Maurice
Savoie mural (1966):
front entrance of the GA Hickman Education Building,
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Maurice Savoie (1930 - 2013) was a noted
Quebecois ceramicist, whose works include ceramic panels in the
Montreal
Metro at the Ste-Catherine station near McGill University.
The Hickman Building was originally the home of the Faculty of
Arts. It was not part of the original four buildings dedicated
in 1961 on the new campus, but was opened later, in 1966. At
that time, the architects of the new Arts & Culture Centre
commissioned a ceramic mural from Savoie in terracotta, glass,
and brick for the main lobby. The architects of the new Arts
building also approached Savoie with a commission for a concrete
installation, 20 x 60 feet, to be mounted above the main
entrance. Initial sketches of each panel were increased to
full size, and used to inscribe a reverse image in compacted wet
sand. To this were added design features such as colored stones
in blue and white, iron oxide for reds, etc. The sand image was
covered with a thin layer of concrete, which as it set took the
shape of the sand and picked up the inset decoration. After
setting, a steel framework was added, and a second, thicker
layer of concrete was poured, which allowed the panels to be
mounted.
The mural comprises 12 panels (top 1-6, bottom 7-12), each
approximately 10 feet square. Savoie was known for his interest
in nature, and supervised the entire installation. Several
biomorphic forms are recognizable: panels 1, 2, & 7 include
wading and tree birds, panel 4 diatoms and possibly a
pitcher plant, panels 6 & 11 a conifer and land plant, etc.
The photos show the mural
as it appeared in 2015 [top], and after refurbishment in 2017
[bottom].