douglas Kornfeld
"Welcome!" - 2002
3400 Hand-made ceramic tiles, 7' x 50' - Civic Center Bus Station, Denver, CO.
"Welcome!" depicts two hands reaching out to shake hands. Each of the 3400 hand-made tiles has an individual figure glazed onto its surface. The mural symbolizes the moment when a passenger is transformed from an anonymous traveler, by recognition or a greeting, into a unique person at the beginning or end of a journey.
The background of the mural is made up of shiny gold tiles each with the standard symbol for men or women. These symbolize the anonymity of a traveler. The two outstretched hands are made up of turquoise tiles each with an individual figure. The turquoise tiles depict a wide variety of figures; some are thin, heavy, tall, short, young, and old. Others have oversized large heads others have tiny heads. These can be interpreted as different ways of thinking or perhaps ego. The turquoise tile figures symbolize the diversity of the bus station visitors without reference to race, religion, or politics.
