This a creative tile by Susan Folwell is part of her “Taos Light: Monochrome” series.  She is one of the exciting innovators in Pueblo pottery.  Beginning in 2017, Susan Folwell began a series of clay pieces inspired by and re-interpreting the Taos Society of Artists’ work from 1915-27.  The design of this tile is inspired by cellular phones.  The piece is made from clay and carved for the relief portion of the “button” and edge of the frame.  The piece is entitled “The Shawl”. It is inspired by a painting by Victor Higgins entitled, “Daisy Mirabal” (see last photo).  The model, Daisy Mirabal, was from Taos Pueblo.  Susan said you can almost imagine how colorful the shawl is that she is wearing, which was part of the inspiration for this piece.  Susan said she wanted to capture the monochromatic feel of the image, but to give the cell phone “case” the subtle colorations of the shawl Daisy is wearing.

Susan says of this series:

“This is a series I’ve just started working on.  During this time when you can’t leave your house it is your “virtual vacation”.   Each clay tile is carved as a “cell phone” and then painted. My “Taos Light: Monochrome” serires are inspired by black-and-white photogrpahy of early Taos artists painters work found in book. As well, there is a photo of Jerry Mirabal, a frequest model for EI Couse, looking at a photo of a Couse painting.  That photogrpah set me on the course of inspiration for this series.

 It is signed on the back, “Susan Folwell”.  The piece comes with a metal cell phone stand to hold the tile. 

Susan Folwell: Taos Light / Pueblo Perspectives