Blog 2008

I am hoping to engage into a meaningful dialogue with individuals seeking devotional art and furniture
for their worship space.
Although most of my work has been for the Roman Catholic Church, I am open.

My work is as eclectic as my clients.

Currently I am working with The Sacred Heart Catholic Community in a rural Michigan town. They have
asked me to create a sculpture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for them. I noticed that in their Narthex
they have displayed framed prints of both Jesus and Mary of the Sacred Heart.
I originally met with the pastor and music director. We discussed the personal significance of the
Sacred Heart among the three of us. They asked if I could meet with a larger group the following week
to get a better view of the community’s devotion to the Sacred Heart. We met and shared personal stories
of how their lives have been touched by praying to the Sacred Heart. The conclusion seemed to be that the
Sacred Heart is about relationships. Many spoke of a loving embrace being. One of the members related a
shrine in Florida that so touched him as a spirit filled space.
The gathering space at the entrance of the church is very small and the pastor noted many of the feelings
expressed centered in the greeting area. Funeral liturgies, in his opinion, were a time to embrace loved
ones. Ironically Father passed away days after that meeting. We were stunned. Since that time Saint Margaret
Mary’s apparition of Jesus exposing His Sacred Heart to her was related to me. A traditional representation
of the Sacred Heart is important to the group.

My commission is to take in all the information given to me by the individuals of this faith community
and create a representational sculpture of the Sacred Heart that embodies it’s people. Who is this Sacred
Heart and how has (or is) your life affected by this devotional Icon?

I am working with a Roman Catholic community who has asked me to create a privacy screen for their reconciliation room. I met with the pastor, deacon, head of worship, and the music minister. The question I asked them is, what does reconciliation mean to this community and what scriptural reading best describes the direction of their spiritual leadership? They cited a reading discussing the woman caught in adultery. The symbols and images in this reading led to a very fruitful discussion on the sacrament. My commission as a liturgical artist is to gather thoughts, attitudes, prayers and their personal theologies. I will use material and the art language to affect that space. The art object must help each person grow into a deeper relationship with the Creator and the world to which she or he wishes to be reconciled. What are your thoughts?

Below are two reconciliation screens I have done for other communities.

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