Completed  Project

Mosaic mural in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, commissioned by Padre Jorge Santiago, SDB and the Salesian priests in Parroquia San Juan Bautista.
Location in church: three recessed arches in the sanctuary, approximately 500 square feet total area.

Materials: Italian red marble, porcelain floor tiles of size and a mixed variety of porcelain, ceramic, vitreous, iridescent and gold mosaic tessarae.
Fourteen life-size figures and five medium-size figures.

South arch depicts the Holy Family with St.Mary, St.Elizabeth and their children Jesus and young John pictured at the water hole in the River Jordan.

North arch depicts John the Baptist baptizing a youth of today, testifying to the ongoing work of Christ's church through the holy sacrament of the priesthood.

Center arch: Christ returning on clouds of glory with depictions below of the saints--St.John the Baptist, St.Mary Help of Christians, St.Peter, St.Elizabeth, St.John Bosco, St.Domingo Savio, St.Mary Mazzarello and Blessed Laura Vicuña
Also in the center arch--depiction of Orocovian countryside, center of town and the church itself in the center depicting the City of God.

Work has been ongoing since November 2005.

                                COPY RIGHTS  TO ALL PICTURES ARTHUR J. HARTUNG.
 

The following photos show details of completed areas of the mosaic.
To see the progress and completed work, continue to scroll down.

Close up:  San Juan Bautista baptizing a youth.

Taino chief Orocovix and his family witness the baptism. The young son has just caught
a fish but is looking up toward the Risen Christ in the center arch.

Closeup: San Juan Bosco, San Domingo Savio, San Pedro and San Juan Bautista  looking up at the Risen Christ.

They stand beside the River of Life and above them is the City of God depicted as the actual town of Orocovis.

Closeup: Santa Maria Auxiliadora, Santa Isabel, Beata Laura Vicuña and Santa Maria
Mazzarrella look up at the Risen Christ. To the left of Maria Auxiliadora above the River
of Life is the scene of the Annunciation and just above that is the manger scene with the
Three Kings. Above that is the City of God as depicted by the town of Orocovis
with the actual plaza, church and buildings as they exist today, set against the magnificent
mountains of the area.

Central arch showing the Risen Christ above the City of God and the saints. Not visible in this
photo is the proverbial narrow gate leading into the golden road which stretches upward toward
the City of God and the actual church of Orocovis (San Juan Bautista).

Closeup: San Juan Bautista as a young boy with the child Jesus, in a family scene with their mothers Santa Maria and Santa Isabel.

This shows the family scene at the river. Notice this is the same river portrayed in the
baptism scene with San Juan Bautista and the youth. The Flamboyan tree and banana
leaves enhance both scenes with a local tropical setting.

The artist shown with maquette
(scale: 1½ inches = 1 foot)
Rendered in acrylic on plywood

Final preparation of wall
Dimensions: 2 side arches 9 ft x 13 ft each
center arch 13 ft x 18 ft
Approximate square footage: 460

South arch near completion

Center arch in progress

Center arch showing sunrise

Principal saints, lower half center arch

Close-up male saints center arch:
St.John the Baptist, St.Peter,
St.John Bosco, St.Domingo Savio
Figures are life-size

Close-up female saints center arch:
St.Mary Help of Christians (Maria Auxiliadora),
St.Elizabeth (Sta.Isabel), St.Mary Mazzarello.
Unfinished is Blessed (Beata) Laura Vicuña.
Here you can see tape holding up portion of
river scene next to Mary and red marble
lower portion

Close-up St.John the Baptist
baptizing youth, north arch
 

Padre Jorge Santiago, SDB, parish priest,
cutting tiles

Padre Demetrio Coello, SDB, cutting tiles
 

Giovanni Diaz working with tiles, indirect method

Inauguration Mass on August 5, 2007

1

2

3

4

5

COPY RIGHTS  TO ALL PICTURES ARTHUR J. HARTUNG.

Go to info about Arthur J  Hartung