CERAMIC SCULPTURE - PRAYER TOWERS

 C E R A M I C   S C U L P T I N G   by  Nancy Diodati

Sculpting something out of nothing has been with me since my earliest memories. Of course I worked mostly in mud to begin with.  My parents could not relate in the slightest so I was contantly being punished for playing in the mud as a child.  Little did I know that my hidden talent was trying to come forth even then.

My aunt introduced me to sculping in clay some years back and it's just been something I find enjoyable, relaxing and rewarding if my creation does not burst in the kiln.

Mostly I make architectural structures, such as buildings, churches, houses, bird houses, light towers, etc.  Most recently I have been making prayer towers.  My prayers towers are interesting structures usually 2 feet tall with lots of windows hollowed out.  The windows are hollowed out for two reasons. One, to put pieces of rolled up paper in the holes with prayers handwritten on them or so the night light I place in the bottom of the tower causes reflects out the windows.  These are some of the very first prayer towers I made.

     

I discovered that almost all countries have real life-sized prayer towers.  Some towers look like churches, others are just a round tower, like you would find in a castle with nothing but a door and lots of windows. 

As I progressed with my prayer towers I started making churches.  Churches are a huge object of affection in New Mexico.  The church pictured below represents San Miguel Mission Church in Socorro. It is a well over 100 years old and the real church has been restructured many times over.  Perhaps you heard the story on the news of how part of this church collapsed just a few months ago.  I happened to be making this replica church just when that happened.

This church features my own custom designed glaze as well.

Handbuilt Ceramic replica of San Miguel Church, Socorro, New Mexico by Nancy Diodati

Handbuilt structures are very difficult to make since the moisture in the clay causes the clay to move while baking in the kiln because the moisture is baked out of the clay and often the clay twists and turns.  Often this helps adds to the look of the structure being very old.  I have made many prayer towers and usually add a night light that sits in a stand and allows the structure to light up.  These structures are nice indoors or in an outdoor garden as well.

SEE MORE PRAYER TOWERS HERE!