A Day of Sacred Art and Architecture

This coming December 12th will the first time we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe inside the shrine church dedicated to her name in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

As part of the celebration, there will be a one day walk and talk tour with the artists and architects of the shrine on Saturday, December 13th, the Feast of Saint Lucy. As the patron saint of vision, I can not think of a better day to hold this event as it was God's gift of vision, both external and internal that guided us through these past years in building the shrine to Our lady of Guadalupe.

"A Return to the Sacred" will be a one day conference starting at 8:00 AM till 4:00PM. to meet, discuss, and tour the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe dedicated this past July 31, 2008. The art and architecture of the shrine are getting world attention and rightfully so. It is a clear and simple return to beauty in the service of God.

As a one day event, Saturday December 13th will be a rare opportunity in that it is the first time artists and architects will come together in unison to discuss in public what and how this incredible building came together from concept to dedication. It is a great workshop for the vocational artists and architects who desire to offer their talents for the greater glory of God. It also serves as a good foundation for any church community looking for a design, a plan a vision for a better way of serving the devotional needs of the faithful.

The morning portion will have keynote speakers Denis Mc Namara, followed by Christopher Carstens, and church architect, Mike Swinghammer of River architects.

At 11:00AM Holy Mass with His Excellency Raymond L. Burke as celebrant priest in from Rome to lead us in these days of prayer and honor to Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego.

Mass will be followed by lunch . After lunch, John Canning will speak on the church decoration and treatments.

Fellow artist Neilson Carlin will join me in discussing the devotional art of the church. We will also give a walking tour of the church and discuss the work we did from narthex to nave, from side aisle shines, lower narthex shrines to the cupola pendentives depicting the Four Doctors of the Church.

Please join us for a most memorable day of sacred art and architecture!

Date: December 13th, 2008
Place: Shrine of Our lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse WI
Time: 8AM to 4PM
Contact Information:For more information on the day's event, a brochure and
registration form, please contact:

www.guadalupeshrine.org
or
viscosacredarts@gmail.com

(seen here: detail from the narthex ceiling mural "The Visions of Guadalupe", oil on linen, 2008)