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Sacred art in Rockport
Exhibit of icons to be showcased at Wenniger
An exhibit of sacred art — with works by the Rev. Richard G. Cannuli, Susan Kelly vonMedicus and Mary Ellen Bilisnansky-McMorrow — will be featured in the new show, "Angels, Creatures of Light," at the Wenniger Gallery in Rockport.
"This is an exhibit of icons for the Christmas and Epiphany seasons," said Mary Ann Wenniger. "These three colleagues have come together to make artwork for the Advent season, the darkest days of the year, when we look for the quiet light of angels to show the way as we approach Christmastide and the coming of a new year."
The show opens next Wednesday, Nov. 26, and runs through Jan. 31.
"All the works have a peaceful countenance, an invitation to contemplation and a reminder of the closeness of divine light," said Wenniger.
The exhibit includes hand-painted images of angels by vonMedicus, an icon painter. VonMedicus's icons are traditional works made in the medieval manner with gold leaf and egg tempera on wood panels. The images created include those of Archangels Michael, Selaphiel and the Angel of Blessed Silence.
VonMedicus is from the Philadelphia area and a niece of the late Princess Grace of Monaco. Her works are in churches and private collections around the world, including at the chapel of St. John the Baptist at the palace in Monaco.
She studied art at\ the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, a traditional fine arts school, and The Prosopon School of Iconology.
"I have always had an interest in the arts and I have a faith life," vonMedicus said. "I heard of an opportunity to attend a workshop in the painting of icons with a teacher from Russia. I found a wonderful combination of both interests and I devoted myself to this technique."
The ancient technique is not taught in art schools, vonMedicus said, who noted some of its unique aspects.
"It can't be achieved using acrylics and modern materials. The materials are not commercially prepared," she said. "You can see the quality of the minerals visually present. Another benefit of working in this tradition is that I learn a lot along the way about the bigger ideas in life. I was lucky to have found this work."
Although this is a very old art form with theological roots, she finds similarities to some of the most modern artwork.
"Both are highly symbolic and it's not so much about the object itself, but the idea it represents symbolically. It's more intellectual than just visual," vonMedicus said.
But the two differ in that, with iconology, the artwork is not signed.
"The artist isn't important, it's the subject matter. It's not about the artist, which is vastly different from the Western discipline where it's all about the artist," she said.
Father Cannuli, a professor at Villanova University outside Philadelphia, has a long career as an artist and painter of sacred art in the Italian and Russian traditions. He also is known for his achievement as a custom vestment maker, receiving commissions from bishops and clergy. His designs for stained-glass windows are seen internationally, according to a press release.
Bilisnansky-McMorrow, who was studying under Cannuli's tutelage, also works in the tradition of the sacred art of the Southwest, making retablos and beaded banners. She divides her time between the art centers of Chadds Ford, Pa., and Santa Fe, N.M.
She summed up her feelings about sacred art in a statement she wrote:
"In a world gone mad, there is a need to bring as much spirituality as possible into all our lives. Having these images in your home is a marvelous beginning to this process of bringing peace to our planet."
The Wenniger Gallery is located at 19 Mount Pleasant St. in downtown Rockport. The gallery has regular weekend hours until Christmas from noon to 6 p.m., or by chance.
For an appointment, call owners Mary Ann and Mace Wenniger at 978-546-8116 or visit www.wennigergallery.com.
Gail McCarthy can be reached at gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com
- Lifestyle
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Be prepared: What to keep on hand
Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
Continued ...
With the active hurricane season and Earl to bring heavy rain tonight, we are reminded once again of the veracity of his words. But, it isn't only hurricanes that threaten us. Things like bridge fires can also occur, and did, this past week. An overturned truck can block traffic and people can be stuck in an area with no egress, which also happened here in Gloucester recently. On the more serious side, there can be everything from earthquakes to terrorist attacks, and, while no one is suggesting that we panic about those possibilities, it does make sense to take at least some elementary precautions. -
Chores don't need to leave you sore
As the summer winds down, home owners across the region will be faced with a new set of yard chores — and different chores mean new ways to get injured.
Continued ...
Because of Hurricane Earl's path, some of us may be stepping up the timetable for these chores. So if you have a lot to do and if you want to stay healthy, read below to find out how you can avoid or modify the most common ways people will be injured this fall. -
Can I eat those geranium leaves?
Q: Is there a book or website that teaches one which growing things can be eaten and which can't? Specifically, I have some wonderful lemon geraniums — no flowers, just leaves. Every time I water them or the breeze moves them, the most wonderful smell hits me. I want to know whether I could use them to flavor something in cooking, or add them to my tea. I couldn't find this on the Internet.
Continued ... - Susan Britt: The destructive power of negative thinking
- HEALTH CALENDAR
- French filmmaker Corneau dies at 67
- Wednesday, September 1, 2010
- Tunes on the Town: Sept. 2 to 8
- Gloucester man's furniture touring New Hampshire
- Schooners, music, fireworks and more this Labor Day weekend
- Irish 'Trad'-ition at Gloucester Stage
- Blues giant to close out free Harbor Loop series Thursday night
- Rockport's own 'Voodoo Child': Guitarist, inspired at 4 by Hendrix, to open Taylor show
- Tuesday, August 31, 2010
- Is there anything more Gloucester than Trupiano's sausage?
- Coming next week
- Grilled Mediterranean Pizza
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Be prepared: What to keep on hand
