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RELIGOUS ART

As I try to chronicle the journey of my soul, I have created freehand computer graphics depicting the Seven Sacraments, the Stations of the Cross, images of Jesus and a few other works that have meaning to the road I travel...

THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS

BAPTISM: The sky and landscape are grey and barren, offering no comfort to a soul estranged from God. The flowing, raging watersimply danger, death; but beyond all this lies a land of living promise, where even lilies grow as testament to Christ's Resurrection. Upon the rock that is the Church, there is a brilliantwhite robe, the new garment given to those who emerge from the waters of Baptism. Emblazoned upon the front of the robe is the name of Christ, to whom all baptized belong. White light shines down from Heaven upon the robe. God touches the fabric of the lives of those who are called. Three separate beams of the same light are reminder of the triune being of God.

MARRIAGE: The jugs of water from the wedding feast at Canna stand on a stone floor. As the water is poured into the glass, it becomes fine wine. The image of a man and woman entwined in an embrace are within the flowing liquid. As the blessed waters flow through the lives of the married couple, their lives are transformed miraculously into something beautiful and precious, something more than the sum of both their beings. There is a flash of light from a source not identified. It refracts into two circular, unending bands of colored light, very much like wedding bands. The Light is visible in the life of the marriage. The source of Light is beyond our view, where the two shall be as one.

ORDINATION: Upon the rock that is the Church, there rest the symbols of Holy Orders. At the pinnacle of the Rock, imbedded into the stone itself, is the Mitre of the Pope, the leader of the Church. Being one with the rock signifies the unbreakable bond between Christ and His Church. A Bishop's staff rests beside the rock. The Shepherd is given the tsk of watching over the flock. The stole of the priest and deacon lies draped over the Rock. The Rock is their resting place, their strength. Colors of the Liturgical Year are banded behind the image, with blue below the rock, further suggesting a rock that stands firm against flood and tempest.
RECONCILLIATION:The familiar image of sheep is a peaceful one, all are in unison and safety. The one stray sheep finds itself far from the safety of the fold, caught in the thorns and brambles ofit's own design. It is beyond the strength of the lost lamb to free itself, and so it cries out to the shepherd in contrition and longing. With tender, loving hands, the shepherd reaches deep into the tangles and snares that bind, even though it brings pain and
suffering to him. Our pain becomes our shepherd's pain. It is only in calling out that the lost lamb can be reconcilled with the shepherd and the flock.


CONFIRMATION:The hands of the bishop are laid upon the candidate in prayer. Behind them are the open doors of the Church. With the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are strengthened to go forward into the world with the Good News. In another way,
the doors of the Church remain always open to us. No matter how far we wander, we confirm our belonging every time we enter those doors, wherever they may be around the world. In the Sacrament, the doors of every church are opened to us, to enter the sanctuary of safety, to leave as witnesses to Christ. The Light streams in through the open door. When the doors of our spirit are fully open, the Light from Light enters our body, mind and soul. Above the head of the girl is a barely seen image of a dove, with tongues of fire within it. The Spirit of God is always present, but not always clearly seen. it is seen "...dimly, as through a mirror...'


ANNOINTING: the fabric of our life is woven with the threads of many colors, the colors of anticipation, celebration, penance, suffering, the joy of ordinary
times, indeed, the colors of the Liturgical Year are our very own life. When the fabric is torn, frayed and fearful dges facing empty and unknown spaces, the healing sacred oil is poured onto the wounded fabric, the person. The healing that takes place flows deep into the soul of the person, healing both spiritually and physically. The fabric is an image of the person; spirit, soul and body. The oil is an image of the blessed light that can be percieved by our physical senses, but saturates deep into the spiritual person.


EUCHARIST: The cross is laid down, it's use is finished. A single nail is stark reminder of it's original purpose. Upon the wood, there is draped a white cloth, symbol of Christ's resurrection. It acts as a tablecloth, the folds in the cloth are a reference to Salvador Dali's painting, "The Sacrament of the Last Supper." The folded cloth is much like us, imperfect, ordinary, folded and flawed, but welcome at the table. The glass of wine and broken bread are the Body and Blood of Jesus, the same Jesus who hung upon this cross. The miracle in the Eucharist is that His true presence appears to us as mere bread and wine.




The Seven Sacrament Series is available to individuals, churches and other organizations as 8"x10" signed and numbered Giclee' prints. This special series is printed on artist canvas, and matted in white or black. Each image is 25.00 for matt print, or 30.00 in canvas. For the entire Series, in 8"x10" canvas, all 7 works are 160.00.

The Sacrament Series is also available as 16"x20" signed and numbered prints, for 55.00 each, or the entire set for 300.00.

PHOENIX Fire spins freely through the darkness. The flame and darkness are
PHOENIX
Fire spins freely through the darkness. The flame and darkness are intertwined and entangled in chaos. From this chaos there emerges a human face, reflecting the light of the fire, partially obscured by darkness. Light and dark are the most elemental of contrasts. They exist deep within our being. The face reveals the contradiction of living a dual life of light and shadow. It is the challenge of our lives to overcome the darkness and become our fullest selves. Although the strands of fire appear random, they are part of a larger plan, a plan yet unknown to the emerging person. The present moment makes little sense when observed in the absence of a larger human history. The purifying flames have their own order. The lone struggle of each individual allows the enduring face of new life to emerge. Like finest gold, in the fire, the human spirit is tested and purified, melted and molded into the person we are meant to be. Even as the old is lost and mourned, stark contrasts ignite anew. Like the mythical Phoenix, from the ashes of the past there arises a new and stronger life. In the darkest moments of human life there is light, a fire that rages and spins with little respect for the things of the world. It is a fire that ignites the spirit, casting out all that is not light. Like the Phoenix, new life will rise victorious.