Working Iconographers
This exhibit will be on display until July 2, 2019.
Mother of God Kardiotissa,
Marek Czarnecki
The Exhibit
The word icon has come to mean many things. It can mean a brand of soda or car or celebrity. In a few rare places, it still retains its original meaning: a Christian image, painted according to centuries of tradition.
For 20 years, a dedicated group of local Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant lay people have been studying the traditional art of icon painting (or more properly, icon writing). Not all are artists. Most make icons as a private act of personal piety, naturally connecting their creativity and spirituality. Some have become experienced enough to serve their community and parish, making icons for homes and public spaces. All somehow serve as teachers in their local circles.
We are all part of a larger contemporary, global and ecumenical phenomenon of the rediscovery of the icon. We bow with gratitude to the Eastern Orthodox churches, who faithfully nurtured and guarded this great treasure. Catholics can be grateful for the enlightened reforms of the Second Vatican Council, where Blessed Pope John XXIII substituted the term "separated sister churches" for the severity of "schismatic". Later, his successor, Pope Paul VI formally rescinded the anathema which split us apart in 1054 AD. In his “Letter to Artists”, St John Paul II encouraged all artists to look to the icon. We are hopeful we can meet on the common ground of the icon, when so many other things continue to divide us. Still, we have much work to do, stitching back together the torn body of Christ.
The root of our school is Ksenia Pokrovskaya (1942-2013), a master iconographer from Moscow who lived and taught from her home in Boston MA. Mindful of her uncompromising high standards, we call our exhibit “Working Iconographers”. The most we hope for is to be good place keepers, working in the chain of an awesome tradition larger than ourselves. The exhibiting iconographers are Laurie Bell (Ashford CT), Beverly Berger (Hartford CT), Jody Corso (East Haven CT), Robert Cyr (Meriden CT), Marek Czarnecki (Meriden CT), Chantal Heinegg (Larchmont NY), Ofelia Manero (Ridgefield, CT), Julie Mullen (Vernon CT), Virginia Pudlo (Glastonbury CT), and Barbara Vartenigian (West Hartford CT).
The word icon has come to mean many things. It can mean a brand of soda or car or celebrity. In a few rare places, it still retains its original meaning: a Christian image, painted according to centuries of tradition.
For 20 years, a dedicated group of local Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant lay people have been studying the traditional art of icon painting (or more properly, icon writing). Not all are artists. Most make icons as a private act of personal piety, naturally connecting their creativity and spirituality. Some have become experienced enough to serve their community and parish, making icons for homes and public spaces. All somehow serve as teachers in their local circles.
We are all part of a larger contemporary, global and ecumenical phenomenon of the rediscovery of the icon. We bow with gratitude to the Eastern Orthodox churches, who faithfully nurtured and guarded this great treasure. Catholics can be grateful for the enlightened reforms of the Second Vatican Council, where Blessed Pope John XXIII substituted the term "separated sister churches" for the severity of "schismatic". Later, his successor, Pope Paul VI formally rescinded the anathema which split us apart in 1054 AD. In his “Letter to Artists”, St John Paul II encouraged all artists to look to the icon. We are hopeful we can meet on the common ground of the icon, when so many other things continue to divide us. Still, we have much work to do, stitching back together the torn body of Christ.
The root of our school is Ksenia Pokrovskaya (1942-2013), a master iconographer from Moscow who lived and taught from her home in Boston MA. Mindful of her uncompromising high standards, we call our exhibit “Working Iconographers”. The most we hope for is to be good place keepers, working in the chain of an awesome tradition larger than ourselves. The exhibiting iconographers are Laurie Bell (Ashford CT), Beverly Berger (Hartford CT), Jody Corso (East Haven CT), Robert Cyr (Meriden CT), Marek Czarnecki (Meriden CT), Chantal Heinegg (Larchmont NY), Ofelia Manero (Ridgefield, CT), Julie Mullen (Vernon CT), Virginia Pudlo (Glastonbury CT), and Barbara Vartenigian (West Hartford CT).
History of our spaceThe Monastery Gallery of Art is located on the historic grounds of Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center. The MGA occupies a space on the B floor adjacent to the Public Chapel and that was once used as a dining room by the Passionist Community. |
The Monastery Gallery of ART303 Tunxis rd.
West Hartford, CT 06107 860.760.9766 |