Here are Profiles from some of our Member Artists and Friends...
Abbot Barnabas Senecal, O.S.B. -- www.kansasmonks.org/
Abbot Barnabas Senecal, O.S.B., is the Abbot Emeritus at St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, Kansas. He is affectionately known as the “Singing Abbot” for his rich baritone voice, which is lifted often in song at Abbey liturgies and at the many Confirmation Masses he celebrates at the request of Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann throughout the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
With a warm personality to match his voice, Abbot Barnabas carries Benedictine hospitality wherever he journeys. On these journeys Abbot Barnabas takes photographs. He provides a photo and text for Celebration, an ecumenical worship magazine published in Kansas City, for eight monthly publications each year. Abbot Barnabas was assisted by Judith Valente, a writer and narrator for PBS and NPR in Chicago, and by CRAA member Elizabeth Zeller, an artist in Independence, Missouri, in preparing a gallery exhibit of forty of his photographic enlargements with poetry. PBS taped an interview and a journey through the exhibit, shown on the September 10 edition of its Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. This exhibit opened in August 2010 in the St. Benedict's Abbey Art Gallery a second exhibit in 2012. Here is an article in response to Abbot Barnabas' PBS interview.
With a warm personality to match his voice, Abbot Barnabas carries Benedictine hospitality wherever he journeys. On these journeys Abbot Barnabas takes photographs. He provides a photo and text for Celebration, an ecumenical worship magazine published in Kansas City, for eight monthly publications each year. Abbot Barnabas was assisted by Judith Valente, a writer and narrator for PBS and NPR in Chicago, and by CRAA member Elizabeth Zeller, an artist in Independence, Missouri, in preparing a gallery exhibit of forty of his photographic enlargements with poetry. PBS taped an interview and a journey through the exhibit, shown on the September 10 edition of its Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. This exhibit opened in August 2010 in the St. Benedict's Abbey Art Gallery a second exhibit in 2012. Here is an article in response to Abbot Barnabas' PBS interview.
Jude Billings
"I'm blessed, Faith, Family, Friends and Nature!"
Jude started drawing at five, 'no television' so plenty of time. She had no formal training but loved coloring, painting and finding that a simple pencil could make magic on paper. As a young mother, her outlet was art classes...from there it was 'full steam ahead'.
She now teaches at art shops and schools, where she had previously studied, and has shown and sold her art at a plethora of art shows and other venues.
Jude started drawing at five, 'no television' so plenty of time. She had no formal training but loved coloring, painting and finding that a simple pencil could make magic on paper. As a young mother, her outlet was art classes...from there it was 'full steam ahead'.
She now teaches at art shops and schools, where she had previously studied, and has shown and sold her art at a plethora of art shows and other venues.
Little Brother Christophe, Community of the Lamb -- http://www.communautedelagneau.org/en/la-communaute-de-l-agneau/
Fr. Christoph is a Little Brother of the Community of the Lamb in Kansas City. He is the Spiritual Advisor of the CRAA and is currently designing and building the monastery for the Community of the Lamb.
Lisa Cummings
Lisa Cummings is a founding member of CRAA and an accomplished painter of icons.
Fr. Daniel McCarthy, OSB, SLD -- http://architectureforliturgy.org
Fr Daniel is a monk of St Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, Kansas. In 2008 he earned a Doctorate in Sacred Liturgy (SLD) studying church architecture at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy at Sant’Anselmo, Rome. His doctoral thesis traces the historical development of the presidential chair (the chair the priest sits in for Mass). While pursuing these studies, Fr Daniel studied with Prof em. Crispino Valenziano.
Fr Daniel is an instructor at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, at Sant’Anselmo, Rome where he also participates in the Master’s degree program on Architecture and Arts for Liturgy. He is a guest professor at the Catholic University Leuven, in Belgium, where he serves on the editorial board of Questions Liturgiques / Studies in Liturgy. He is co-founder and instructor of liturgy and the Latin language at the Liturgy Institute London, at Ealing Abbey. Fr Daniel has published with Fr James Leachman a volume on ritual, art and architecture called Come Into the Light. Fr Daniel is currently amplifying his doctoral research and preparing it for publication in English. He is also preparing the presentations given in these two liturgy weeks Architecture for Liturgy 1 and 2 for publication.
Fr Daniel also serves as an advisor to Vox clara, a working committee of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He publishes with Fr Reginald Foster a series on teaching the Latin language. The first volume is Ossa Latinitatis Sola: The Mere Bones of Latin
Fr Daniel is an instructor at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, at Sant’Anselmo, Rome where he also participates in the Master’s degree program on Architecture and Arts for Liturgy. He is a guest professor at the Catholic University Leuven, in Belgium, where he serves on the editorial board of Questions Liturgiques / Studies in Liturgy. He is co-founder and instructor of liturgy and the Latin language at the Liturgy Institute London, at Ealing Abbey. Fr Daniel has published with Fr James Leachman a volume on ritual, art and architecture called Come Into the Light. Fr Daniel is currently amplifying his doctoral research and preparing it for publication in English. He is also preparing the presentations given in these two liturgy weeks Architecture for Liturgy 1 and 2 for publication.
Fr Daniel also serves as an advisor to Vox clara, a working committee of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He publishes with Fr Reginald Foster a series on teaching the Latin language. The first volume is Ossa Latinitatis Sola: The Mere Bones of Latin
Sr. Elizabeth Tran -- https://etran3.wordpress.com
Sister Elizabeth Tran is a Novice at the Hermitage of Nazareth at Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri.
Fr. Gerard Alba -- www.htlenexa.org/people/father-gerard-alba
Fr. Gerard is an artist and Associate Pastor of Holy Trinity parish in Lenexa, KS. "I was born and raised in beautiful Iloilo City, Philippines
until I was just about eleven years old, when we moved to the United States. The Catholic culture and the faith of my family has really shaped who I am, and also all the passionate people whom I have been blessed to accompany me as I encounter the face of Christ in the truth, beauty, and goodness in God's creation, in nature and in all peoples, places, and cultures."
until I was just about eleven years old, when we moved to the United States. The Catholic culture and the faith of my family has really shaped who I am, and also all the passionate people whom I have been blessed to accompany me as I encounter the face of Christ in the truth, beauty, and goodness in God's creation, in nature and in all peoples, places, and cultures."
Sunhee Joo -- www.sunheejoo.com
Sunhee Joo is an educator and artist who has lived in Los Angeles since 1970. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from UCLA and a Master of Art degree in education from Pepperdine University. In 1997, she initiated the Korean Catholic Artists Association in Los Angeles. She served as its president in 2011 and 2012. She professed in 2004 and currently belongs to the Secular Franciscan Order, St. Maximillian Kolbe Fraternity, in Torrance, CA.
In the past three years, she has changed her medium from “acrylic on canvas” to “digital work on paper.” She wants to create poetical images using computer technology. She challenges herself to unite these seemingly contradictory elements.Nature and people are her favorite subjects. Biblical stories inspire her to create artwork. She tries to depict familiar religious themes with a contemporary sensibility, so that people can approach her work easily. Her artwork has been exhibited in New York City, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and in Seoul, Korea. Her dream is to unite the Christian artists of the world and to instill beauty and faith into the people of the world.
In the past three years, she has changed her medium from “acrylic on canvas” to “digital work on paper.” She wants to create poetical images using computer technology. She challenges herself to unite these seemingly contradictory elements.Nature and people are her favorite subjects. Biblical stories inspire her to create artwork. She tries to depict familiar religious themes with a contemporary sensibility, so that people can approach her work easily. Her artwork has been exhibited in New York City, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and in Seoul, Korea. Her dream is to unite the Christian artists of the world and to instill beauty and faith into the people of the world.
Brother Karel Soukup, OSB
Brother Karel Soukup, OSB is a monk of St. Benedict's Abbey in Aitchison, KS., He is interested in all forms of sacred art, and is especially skilled in book binding, iconography, painting, and illumination.
Sr. Mary Margaret Bougois
Iconographer Sister Margaret is a Hermit of Nazareth, Assumption Abbey, in Ava, Missouri.
Fr. Peter Linhxuan Vu -- www.assumptionabbey.org/index.asp
Fr. Peter has published a book, THE PARADISE MAN according to Thomas Merton. Fr. Peter first came to the United States as a Dominican Friar refugee during the Vietnam War. He wrote his thesis for a Master's Degree in Theology at the Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. The subject of his thesis was a study of the theme of Paradise in Thomas Merton's writings. Fr. Peter's book is based on this thesis. After his priestly ordination Fr. Peter served as a member of parishes and campus ministries. Later he returned to Vietnam. There he felt called to a more contemplative form of life. He entered the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Divine Grace there. Most recently he was sent here to Assumption Abbey as one of the first founding group of their monks. This is another step forward in the renewal of relationship between the two branches of our Cistercian Family.
Wilhelm Peters -- www.peters-studios.com/index.php
For more than a thousand years the art of ‘glass painting’ has featured in artistic window decoration for both sacred and secular buildings. Glass painting means ‘painting on glass’ but also ‘painting with glass’. For the latter, instead of working with oil or water colours, coloured glass is used. Even the most expensive natural colours cannot surpass the incomparable lucidity and brilliance created by the sun flooding through glass windows.
Our main business is the implementation of new, extensive church window projects in the designs of renowned artists; but the restoration of historic windows also plays a significant role. Our new work is now being distributed throughout the world – to the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, to name but a few.
Our workshop has restored the Altenberg Cathedral and the Cathedrals of Sevilla and Girona. In the trade this work has been deemed extraordinary. Glass painting is pure fascination. Immerse yourself in the varied world of art, light, brilliant colours and the traditional and the modern by visiting his webpage.
Our main business is the implementation of new, extensive church window projects in the designs of renowned artists; but the restoration of historic windows also plays a significant role. Our new work is now being distributed throughout the world – to the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, to name but a few.
Our workshop has restored the Altenberg Cathedral and the Cathedrals of Sevilla and Girona. In the trade this work has been deemed extraordinary. Glass painting is pure fascination. Immerse yourself in the varied world of art, light, brilliant colours and the traditional and the modern by visiting his webpage.
Günther Schormair
Günther Schormair studied architecture in Munich, Germany. As architect he worked for the Catholic Church, the University and the City in Munich. After the war he restored the heavily damaged Baroque Church St. Elisabeth in Munich and rescued it from demolition.
In his retirement Günther dedicates his life to Christian Art. He designs churches with detailed interiors. Besides painting, Günther creates sculptures for parks to spread out the heavenly beauty. He is a member of the “International Academy for Sacred Art” and CRAA in the United States.
In his retirement Günther dedicates his life to Christian Art. He designs churches with detailed interiors. Besides painting, Günther creates sculptures for parks to spread out the heavenly beauty. He is a member of the “International Academy for Sacred Art” and CRAA in the United States.
Olga Shalamova and Philip Davydov -- www.sacredmurals.com
Sacred Murals Studio was founded in Saint Petersburg (Russia) by family couple of iconographers, Philip Davydov and Olga Shalamova in June 2001.
Works of Philip and Olga are best described by Irina Yazykova, - art critic, working with contemporary iconographers:
Philip and Olga are one of the most remarkable icon painters in St. Petersburg. Their panel and mural painting is professional and artistic; they have developed their original style, while upholding strict canon rules and deep tradition. In the modern Orthodox art these qualities often do not blend.
One can say that Philip and Olga typify a new generation in icon-painting in the sense that they relate to a new stage of its development. Generally, those who came to the icon-painting workshop in the 1980s - early 1990s remain under great pressure of tradition, which does not allow them to create freely. Indeed, they witnessed violation of sacred places and obliteration of the Orthodox tradition as church culture was neglected for decades. While restoring it, they venerated both sacred images and specific samples, trying to reproduce them as closely as possible to the original. Meanwhile, modern copies attain neither the depth of spirituality, nor the artistic quality of the ancient monuments. The period of replicas has been exhausted; nevertheless some iconographers persist in cloning old masterpieces.
Works of Philip and Olga are best described by Irina Yazykova, - art critic, working with contemporary iconographers:
Philip and Olga are one of the most remarkable icon painters in St. Petersburg. Their panel and mural painting is professional and artistic; they have developed their original style, while upholding strict canon rules and deep tradition. In the modern Orthodox art these qualities often do not blend.
One can say that Philip and Olga typify a new generation in icon-painting in the sense that they relate to a new stage of its development. Generally, those who came to the icon-painting workshop in the 1980s - early 1990s remain under great pressure of tradition, which does not allow them to create freely. Indeed, they witnessed violation of sacred places and obliteration of the Orthodox tradition as church culture was neglected for decades. While restoring it, they venerated both sacred images and specific samples, trying to reproduce them as closely as possible to the original. Meanwhile, modern copies attain neither the depth of spirituality, nor the artistic quality of the ancient monuments. The period of replicas has been exhausted; nevertheless some iconographers persist in cloning old masterpieces.
Tony Silvestri -- www.charlesanthonysilvestri.com
Acclaimed lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri specializes in providing bespoke poetry for choral composers, especially texts in Latin, both sacred and secular. He enjoys the creative challenges and rewards of the collaborative process, and has provided lyrics for many composers in different stages of their careers and for a wide variety of commissions and occasions. He has collaborated with celebrated composers such as Eric Whitacre, Dan Forrest, Ola Gjeilo, and Andrea Ramsey. His words have been sung by thousands of choirs around the world, on television and radio, and in magnificent spaces such as the Sydney Opera House, Disney Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, Royal Albert Hall, Westminster Abbey, King’s College, St. Peter’s Basilica, and onboard the Space Shuttle in orbit. His popular 2001 text "Sleep" has recently been published as a children's book, with illustrations by the Dutch artist Anne Horjus.
In addition to writing choral lyrics, Silvestri is also an accomplished artist/painter, specializing in replicating Medieval manuscript illumination and recreating the techniques and materials of Gothic and Renaissance panel painters and iconographers. He is a member of the CRAA and the Catholic Fine Arts Council, and has exhibited works internationally. He is a veteran teacher with two decades of experience teaching kindergarten through college. He has earned Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Ancient and Medieval History from Loyola Marymount University and the University of Southern California. Born in 1965 in Las Vegas, Silvestri has lived in Los Angeles and Rome. He currently lives with his children in Lawrence, Kansas, and teaches history at Washburn University.
In addition to writing choral lyrics, Silvestri is also an accomplished artist/painter, specializing in replicating Medieval manuscript illumination and recreating the techniques and materials of Gothic and Renaissance panel painters and iconographers. He is a member of the CRAA and the Catholic Fine Arts Council, and has exhibited works internationally. He is a veteran teacher with two decades of experience teaching kindergarten through college. He has earned Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Ancient and Medieval History from Loyola Marymount University and the University of Southern California. Born in 1965 in Las Vegas, Silvestri has lived in Los Angeles and Rome. He currently lives with his children in Lawrence, Kansas, and teaches history at Washburn University.
Elizabeth Zeller, O.F.S. -- www.elizabethzeller.com
Elizabeth has become internationally known for her works, sculpture and painting and received many awards. In 2010 she founded an "International Academy of Sacred Art" in the USA and represents the European Organization of Sacred Art "Imago", Vienna, Austria, http://www.imago.or.at/. Elizabeth has served the Greater Kansas City Art Association as both President and Vice-President. She is also the founder and current Director of the CRAA Contemporary Religious Artists Association.
Elizabeth has frequent contact with the Conservation Department of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Doerner Institut of the Museum for Ancient and Modern Art in Munich, and the Museum in Recklinghausen and Frankfurt, Germany.
She studied art, restoration, gilding and bookbinding in Italy, Germany, Israel and the USA. Elizabeth's extensive studies and travels as well as her interest and curiosity continuously inspire her artwork. With a broad variety of mediums, she can express herself in a fine and expressive way and with a deep understanding of life and nature.
Elizabeth has frequent contact with the Conservation Department of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Doerner Institut of the Museum for Ancient and Modern Art in Munich, and the Museum in Recklinghausen and Frankfurt, Germany.
She studied art, restoration, gilding and bookbinding in Italy, Germany, Israel and the USA. Elizabeth's extensive studies and travels as well as her interest and curiosity continuously inspire her artwork. With a broad variety of mediums, she can express herself in a fine and expressive way and with a deep understanding of life and nature.
Calogero Zuppardo -- www.opificiodellearti.com
L'Opificio delle Arti designs, produces and restores stained glasses, glass intarsia and glass objects, promoting cooperation among arts. It was started in 2002 by Calogero Zuppardo, an architect who had already been working as a glass artisan for more than thirty years.
Calogero Zuppardo's love for art grew during his studies at the Istituto d'Arte and at the Faculty of Architecture in Palermo, and was increased in the relationship with masters who belonged to the prosperous Sicilian craftsmanship tradition, and thanks to his friendship with workmates who, like him, were seeking beauty and perfection. Since 1983 he has worked within the art glass tradition in Palermo, recovering old techniques and making new experimentations. In 1994 he founded Il Baglio, an international association of artists, architects and artisans.
Calogero Zuppardo's love for art grew during his studies at the Istituto d'Arte and at the Faculty of Architecture in Palermo, and was increased in the relationship with masters who belonged to the prosperous Sicilian craftsmanship tradition, and thanks to his friendship with workmates who, like him, were seeking beauty and perfection. Since 1983 he has worked within the art glass tradition in Palermo, recovering old techniques and making new experimentations. In 1994 he founded Il Baglio, an international association of artists, architects and artisans.
