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Common love for sacred art draws 200 to launch of new art apostolate
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Above: Paintings of St. Joseph with the Christ Child and Our Lady of Czestochowa were among the pieces exhibited by Jacob Zumo, one of six “core artists” affiliated with the new St. Louis IX Art Society. (Photos by Beth Donze, Clarion Herald)
By BETH DONZE
Clarion HeraldNearly 200 sacred art lovers gathered inside Notre Dame Seminary’s Schulte Hall Nov. 14 for the inaugural “Catholic Art Showcase,” a gallery-style exhibit presented by The St. Louis IX Art Society, the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ newly formed art apostolate dedicated to bringing together the makers and appreciators of Catholic art.
The showcase featured original works by the society’s six core artists, all of whom live and work in Southeast Louisiana: Blair Barlow, Andrew Coleman, Norman Faucheux, Abigail Reller, Jaclyn Warren and Jacob Zumo. Two priests also exhibited their pieces at the Nov. 14 showcase: Father Dan Darmanin, parochial vicar of St. Margaret Mary Church in Slidell; and Dominican Father Philip Neri Powell, Notre Dame Seminary’s director of homiletics.
Dr. Jordan Haddad, director of the seminary’s Lay Ministry Program and a professor of dogmatic theology, co-founded the apostolate with Reller, an artist based in Metairie, earlier this year with the consent of Archbishop Gregory Aymond.Well-done Catholic art evangelizes us, assists our worship and unites people across faiths through its unique ability to nourish our souls, point us toward the good and make the intangible a bit more tangible, Haddad said.
“Art, in all of its forms, ought to be a gateway to the beautiful,” said Haddad, thanking the Catholic artists in attendance for giving voice to “the transcendent desire of the human spirit” and shape to the sublime beauty of God’s Creation – subjects that are sometimes treated cynically or ignored by secular artists.“What we as a people believe inwardly, but are afraid or unable to say out loud, the artist expresses in a deeply honest and penetrating way,” Haddad said. “As Catholics, we need talented, faithful and devoted artists in our parishes and dioceses because they’re capable of drawing the rest of us more deeply into the mystery of God.”
Catholic art, added Haddad, “engages our senses so as to uplift our souls to God, bringing us into a deeper encounter with him and his redemptive plan, so that we can then, in turn, better know, love and serve him.”
Sacred art transforms “our church buildings into temples (and) our houses into domestic churches and Catholic sanctuaries,” he noted.
Fund to help under-resourced Catholic entities to acquire sacred art
Acknowledging that professionally executed art can be costly, Haddad announced the launching of a new society initiative – the St. Louis IX Art Fund, which will commission society-affiliated artists to create art for under-resourced Catholic parishes, schools and ministries throughout Southeast Louisiana, at no cost to the recipients. From Nov. 15-30, those interested in supporting this effort can make an online donation to the St. Louis IX Art Society on the society’s iGiveCatholic page.
Plans for a Catholic art market are also in the works for 2022.The showcase was co-sponsored by Notre Dame Seminary.
For more information, visit the Facebook page of The St. Louis IX Art Society or email [email protected]. Additional photos of the Nov. 14 showcase are on the Clarion Herald's Facebook page.
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