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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.

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