Christ’s Eternal Sacrifice to the Father & the Archangels
St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church - Cave Creek, Arizona
Project Timeline: Summer 2021
Commissioned by Fr. Chad King, Pastor, Christ’s Eternal Sacrifice to the Father & the Archangels involved a collaboration with the architecture firm, Phoenix Design Group to modify already completed designs, to accommodate the sacred artwork and Forefront Development, LLC According to Fr. Chad’s vision, the artwork depicts the essential action of the Mass, Christ’s eternal self-offering into the hands of the Father, which inaugurates the new creation and opens the gates of Heaven to all who believe. Christ crucified, (an actual 3 dimensional crucifix provided by F.C. Ziegler's King's House), is set on the painted background, portraying it as the New Tree of Life. Set in an artistic vision of the New Creation, glorified local plants of the Phoenix desert landscape are incorporated to show that even our local place will be caught up in God’s saving actions. The liturgical scene of Christ’s self offering is attended by Archangels Michael and Gabriel and providentially watched over by a dramatic portrayal of God the Father in whom is held all power, the whole cosmos, and perfect love.
Christ in Glory and Mary, Theotokos
Marian Catholic High School - Woodstock, Illinois
Project Timeline: Summer 2021
This wonderful new work was commissioned by Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Illinois for use in their all school Masses. At 18 by 14 feet, this free hanging mural features Christ in Majesty surrounded by the Blessed Seraphim, symbolic depictions of God the Father and the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. With the grounding compositional structure of a glorified arch including 12 gemstones representing the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 Apostles, and the whole Church, the mural is designed to inspire awareness of our participation with all the angels and saints within the heavenly City, the New Jerusalem. Archangels Michael and Gabriel are also featured, as well as Sts. Cecelia, Sebastian, John Bosco, Mother Teresa, Thomas Aquinas, and John Paul II.
We were particularly blessed this summer to welcome into a summer internship, Ashley Collier, of Benedictine College, Atchison Kansas, who helped with this mural. Read about her work with us in this short article: “The Divine Artist’s Student: Raven Learns Sacred Art.”
The Mystical Body of Christ
St. Anthony Marie de Claret Catholic Church- Kyle Texas
Project Timeline: Summer 2021
Commissioned by St. Anthony Marie de Claret Catholic Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, began as a collaboration with our friend Michael Raia, founder and president of Studio io, Austin, Texas. Mural work was designed as two free hanging sacred art banners, each at 4 feet in width and 18 feet in height. Flanking the large carved crucifix in the apse, the mural work expresses the reality of the Mass celebrated: the Church Militant, those in the worshiping community, the Church Suffering, those undergoing the purification, and the Church Triumphant, those saints and angels enjoying the Beatific Vision and Heavenly worship. Inspired by clear vision, the given saints are meant for the people of St. Anthony parish to be able to see themselves. The left hand panel features St Andrew Kim, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and St. Kizito, Ugandan Martyr. The right hand panel features St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Rose of Lima, and Blessed Carlo Acutis. Divine light is symbolically suggested by the mandorla radiating from the crucified Christ and also from the two symbolic representations of the first and third Persons of the Blessed Trinity- The Father and the Holy Spirit. The upper portion also depicts the angels in the highest heavenly realm, closest to the throne of God, offering our prayers as incense to the Father.
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
St. James Catholic Church - Liberty, Missouri
Project Timeline: Spring 2019
“The Transfiguration of Our Lord” was commissioned by Fr. Mike Roach of St. James Catholic Church, Liberty Missouri for their newly built church designed by SFS Architecture, Kansas City, Missouri and built by A.L. Huber Construction, Overland Park, Kansas. At 14 feet 7 inches in width and 33 feet 2 inches in height the mural was created in three pieces at New Jerusalem Studios in Phoenix and then hand delivered and installed by the same. The Transfiguration shows us that matter can also be the means of God’s Glory. “After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” Following the compositional structure and elements of the Eastern iconographic tradition the mural features a stylized mountain and elements symbolizing the brilliant light emanating from Christ. At the upper part of the mural is seen the hand in a circle of light representing God the Father, and the dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Christ is seen with nimbus and diamond representing divine light. The gold halo representing purity and divine radiance includes the letters, “O, W, N” which are the first letters of the Greek translation of the Tetragrammaton, the Hebrew abbreviation drawn from the theophany to Moses in the Burning bush, “I AM WHO AM.” Moses and Elijah are seen at Christ’s right and left, representing the law and prophets. The three apostles are pictured on the mountain in positions representing the Eucharist as Source and Summit. Peter is in the posture of repentance. John, close to Jesus, represents union with Christ in the Eucharist and sacraments. St. James, positioned further down the mountain, is heading out for his mission of evangelization. Toward the bottom of the mural are stylized references to local flora and fauna and buildings related to the story of St. James and the parish. These are meant to remind us of John’s vision of a new heavens and a new earth. Even our local place, our local history participates in God’s plan of salvation and will one day be raised up and gloried.
Descent of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost
All Saints Catholic Newman Center - Tempe, Arizona
Project Timeline: Summer 2018
Betrothal of Mary and Joseph
All Saints Catholic Newman Center - Tempe, Arizona
Project Timeline: Summer 2018
Christ's Eternal Sacrifice and Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace
St. Mary's High School - Phoenix, Arizona
Project Timeline: Winter 2016
To celebrate its centennial year in 2017, St. Mary's High School, under the leadership of President Rector Fr. Robert Bolding, commissioned an altar mural for its school masses held in its gymnasium. The mural is painted in the format of a high-quality theatrical backdrop that can be rolled and unrolled, transported and stored as needed, which is highly-versatile for a multi-functional space such as a gym. It measures 20' wide and 25' high, and features Christ Crucified and ascended to Glory with Mary, Queen of Heaven at the center of the restored cosmos, surrounded by adoring angels, reminiscent of the cherubim of the Arc of the Covenant in the Old Testament. Mary is the perfect, sinless vessel and new tabernacle of Christ. It is painted in a style heavily influenced by the Beuronese School with elements of both Eastern and Western liturgical art tradition - more stylized figures, yet more realistic faces.
A suggestion of the Temple and the Holy of Holies is seen behind the figure of Christ, as Christ is the new Temple, and one can also see the torn veil represented in red to show the sacrifice, the tearing of his own body, signifying the end to Old Testament sacrifice and the beginning of worship in spirit and truth. The blood and water pour from his side, which is the birth of the church, and the streams of living water flow out, as in the vision of Revelation, nourishing the garden of the heavenly Jerusalem, the restored Garden of Eden, and all the subjects in the kingdom of heaven.
Mary is depicted alone at the foot of the cross, for she was bound to Christ in a singular way and suffered with him like no other. She is shown in the garments and posture of the Immaculate Conception, yet she also wears the dark cloak of Our Lady of Guadalupe, suggesting that she is with child. She stands as the woman in Genesis, with her foot on the head of the serpent and her head crowned with 12 stars. As the heavenly Jerusalem has 12 gates, she is the gateway to the graces of Christ. The stylized palm trees, plants and flowers evoke a restored Garden of Eden. As our first mother, Eve, led to the fall of all mankind, Mary’s willingness to participate with God’s grace led to the restoration of humanity and the undoing of the Fall through Christ’s sacrifice. She is the new Eve, standing at the foot of the new Tree of Life, the Cross.
The saints featured are St. Junipero Serra, St. John Paul II, and St. Agnes on the left, with St. Catherine of Siena, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Francis of Assisi on the right. Each is holding an object symbolic of their ministry on earth or martyrdom, which helps identify them in sacred art representations.
Christ Pantocrator
All Saints Catholic Newman Center - Tempe, Arizona
Project Timeline: Fall 2015
This large-scale mural was completed for recently built chapel of the All Saints Catholic Newman Center at Arizona State University. Installed in 2015, it spans the back wall of the apse and is the first of several works planned for this chapel. At 32 feet high and 14 feet wide, the mural features images principally drawn from the Book of Revelation. Christ Coming in Glory signifies the ultimate liturgical reality; in the Mass, the past is drawn forward and the future drawn back as we participate in the heavenly liturgy, taking place eternally. Christ establishes a new creation- new heavens and a new earth- (Rev. 21) and through him, all creation is drawn into eternal worship of the Father. The central figure of Christ is drawn from the earliest iconographic depictions of Christ Pantocrator. The eyes of Christ, as well as the outstretched right and left arms, portray Christ both the merciful and just judge. Christ is flanked by adoring angels offering incense, (Rev. 8:3), and the image of the “lamb as if slain,” (Rev. 5:6). Images evoking the Garden of Eden- palms, grasses, native plants of Arizona- are presented in a stylized or idealistic way, suggesting the glorified New Creation.
The mural work for the All Saints Newman Center was commissioned by Rev. Robert Clements, chaplain, and at his request, is inspired by the Beuronese school. Drawn from the name of the town in Germany and the Benedictine monastery where this form developed, its most well-known proponents were Desiderius Lenz (d. 1928) and Gabriel Wuger (d. 1892) both monks of that abbey. Developed partly as a reaction to the photographic naturalism and sentimentality of the late romantic era, Beuronese art drew largely from the iconographic tradition. It attempted to move away from hyper-realistic, emotionally evocative portrayals, which tended to emphasize our fallen earthly state, and aimed to highlight our idealized, glorified, heavenly future. This is achieved by a somewhat two-dimensional approach, employment of muted colors, quiet, stylized figures, and faces which avoid the imposition of a particular emotive experience, but draw the worshiper out of themselves and into participation in Christ’s self offering in the Mass. Following the Beuronese tradition, the foundation of this mural is an intricate substructure of sacred geometry, assisting the composition in providing quiet balance, harmony, and order. Not distracted by abstraction or garish detail, the worshipper is drawn into liturgical rest.
The River of Life
Xavier College Preparatory High School - Phoenix, Arizona
Project Timeline: 2008 - 2010
In 2008, while a full-time employee of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School in Phoenix, Ruth was approached by Fr. John Muir, the chaplain. His vision, and the vision of the Principal, Sr. Joan Fitzgerald, BVM, and the Vice Principal, Sr. Joanie Nuckols, BVM, was to create some kind of sacred image for the school masses, which were held in the gym to accommodate the entire student body. The space, as it was, lacked a sense of the sacred. Over the course of the next year, Ruth began to study the rich heritage of sacred art in the Catholic Church as she worked on the murals, a series of three that would depict the vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem given to John in Revelation. This would start her on a path to becoming Catholic, as well as devoting her life to studying and creating works of sacred art for the purpose of the liturgy. The murals are 24 feet high and span a width of 60 feet. New lighting was incorporated to focus on the sanctuary and mural while dimming the rest of the space as well as a mechanism for raising and lowering the murals in order to convert the gymnasium easily for mass.
