The second element: Clay

Posted by Christian Reich on October 19, 2007

The second element is clay.

Clay forms the base for tiles, like those at Santa Theresa Tile Works on 440 N. 6th Ave.

Susan Gamble boasts that everything is hand-made in the shop.

The process can be seen in the slideshow below. It starts out with just a wet piece of clay. But through cutting, painting, heating and arranging, the artisans at Santa Theresa are able to create colorful tiles that occasionally show border influences such as coyotes, cacti and lizards.



As shown in the slideshow, the tiles are hardened in a kiln at around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. After the process, the tiles are very resistant to outside influences and can be stepped and sat on without breaking.

Gamble has been in the business for over 20 years and said some customers are baffled at the fact that the tiles in the shop are not machine-made.

"Some can't believe that people actually make things," Gamble said.

The work is displayed all over town. Many Tucsonans might be familiar with her work on the big sculpture placed right behind the Student Union Memorial Center at the University of Arizona by the Second Street Garage. Details can be seen in the slideshow.

Gamble even has a tile fresco at Sky Harbor Airport, which shows stars and rocket ships shooting through the sky.

Interested customers can also take classes or purchase take-home kits to put together a little tile of their own.

For more information about galleries, workshops and exhibitions, visit Santa Theresa Tile Works.