While I have known “Father” for something like 15 years, it was only 4 years ago that he became our pastor.
To my total surprise, a few months before taking up residence in the parish, Father got in touch with me and asked me if I could make some “St. Joseph paperfolds” to exhibit at a St. Joseph conference that he was planning! The fact that Father even thought of such a thing as paperfolds for the conference totally blew me out of the water (I learned at this point that he had been following me on Facebook - Carolyn Ellis Art - for years!)! Since it’s the viewer who confers meaning on abstract art, I told Father just about any of my paperfolds could be a St. Joseph and happily supplied four folds!
Since the “paperfolding thing,” Father has repeatedly encouraged me as an abstract artist. In fact, I am now Artist in Residence for our Byzantine Catholic parish!
That Father accepts, even celebrates, the thoroughly abstract nature of my work - which is world’s away from the traditional iconography that adorns our Church - is incredible! Every time I come up with an idea for the parish, Father tells me to go for it, be entirely myself, let the Holy Spirit lead me, which has hugely helped my self-confidence. This in turn has not only set me free in the work I do for the Church but in my entire art practice! O the joy!
