Skip to main content

The Beatitudes

 

The Beatitudes

2020
Minnesota walnut, series of seven panels each 48"x36", 1.5"thick
Memorial commissioned for Marion Sheie at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Portland OR

After the passing of a dear aunt, Marion Sheie, I entered the new narthex of her church, St. Luke Lutheran in Portland, Oregon.  Just above the entrance doors of the sanctuary was a huge--blank--triangular wall that called for something to fill it.  After much deliberation with cousins and in turn, their deliberation with church leadership, I submitted a proposal for a series of seven carvings focused on the Beatitudes from the book of Luke.  This made a lot of sense in that St. Luke in Portland has a strong sense of social justice, and the texts will withstand the test of time.

At left is the back of the third carving, showing a picture of Marion and Ernie Sheie as well as my normal 'signature' for my work.



Late in 2020 I was able to deliver the finished work to Portland and begin the installation.  #4 was installed dead center above the doors, and the remaining carvings to the right and left.



The last panel going up..















One of the carvings, unfinished.  The basic design uses the text in the upper two-thirds of the panel, and the 'vine-and-branches' motif in the lower third.  The vine image flows continuously from the first panel through to the seventh.  It was a little daunting to begin cutting through very expensive walnut for the vine/branches motifs.







Finished panels have the text highlighted with gold to enhance the readability, and they're varnished to protect from the problems with drying and humidity.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Give Me Jesus

Give Me Jesus 2015, oiled walnut and brass 30" x 65" collection Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Minneapolis Commissioned by friend and longtime NLC supporter Diane Fleming, this hangs in the narthex at Bethlehem Lutheran in south Minneapolis.  Text taken from the old spiritual "Give Me Jesus," it's one of the signature choral works of the National Lutheran Choir arranged by NLC founder, Dr. Larry Fleming. The panel separates four themes of the text and uses small detail carvings to illustrate and expand the meaning.  Each detail contains the shadow of the cross in the background.  The following pics are taken from the work in progress on the carving bench.. When I am alone... The solitary figure stands against the backdrop of earth, sun, stars...one thinks of Psalm 8--the work of Your hands, the sun, moon, and stars which You have created...  When I come to die... The prone Christ-figure outstretched on the cross is intentionally calling out ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cloud of Witnesses

Cloud of Witnesses 2012 white birch, brass accents 30" x 72" Anoka, MN Commissioned for the newly designed chapel at Zion Lutheran Church, it uses the text from the book of Hebrews focusing on 'such a great cloud of witnesses..'  The piece is designed also to be removed from the wall and used as a freestanding panel in the main sanctuary for funerals, weddings, baptisms.. The text is in a modified Herculaneum font in kind of a run-on style, flowing around the candle stands all the way to the bottom of the panel.  There are 12 candle stands in all, each with a brass bar at the back as a visual accent and for added reflectivity when the candles are lit. White birch carves cleanly, and has a fine capacity for darkening the cut edges when varnished.  Contrast the golden finish here with the blonde unfinished panel in the picture below.. This is the stand prior to the final finish, using the walnut base in free standing mode. Since the chapel at Zi...
Post a Comment
Read more

There is no space for fear

There is no space for fear.. 2021, 15", oiled walnut and brass collection of M. Sheie, Portland OR A gift for my brother Steve, facing significant health challenges that ultimately took him.  He was craftsman with high standards, varied interests, and a deep love for others. There is something special about the grain and color of walnut that makes it deep and rich, and the contrast with the polished brass is striking. " There is no space for fear "  I think it's from a text in a Rene Clausen choral work.. I'll find it here somewhere.. where did I put that?  Choral geeks--help!  
Post a Comment
Read more