Wednesday, May 21, 2014

STARVING ARTISTS AND MCDONALDS

"Hey! We've got one of those too at our church!"

This is the result of Catholics ordering their "art" from catalogues.  Our art has been traveling down the same path as our national cuisine.  You may get the same food from coast to shining coast.  Ma and Pa restaurants whither on the vine while American afraid of risk (and indigestion) wait until they see a familiar golden arch or girl with red braids.  When there is only one menu and for our entire nation, maybe then we will yearn for Ma's stew.
 
Sometimes our Catholic art is like this.  The same statue, the same print, the same vestments from steeple to steeple.  Beauty attracts.  Beauty is also unique.  Beauty is a tool that we too readily throw out.  Beauty attracts many to step food in a Church in the first place.  What is unique and beautiful about your parish that it would attract someone to stop by?
 
Because of the McDonald's mentality toward art (cheaper, safer, quicker, easier) it is difficult to make it as a Catholic artist.  Below, one of our talented Catholic artists is selling some of his paintings and drawings.  (This is the young man who did the St. Sebastian paintings.)  If interested you may contact him (Eric Armusik)by going directly to his website.  And if you have a few thousand dollars sitting around but don't have a place to hang a painting, St. Sebastian parish would gladly accept as a gift the painting of St. Jerome below!  ericarmusik.com  


3 comments:

doubletrouble said...

Father, I don't know if he's Catholc, but this guy does some nice stuff as well.

http://www.jonmcnaughton.com

Cathy said...

Well, I would LOVE to fill my life/home/community with BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL art...
Unfortunately for most of us, our budget is strictly "McDonalds"... sigh....

Pat said...

Father,

Your post has given me a new appreciation for the murals in some of the older churches I used to attend.