This past weekend I got to see some Ignatian art from our friend Holly Schapker. She spent the past few years working on some paintings that reflect the mission of St Ignatius Loyola - and they are spectacular!
Holly showed the paintings at Xavier University here in Cincinnati - you can read more about them here, watch a video interview of her here, and read an article about her here (which also has some good-sized photos of some of the paintings). The exhibit is titled 'Adsum' which is Latin for 'Here I am' in a literal sense, and in a fuller meaning is 'being in a state of mind where the person is completely available and willing to serve God'. Adsum sounds like something good for us all to aspire to.
It was great talking with Holly and learning more about her inspiration for the paintings. She took a pilgrimage to some of the actual places we hear about in A Pilgrim's Journey - the autobiography of Ignatius. Being in the actual places where some of the major events took place made a big impact. Hopefully some day I can do the same. I'm not a painter, but maybe I could write a bit about it.
She said she wants the exhibit to stay together, and that it might travel to St Louis University next. There is a lot of new building going on at Xavier, and I'm sure there will be plenty of great spaces for her work to find a permanent home there.
Some might call me crazy but me, myself and I keep telling my soul who is the child of God The Father, my spirit who is the child of The Holy Spirit and all my body cells who are owners of my flesh, bones and blood that someday we'll be able to walk in the footsteps of any saint during Eternity, that we so choose, if that's our will to do so cause we're all made in The Image of God. Art we not? During my first century while in spiritual pre-kinder garden with God's Angels, I think I'll just take "IT" easy and walk in a few of my earthly brothers and sisters foot steps first and we know that Jesus will be carrying me as HE's done so often.
Your friend Holly is very lucky to have known you and I'm sure that you'll be able to write great revues for her again and all the saints, after all we gods have plenty of time to practice in reality. Don't you think?
I'll close by saying that many of my brain cells are happy to hear from you so soon Steve. :)
Posted by: Victor | July 20, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Really Nice!! Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
Posted by: Mark Mossa, S.J. | July 23, 2010 at 06:41 AM
Holly's work is great; I think art of that quality will make lasting impressions for generations.
Posted by: Steve Bogner | July 23, 2010 at 08:04 AM