself.  The building reaches upward with high gables, tall columns and airy roof structures, reminiscent of the New England architecture that influenced the design of the original Port of Entry building on this site.  This style suggested a strongly vertical format for the art that would serve as the visitor's visual symbol of welcome.

The mural's thick clay tiles are nearly solid and were fired to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.  To color them, Furini used underglaze slips with clear glazes sealing the surface.  She carved the tiles to a sharp relief.  In some places the carving extends eight inches deep, adding rich three-dimensional detail to the composition.