New Ways of Making Liturgical Art

“Material Hymnody”

It is imposible to overestimate the genius of the hymn tradition in Judeo-Christian liturgy. Each human body pushes its voice out into the space with singular effort, each voice rises and arcs into the envelope of the joined refrain, disappearing into the gathered whole. These are moments when ordinary grace reaches into extraordinary Grace. It perfectly describes to our senses our faithful role in the universe. 

The ways a congregation goes about “doing” liturgical art are evolving. The model of the solitary artist, adrift in the existential ocean of monastic studio practice, is giving way to more collaborative approaches. But collaboration without some sort of informed guidance will have difficulty crafting a clear vision. 

I have been working on several approaches to making the design and appointment of a worship space a truly collaborative product of the community it serves. Inviting every member into the creative process allows a real and profound sense of participation in, and ownership of, the built environment. The professional artist serves this process as a technician to a family of specialized concerns, stewarding the creative energies of the community to form a cohesive and durable vision.

Starting with simple processes--pen and ink, scissors and paper--and extensive conversation, we move on to deploy both traditional handwork and state-of-the-art communication, design and fabrication technologies to turn the products of the gathered community into figurative and abstract patterns. These can be used as ornamental motifs on furnishings, banners and appointments or as more focal elements of murals, altar screens or leaded glass panels. 

These elements can be arranged to suggest the larger pattern which is only glimpsed.

littlepictureBIGPICTURE.

When we hear our voices leaning in to a larger song of a community, we know that we are members of that community, if only as sojourners. When members of a faithful community see ourselves reflected in a work of art or design, can identify our own marks in the larger canvas, we know we are spiritually at home. The thrill of participation in the corporate, communal, creative effort is an experience of Grace. It is material hymnody.