Using the council of American Bishop document “BUILT OF LIVING STONE” our mission statement is that we are a group of dedicated artists and artisans that work and pray together with faith communities, to create objects that Glorify GOD. I have been involved in the arts all of my life. Teaching, general contracting and landscaping have been woven into my liturgical career with this diversity of experiences beginning a community of artist and craftspeople who Glorify God seemed like a natural evolution. Our call to Eucharist has been the final inspiration to develop the studios. Our work truly begins with others prayers. Petitioning the power and vision of the Holy Spirit to guide, inspire, direct and be with all of our artists and the community while a piece of art is being made is our daily mantra. The only purpose of this work is to create objects that assist the faith community to Glorify God. In being part of this mission we return our gifts to their source. (What a beautiful circle) The pieces are only finite material, but the people, prayer and the process of bringing them into reality will not die. “If it be Gods Divine Will, we would be pleased to serve you and your prayer community.” - Anthony Bellomo

Liturgical Consultant Member

Services Available

• I assist in creating spaces for celebration, meditation and fellowship of a faith community by meeting, praying and listening to their physical and spiritual needs. I provide the liturgical input of that community to the architect to ensure the final goal is met; a house for God’s people
• Liturgical furniture— wood, marble & multi-media design/fabrication, including baptismal fonts
• Design/fabrication of images for devotion and unification into the liturgical space
• Outdoor meditation gardens— design/fabrication, with appropriate devotional symbols and images as they relate to the Table of the Eucharist

Qualifications

• 12 years of catholic education with I.H.M., Bernardine, Franciscan and Marist religious. My early education and formation provided instruction in catholic theology— knowing, loving and serving God in the wake of Vatican II
• Bachelor of Science in Art Education, Wayne State University
• Graduate studies in Fine Arts at Northern Illinois University and Wayne State University
• Art faculty member, Oswego Community Schools, Illinois
• Faculty member and Art Department Head, L’Anse Creuse Schools, Michigan
• Faculty member, Center for Creative Studies, Michigan; high school art programs
• Owner of The Black Forest Building Co. for over 20 years. General contracting— residential and commercial projects; full service from conceptual design to final landscape, custom design/build service
• Judge for Scholastic Art Competition
• Recipient of local, state and national awards for design excellence
• Worked with religious orders and diocesan parishes throughout the country on varied multi-media projects relating to church environment for over 20 years
• Published in Art & Environment in spring of 1999
• Awarded the Ministry & Liturgy Bene Award for “Trinity in Glory” 2002
• Published in The Signs of the Times Magazine 2002
• Featured in Macomb Daily - A Dream Realized - March 25, 2002
• Featured in Crain’s Detroit Business - Art for the Masses -  April 1-7, 2002
• Awarded Ministry & Liturgy Honorable Mention for Ambry - Sept, 2002
• Featured in Signs of the Times Magazine - Letterhead News - Dec, 2002
• Published on Front Cover of Liturgical Catechesis - Jun-Jul, 2003
• Article published in Michigan Catholic - Sacred Sculpture Category- Dec 2, 2005
• Featured in Crawford County Avalance - Christ Cometh to Grayling - Mar 9, 2006
• Published in Easter Sunday Oakland Press - Room to Relax - Mar 27, 2006
• Featured in Remodeling Magazine, "Second Look", March, 2006
• Awarded Ministry & Liturgy 2007 Bene Award, Devotional Art Category, Triptych
• Awarded Ministry & Liturgy 2007 Bene Award, Sacred Art Category - Monstrance

My family life

I have been involved with the arts since my childhood, with my mother cooking without recipes and carpentry was my father’s passion. We prayed the rosary as a family together often and we were the family in the neighborhood that made their own swimming pool with galvanized pipe and rubberized canvas and a ” burning” desire to cool off one hot summer. My mother’s devotion to Mary was often a source of strength for myself and my two sisters. Our prayer life was naturally woven into our work life at home. As children whenever we were about to embark of a new challenge Ma would hug us and whisper “MARY CONFIDENCE” in our ear. My first stone carving was ma’s last earthly gift to me. Her tombstone with the inscription “Mary Confidence”. My father’s gift was equally as profound. Before dad was finally diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease his doctor recommended that he use a cane to help keep from falling. Dad’s pride got in the way and refused to be (in his mind) stigmatized with a walking stick. I carved my father a cane (one of my first carvings) with an elaborate merry-go -round horse head, thinking dad would have a bragging device rather than a walking aid. The strategy for the most part worked and he used the cane telling everyone his son made it for him. The part I hadn’t anticipated was my then three-year-old son regularly borrowing grandpa’s canes for a hobby horsing much to all of our delight. My father has passed on, and my son is grown with a child of his own but the cane is still next to the fireplace. Over the years that cane has become such a strong symbol of my family. It, in a way, became the first piece of true religious art I’d ever done. Its simple message has been far more valuable than the piece itself. “As I remember my father I realize my Sons”. Marrying young, my wife Nancy and I grew-up together. She being multi faceted has evolved into among other things an accomplished liturgical musician, and cantor while I’ve grown in the visual arts. We have been blessed with two beautiful sons A wonderful daughter-in-law and a blessing of blessings, our granddaughter Maya. My family is one of many of Gods gifts to me.

My education and business life

Working my way through school as a floral designer at J.L. Hudson’s, I received formal training in art and education in Detroit at Wayne State University graduating in 1970. For the next 12 years I headed the art departments in two school systems in Illinois and Michigan. Briefly teaching part-time at the Center For Creative Studies in Detroit. Throughout my college and teaching years I often found myself doing liturgical art pieces for local catholic communities. In 1979 I began The Black Forest Building Company a design/build firm that specialized in unusual building construction, outdoor gardens and art pieces to accent the spaces we created. From shopping centers to private gardens I’ve always seen my role as a builder of spaces that raise the human spirit. We have won many local, state and national awards for our projects.

My evolution to the ministry as a liturgical artist

Throughout my life I have tried to stay attentive to Jesus and His call to me. A J Bellomo Studios was the next stage of my journey. I have taken my childhood upbringing, the psychology, and communication skills from education, the organizational tools and business skills from Black Forest, combined with the sweet music that resounds in our home daily as Nancy prepares for next weeks liturgy to see God’s plan in my life.

Our Design Procedure

1. Upon requests we will send individual photos of our work; keeping in mind that our primary purpose is to design specifically for your community. 2. A comprehensive conversation with me would be most helpful to establish the needs of the community (if possible to pray together face to face hand to hand is best). Often I will lead with the phrase “how do you pray”. I may ask which scripture reading best exemplifies their community. I do believe each faith community has its own way of speaking to God. If I can get a glimpse of that spirit manifested in God’s people than I can be more sensitive in the initial design. At this point a budget must be established to determine the feasibility of certain materials and scope of the project (at this point travel expenses and a retainer is requested.). 3. Preliminary drawings or clay models will be presented to begin the visual and theological dialogue. The individual’s critique, reactions and off the cuff comments often lead to discussions of personal beliefs and religious viewpoints. This is when the discussion gets interesting. Disagreement, struggle, dialogue, compromise, consensus among the group is a beautiful thing to witness (its very much like a birth.) The Holy Spirit speaks through and heals God’s people. This meeting is usually key.  At this point the group has gotten very close. Many stories have been shared and the final sketch of the piece is usually a manifestation of the sharing. For me this is truly when you can see the Spirit working. 4. The next presentation is usually a celebration, if the design has met the needs of the group. Sometimes several revisions are required. The group will know when the piece is theirs. 5. The final paper work is completed and the time frame for completion is discussed. 6. Progress visits may be made and progress payments received depending upon the type and size of the commission. Installation day is a time of work, prayer and celebration (if possible with a special liturgy. not the dedication but a simple prayer among the committee and the installation team. A multi discipline approach - The breadth of our studio’s capability is open and varied, because the needs of the communities we work with are often very individualized and specific. Our general categories are design /construction management / furniture design / bronze sculpture / landscape and meditation garden design and construction / graphic design / painting / bas relief wood, marble, bronze / stained glass / fabric and vestment design. / glass / terra cotta and candle design. Throughout the past 20 years, more and more Catholic communities have asked me to get involved in a variety of liturgical projects. From complete renovations such as St Barnabas in Eastpointe, Michigan, to acting as a liturgical consultant for St.Joseph’s in Trenton, MI, working with the faith community, Fr. Vedro and the architect, teaming up to actualize that communities prayer. I have worked with the Sisters of Divine Providence on their Reservation chapel in Pittsburgh, PA. Experiencing my father’s disability with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, I have completed a barrier free adult immersion font with a most prayerful community in South Lyon’s Michigan’s St Joe’s.