Artist standing in front of the Campanario (bell wall)

This historical artwork, The Mission San Juan Capistrano Mural, is one of the most memorable pieces  Jamie Santaniello has ever designed and executed. This is a Southern California Public Art Display.


The tile mural had to be a specific size (13.5 feet x 13.5 feet) so it could be installed into a recessed area of a major wall inside the main lobby of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Facility in San Juan Capistrano, California. The mural design by Santaniello went through a rigorous process and was approved by the City Council of San Juan Capistrano and the Historical Society of San Juan Capistrano, some members were Juaneño Indians or Acjachemen, the tribe's traditional name.

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Presentation sketch

Ceramic study showing oak leaf moldings and liners

Sketching the scene prior to underglaze painting

Santaniello used all handmolded tiles (6” x 6” tiles for the mural and border field, large green stained liner tiles and hand molded borders with an handpainted oak leaf and acorn design.)    The piece was painted in the “majolica”underglaze technique.

Santaniello created a smaller 3’ x 3’ ceramic study before starting the large mural.

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Detail of underglaze sketch prior to painting

Closer look at the Indians and Padres

Installed mural showing the subtle tones and textures of the mural

Especially for the patients, Jamie wanted the mural scene to feel soft, spiritual and restful.
The artist was asked to include the Juaneño Indians [or Acjachemen]  and the Padres, with the presence of the Spanish Soldiers.  From various resources Jamie created a scene showing what life may have been like at the Mission around 1813.


The scene takes place in the front courtyard looking northwest at the south corridor in the early afternoon.  Since the bell tower and the great stone church were destroyed by the 1812 earthquake, the "ringing of the bells" by the Indian boy was an artistic impression to represent the sounding of the bells for the changing activities of the day.   Historically, it was around a year later after the earthquake a bell wall or Campanario was built for the bells and is still used today.  (See above photo of artist standing in front of them and footnote below about the history of the bells**)

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The dress of the Indians changed from their custom grass skirts to white cloth by the Padres as part of their conversion to Christianity.  The oak leaf border with acorns that wraps around the large mural symbolizes the main staple food (acorns) of the Indians before they joined the mission.  It is not known if the second story on the south corridor was constructed at that time, however it does exist now and Santaniello included it for a better composition.

The pepper tree was not standing this tall until 1886 but Santaniello used its size to give texture and contrast to the mission walls and grounds.  Santaniello placed the patrolling Spanish soldiers in the background to give them a secondary presence in relationship to the Padres and the Juaneño Indians.  In the sky and perched on top the exterior columns are the swallows, the poetic symbol of San Juan Capistrano.

The project took Santaniello six months to complete- three months for design and testing and three months to paint and kiln fire the more than 500 tiles that formed the final piece.

Once the mural was installed, the city of San Juan Capistrano requested ownership of the mural to insure the murals historical reference for their city.  In the case the building changed ownership, the mural was installed in such a way it could be removed in sections and moved to another location for preservation.

View from upper level

Many years later after its installation, in the summer of 2011, while the artist and her family were vacationing in Lake Arrowhead, Ca., she learned one of her new neighbors was very familiar with the mission mural in Kaiser Permanente.   After finding out it was Jamie who painted it, the kind woman graciously spoke about the many hours she spent sitting near, meditating and “being with” the mission piece in the lobby sitting area.  It was a time during her long journey through chemotherapy.  She said, the mural painting gave her peace, and lifted her through those difficult months.  

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A replica of the San Juan Bell hangs in the Campanario or bell wall.

History of the Mission Bells**
Four bells were originally cast for the Mission San Juan Capistrano and each is named after a Saint (from largest to smallest these names are San Vincente, San Juan, San Antonio, and San Rafael) 
The original two largest bells, (San Vicente and San Juan) sustained major damage from the 1812 earthquake and never rang the same again.  They were moved and now hang in the footprint of the bell tower of the ruins of the Great Stone Church.  On the Bell Wall or Campanario hang two replica large bells, and the original two small bells (San Antonio and San Rafael) They are rung 7 times each day at 9:00am to honor the legacy of its founder Saint Junipero Serra, who founded Mission San Juan Capistrano as the 7th of 9 California missions.
To learn more about the Mission's history and the yearly calendar for the "Ringing of the Bells"
go to https://www.missionsjc.com/history/    

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More photos showing installation and finished mural

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Team members for the 1999 Mission San Juan Capistrano Tile Mural Project
Joseph C. Stasney, Project Manager, Kaiser Permanente
Michael Swain, Wood, Burghard, Swain Architects, Irvine, Ca.
Jane D. Thompson, J.D. Thompson & Associates, San Diego, Ca.
Steve Likins, Project Manager, The Whiting-Turner Contractor Company, Irvine, Ca.
Jamie Santaniello, Tile Muralist, Waverly Tile Inc., Oceanside, Ca.
Ken Mason Tile (BCIA) Long Beach, Ca., for the hand molded bisque tiles.
Ron Duff, Tile Setter, Corona, Ca.
The City Council of San Juan Capistrano
The Historical Society of San Juan Capistrano

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ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA PUBLIC ART NEWS CLICK: HERE

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Items for sale related to the Mission San Juan Capistrano Project

Artists 'Mission San Juan Capistrano Ceramic Study' used in project / for sale in the Store - Signature Murals

Artists 'Mission San Juan Capistrano Presentation Sketch' Prints used in project / Prints for sale in the Store - Prints Page

Mission San Juan Capistrano Writing Cards / for sale in the Store - Writing Cards & Gift Tiles