About Us  [ Our Executive   Our History   Our Prayer   Aims  Our Standards ]

A Note From the President

Epiphany Sacred Arts Guild is a society of artists and associates promoting the practice and appreciation of sacred arts in conformity with the magisterium of the Catholic Church.  The aims of the guild touch upon the spiritual, educational, promotional and practical aspects of sacred art.

We meet on the second Saturday of every month from September to May at St. Jude’s Parish, 3078 Renfrew Street, Vancouver, BC, V5M 3K6.  Meetings feature an examination of literature on sacred art in the Catholic tradition and guest speakers on various aspects of the subject.  This year we will be looking at Monasteries and Monastery Buildings, Church Restoration, Crucifixes, St. Joseph, Beauty in the Liturgy and a pictorial History of the Rosary. Meetings finish with a  ‘show and tell session’ where members share their current works.  This is a wonderful way to network with Catholic artists who are frequently working in isolation. 

We are successfully increasing our membership with artists and associates who are seeking to give glory to God through their work. It is our belief that our art must be fed through prayer, contemplation and a full sacramental life.  It would be a great honour if you could join us at our monthly meetings or even become a member. Our membership fees are only $25.00 per year which runs from September until the following August. Or, if you prefer to support the Guild as a patron and friend, then contributions would be greatly appreciated. 

Please browse through our site. We hope that you will be pleased. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Frank C. Turner (President), by phone at 604-942-3171, or by email at: epiphany@epiphanysacredarts.org.  Thank you for your time and we ask that you keep us in your prayers for the Guild’s continued growth and success. 

Be cheerful and keep the faith,
Frank C Turner
President

For ‘…all who are passionately dedicated to the search for new “epiphanies” of beauty so that through their creative work as artists they may offer these as gifts to the Church.’

POPE JOHN PAUL II LETTER TO ARTIST

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Our Executive

Frank C Turner – President – Co-head of Promotions Committee
Steve Knight – Vice President and Head of Education Committee
Patricia Ballard – Secretary-Treasurer and Head of Spiritual Committee
John Suter – Head of Practical Committee
Mary Catherine Breslin – Co-head of Promotions Committee
Chris Kielsinski – Founding member and Member at Large
Gillian Morrison – Member at Large

  
 
 

Our History - History of Epiphany Sacred Arts Guild

In the late 1990’s Chris Kielsinski, Mikal Janek, Tom Walker and Frank C Turner began discussing the establishment of a Sacred Arts Guild in the Vancouver area.  Inspired by the Holy Father’s “Letter to Artists” and encouraged by Monsignor D. W. Neumann and Fr. Charles Ryan, we assembled a band of Catholic artists, and supporters for a meeting held at Westminster Abbey, Mission, BC, in November 2002.  There the constitution and aims of the Guild were discussed and settled.  Over the next few months we held a few more meetings.  In September 2003 the Guild began holding monthly meetings at various churches around the Archdiocese of Vancouver, where we hosted talks on topics of restoration, church architecture and iconography.

At the Feast of the Epiphany 2004, Archbishop Adam Exner appointed Fr. Lawrence Donnelly as Chaplain to the guild and we held our first showing of sacred art at St. Augustine’s parish in Vancouver.  To follow this up we held two small exhibits that year, expanding our educational and promotional aims. Each year we now visit three or four parishes with ‘Epiphany Showcases’, geared to raise the profile of the rich tradition of sacred art in the Catholic Church.

In September, 2004, the Guild was incorporated as a Society with the BC Ministry of Corporations. Since that time we have been meeting regularly at St. Jude’s Parish.

October of 2006 brought our first juried exhibit of sacred art entitled ‘The beauty of Holiness and the holiness of Beauty’.  The hospitality room of St. Jude’s was transformed into a gallery for about thirty works, including vestments, paintings, jewelry, icons and altar furnishings.  The event was very well attended with over two hundred visitors over two days.  We following this up biennially. Our Second Juried  Exhibit ‘Beauty at the Service of the Gospel’ was held in October of 2008.  Check the News section for articles from the BC Catholic. Watch this site for the details of our next to be held in 2010.  Please check the Exhibit tab on the left to read the Call for Submissions document.

And so we continue to work for the greater appreciation of the role of beauty in the liturgy and in the daily lives of people of God.  Recently we have been invited to several schools to consult on improving the visual presentation of the faith in our Catholic schools.  This has been a very exciting new challenge.  Please keep our efforts in your prayers.

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Our Prayer

O Most Holy Trinity, source of all Beauty, Goodness and Truth look with favour upon the Epiphany Sacred Arts Guild.

Bless our endeavors so that through our talents and common purpose we might reflect Your Beauty, Your Goodness, Your Truth and draw souls closer to You.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Immaculate Heart of Mary intercede for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel pray for us.
Saint Luke pray for us.Saint Catherine of Bologna pray for us.
Blessed Fra Angelico pray for us.
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Our Aims


 

SPIRITUAL AIMS

+ To reveal the depth and beauty of Christian truth through Catholic sacred art

+ To assist pastors and families in forming the faithful in the appreciation of the role of beauty

+ To organize spiritual retreats for artists, pastors and /or associates

+ To work under the spiritual direction of a chaplain

+ To encourage members to abide by the norms and decisions of ecclesial authority regarding sacred arts

EDUCATIONAL AIMS

+ To educate artists regarding the traditions and norms of Catholic sacred art

+ To educate artists on current and traditional methods, materials and techniques

+ To foster apprenticeship programs and mentoring

+ To cooperate with schools, colleges and seminaries regarding education on the value and nature of Catholic sacred art

+ To organize occasional workshops, classes and talks for members, parishes and schools

PRACTICAL AIMS

+ To establish a directory of artists, architects, conservators and artisans involved in the sacred arts

+ To catalogue the works of member artists

+ To establish shared studio space available to members

+ To provide support for members in their professional development through such means as a mentor list

+ To foster communication among members

+ To encourage collaboration among artist members

+ To provide referrals and information resource exchange among members

PROMOTIONAL AIMS

+ To pursue those activities, which promote the professional and fraternal benefit of the members of the society and its members

+ To cooperate with the Archdiocesan Sacred Arts Commission

+ To cooperate with other organizations that promote Catholic sacred art

+ To provide referrals, information and resource exchange among members

+ To organize exhibits and sales for works that exemplify Catholic sacred arts

+ To establish a gallery/museum for the exhibition and preservation of works of sacred art from the Catholic tradition

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Ecclesial Standards

In his address to the Guild in June 2003, Monsignor D. W. Neumann, heavily cited the book Church Building and Furnishing: The Church’s Way by J. B.  O’Connell.  In dealing with the “laws of Sacred Art”, O’Connell makes clear that these laws do not constitute a set of regulations but rather norms to which artists who work for the Church, and who create sacred art, must conform.  These “laws”, which the jurors will use in evaluation, are summarized below.

Sacred art must be:

·         Orthodox, in complete conformity with dogmatic truth, the teaching of the church, for sacred art is pictorial, apologetic, teaches, interprets, and should aid the Catholic formation of worshippers.

·         In conformity with the moral law, for sacred art must edify and raise the spirit rather than numb the mind and shock the soul.

·         Marked by a tone of holiness and reverence, for sacred art is art used for a sacred purpose and so must avoid those elements foreign to that purpose.

·         Consistent with liturgical laws.  As sacred art is part of external worship, and liturgical art is part of the Sacred Liturgy, what the artist makes for the church-from the building itself down to the smallest requisite of worship-must be fully adapted to its purpose and in entire accordance with liturgical law.

·         Sacred art is subsidiary and subject to ecclesiastical control. When art enters the church, it must accept control other than that of mere aesthetics, because it is no longer a question of beauty alone or of personal experience, but of a religious message which must be authentic. “On condition that these modern arts, architecture, sculpture, painting, steer a middle course between an excessive naturalism on the one hand and an exaggerated symbolism on the other, and take into account more the needs of the Christian community than the personal taste and judgment of the artist, they should be allowed full scope if with due reverence and honour, they put themselves at the service of our churches and sacred rites” writes Pope Pius XII in Mediator Dei. 

Social in character, for sacred art is art at the service of prayer and liturgical art is at the service of the community at prayer.  Sacred art must work to make revelation intelligible to the faithful.  Private revelation, and art that speaks in secret codes has no place in the church and is of limited value to anyone but the artist who has produced it.

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Technical Standards

In dealing with the technical aspects of the works to be considered the jurors will use the following guidelines. 

Works will be judged on:

Maturity in concept, composition and design

Excellence of craftsmanship

Quality of materials

Balance between fidelity to tradition and originality

Presentation

Acceptable Media: oil, tempera, acrylic, wax, drawing, pastel, watercolour, fine art prints, architectural renderings and models, photography, sculpture, textile arts, glass, pottery, eggs, calligraphy, woodwork, and metal work.  All prints must be marked.

Unacceptable media: objects made from kits, molds, prefabricated materials, perishables, food products or fragrances.  

 


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