Comments on: Churches need to learn to trust their artists

By: pcNielsen

pcNielsen — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:14:23 +0000

Thanks for the props Michael!

By: Sarah Irani

Sarah Irani — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:10:20 +0000

Felt banners make me shudder. I am lucky enough to have worked with the arts committee at Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac, MD. In 2001, they hired me (in colaboration with another sculptor) to do the Stations of the Cross. We worked out ideas in clay or charcoal and presented the ideas to the committee. There was some back and forth, but they really trusted us. Then, two years later they hired me to make Mary and Joseph. Those were my perameters! They loved my initial iteration of Mary, but Joseph needed some work. They really let me work through it, though. Fantastic people to work with.

Another church basically wants to design a sculpture and have me execute it. No thanks.

By: Michael Carter

Michael Carter — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:22:33 +0000

I appreciate your site! Re: the arts-the church has alot of ground to reclaim. Sites like yours are important. Thank you.

By: Tim J.

Tim J. — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:55:49 +0000

“Sanitized” is a good descriptor. I had a similar experience with a pastor (priest) recently. I met with him to see about developing – long term – some fairly major projects, which I would do with no compensation as a gift to my parish (he is familiar with my work).

He simply didn’t know what to do with me. Within a couple of minutes he weakly allowed for the possibility of maybe doing some banners. You know, those felt things. I felt like saying, “I’m sure some of the high school kids would enjoy doing some banners for Easter. Just call me if you need a painter”.

It’s true that, times being what they are, art is not high on the list of priorities for most churches, but I was offering to do everything but pay for materials – which would not have been very much at all.

Which comes back to what I think is the real source of the hesitation – the idea that no matter what sort of art is presented, SOMEBODY won’t like it and will complain, so better just to stick with the bare, inoffensive walls and maybe hang some banners every few weeks.