7/8/1922 - 9/21/2017
Author: Stephen Brigham
Mary Lou lived her life as an artist, and an optimist who inspired us with her energy, creativity and love. She travelled the world in awe of its people and cultures. In mid-life, she earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Arizona.
After retirement from TUSD’s Fine Arts Department, Mary Lou focused on her studio, Fete of Clay, illustrating life’s mystical and whimsical nature in the form of thousands of unique stoneware sculptures. Her work was featured in the book “1,000 Beads”.
Mary Lou later remarked during an interview: “My clay goddesses are lucky to even get feet. Anyway, I’ve worked myself up to the other end of people. Faces are my work in progress. At eighty-six I’ve found my calling. I want to become a clay sculptor who truly gets the essence of faces.”
Examples of Ms. Tompkins’ work illustrating life’s mystical & whimsical nature:
Mary Lou passed away at 95 in 2017. Her home and studio are on Allen Road where her daughter, Cynthia Dunn, maintains Mary Lou’s legacy.
Mary Lou’s work is also part of the RillitoBend Mural at Prince and Cactus for everyone to enjoy. Can you find all of Mary Lou’s pieces in the mural?