There is a need in the United States to cultivate and
develop a foundation that nurtures and develops an artistic community that is
attuned to the needs of the Catholic Church and its traditions. There are many
examples of artists that are producing pieces of art for installation I Catholic
Churches that are not indicative of the beliefs of the Catholic Church, are not
reflective of the high standards of artistic quality which is required of sacred
art and promotes a culture of artists that specialize in disposable art, which
will not withstand the longevity of the Catholic Church.
The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council demanded that each
episcopal conference in countries throughout the world establish a school that
encouraged and enabled the development of qualitative sacred art by fostering
all aspects of the artistic endeavors that were compatible to the needs of the
Catholic Church’s sacred liturgies and most importantly the architectural
requirements that determined the proper execution of a Catholic Church as a
place of worship and sacramental celebration. To date, such an institution for
the development of the sacred arts has yet to take place even though we are more
than half a century since the close of the Second Vatican Council.
The United States has quite a few artists and artisans that can
fulfill the needs of producing sacred art that deserves a prominent
installation in our Catholic churches. Unfortunately, most of the American
clergy have fallen into the trap of purchasing mass produced pieces of art from
workshops in Italy and China that are not reflective of the qualitative works
of American artists and reflective of the unique characteristics that make our American
artists and artisans the real value added choice when it comes to commissioning
original works of art for inclusion in our Catholic churches, the central
places of our worship and sacramental life.
My intention is to establish a non-profit foundation for the
Sacred Arts and Architecture that would permit artists and artisans the
opportunity to utilize the foundation as a place through which they are able to
display their works and negotiate with potential clients in the ecclesiastical
field regarding commissions for their works and also to provide a national
network of like-minded professionals that would make qualitative Sacred Art and
Architecture the central focus of their professional careers both as vocational
artists and faithful Catholic Christians.
Representational art in religious spaces, especially
Catholic Churches should reflect the highest qualities of materials and
resources that are available to vocational artists as they attempt to engage
with the Divine Sacred through the manifestations of their artistic qualities
and labors. Mass produced works that continuously copy and distribute images of
saints, martyrs and other imagery is not what the Fathers of the Second Vatican
Council envisioned when they called for the establishment of an institute of
sacred art and architecture within each episcopal conference. Their intention
and vision was to establish a Renaissance in the multifaceted expressions of
the vocational artist that would serve the needs of the Catholic Church with
qualitative artistic representations of sacred art that challenged both the
artist and the faithful community to transcend through artistic expression
towards a deeper and more intimate understanding of God as manifested in the
community of the Catholic faith.
Artists and artisans of all types that choose to work in the
sacred arts are called to a vocation to share their God given artistic talents
with the community of faith, the Church of which they are faithful members and
admirable contributors through their artistic talents. The time has come to
demand that our Catholic Churches include artistic works of the highest quality
of materials, executed by vocational artists that are motivated by their deeply
seated understanding of the Catholic faith that is expressed uniquely through
the, “artist’s eye,” which gives glory to God through various mediums, bronze,
marble, oil paintings, tapestries and architectural designs that are conducive to
evangelizing the Word through the activities of the Church.
The Foundation of the Sacred Arts and Architecture will
solicit artists throughout North America to participate in educational
activities to encourage parishes to embrace the sacred arts as part of the
proper celebration of the Catholic liturgy, which is indicative of the hopes
and aspirations of the People of God, which is not just the Catholic Church,
but all denominations that seek a relationship with the divine and deepen their
understanding of faith in the modern world.
In addition to providing a source of education for artists
to share their experiences, the Foundation will function as a referral source
for all of the artists that wish to belong to the Foundation, so their works
are more widely disseminated throughout the United States and will hopefully
provide a network that assists the vocational artist in attaining commissions
for their works through architectural firms, dioceses and archdioceses,
parishes and religious communities that are contemplating a commission of a new
work of art for their respective communities, or are determined to build a new
church, renovate an existing parish church or just simply want to add an
original piece of art to their Catholic faith community.
In the modern world of consumerism and mass production,
sacred art does not have a place. Sacred Art transcends the mundane realities
of the often-ugly aspects of the modern world, conjoined with the misnomer of
utilitarianism, and provides all of us an opportunity to peak into the world of
God, the sacred space to which we all aspire through our common Catholic faith
to someday be residents of God’s eternal community. Our Catholic Churches
deserve and should demand original works of art that celebrate our faith. They
should be reflective of the local community, be unique and most importantly
have a real sense of permanence, made from noble materials that will withstand
the test of time and are not predetermined for replacement within 20 years
because of the inferior qualities of their materials
It is a daunting task to initiate a Foundation of the Sacred
Arts and Architecture without assistance and counsel. In the past week, it has
been my pleasure to consult with many experts that are adept in the legal
ramifications of such a foundation, artists that are positive that such a
foundation will be successful in its purpose and longevity and finally have had
sound spiritual counsel that has firmly assured me that this is a vocational
step that is one I need to take.
In closing, I appeal to fellow Catholics and indeed all
Christians that are interested in the establishment of a Foundation of the
Sacred Arts and Architecture to reach out to me and let me know their thoughts
and opinions on the matter. Additionally, I offer an invitation to vocational
artists that specialize in the execution of the sacred arts and architecture to
contact me so I might share the vision of what the Foundation entails.
Finally, the process of preparing a 501 (c) 3 Corporation is
in process. With that said, it is also essential that individuals that are
willing to support such a Foundation touch base as well so we might properly
fund and establish an institution that is commensurate to the great task at
hand, namely the commissioning of sacred art that glorifies the faith, our
Church and most importantly our ever loving God, as revealed through the Word,
Jesus Christ.
