Jenkins Middle School - School District 11

Colorado Springs, CO 1999

Created in 1999 for this new middle school, the "Jenkin's Jaguar" guards the entrance.

Carved by Karen Ritchey, the "jaguar" is perched on top of the school's name.

Engobes, or colored clay slips, are fired onto the brick, to add color to the sculpture, while the name is highlighted with a bright bronze glaze.

Overall, the free-standing entry sign is 7 feet tall by 22 feet long.

Columbarium - Ascension Episcopal Church

Pueblo, Colorado 1986

This sculpted brick panel, entitled "Lamb of God," is one of five sculpted panels that grace this church's columbarium, which is a repository for deceased members' ashes.

Carved in 1986 by Jon Ritchey, this project was one of the more complex projects. Each sculpture panel was curved around either a convex or concave shape. Each "green" brick had to be pre-cut into a pie-shaped wedge. The "green" size of each panel had to be figured to the 6% smaller fired size, in order to fit into the niche in the wall.

One of two antelope heads on signs - 1996

Antelope Meadows (Nor'wood) Colo. Springs

Karen Ritchey carved this and one other Antelope "head"
for two of the "Antelope Meadows" entry monuments in 1996.
This Antelope "head" is 36" high.
Part of the Nor'wood development, these two sculptures
were the first of the Nor'wood signs to feature bas relief brick
sculpture.
Since then, brick sculpture has graced close to forty of Nor'wood's entries.

"Virgin of The Lillies"

Karen Ritchey copyright 2000

This bas relief sculpture, carved by Karen Ritchey in 2000,
is framed with a metallic glazed border tile, with an overall
dimension of 36" wide by 48" high, when installed.

Colors were added to the fired brick tile with underglazes,
followed by a clear topcoat glaze. This sculpture remains
part of the artist's personal collection.

Colorado National Bank, Pueblo CO 1987

The sculpted brick tile on this bank sign replicates the large ornate sandstone carvings on the bank building, constructed about 1908.

Jon carved two sides for this 1987 sign, using photographs of the original designs, modified to this sign design.

Architect for the sign was John Barnofski, of HGF Architects of Pueblo. The architect for the building in the early 20th century was a contemporary of Louis Sullivan, and the building's style shows Sullivan's influence.

close up view of carved 8" x 8" tile

Colorado National Bank - Pueblo, CO 1987

Click here to see studio shots of how it's done

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