Susan Juana Ponce is one of my favorite artists. Her ceramic pieces are beautifully designed and carefully executed.This "Praying Mary" sculpture is a perfect example of Juana's craft. The colors are vivid but not overpowering., and Mary's hands are clasped as in prayer. To me the loveliest quality of the statue is Mary's expression. It is beatific and produces a sense of serenity for the viewer. I hung this next to a doorway in my room a little above eye level. There I can look at her blessed face and whisper a prayer each time I pass through the doorway.