10/25/2012
Fourth Nationwide Juried Catholic Arts Exhibition
The images,
Faith and
The Good Samaritan were chosen for inclusion in The Fourth Nationwide Catholic Arts Exhibition hosted by St. Vincent College and Brother Nathan Cochran. The juror, John Thomas Spike, is a noted art historian, author and lecturer, specializing in Italian Renaissance and Baroque art. He is also an important critic of contemporary art and is past director of the Biennial of Florence in 2007.
Due to the fact that
The Good Samaritan is such a modern piece and utilizes controversial characters to highlight this story, I was very pleased that it was chosen. In addition to inclusion, I was also extremely surprised and honored that they are showcasing the image as a featured work on their website and using it as the cover of their invitation for the opening and lecture on November 2nd. It is very refreshing to see that St. Vincent gallery and Mr. Spike have such an open mind and a great understanding of current trends in the art world.
For a very long time I've had considerable trouble getting my faith based work accepted by the contemporary art community. It seems the work is too edgy and blunt for some traditional Christians. The imagery is made to be very powerful and to amplify the meaning of each story or event. Often times, the work highlights the flaws of man which can make people understandably uncomfortable.
I've also found that some non-Christians dismiss the images because of the subject matter, overlooking the months of study, technical ability and hard work it takes to create an image saturated with artistic symbolism, involving the world, our culture, the human experience and the history of art. It appears that much of the modern art world doesn't like to be restrained or contained by depictions of any religious icons. The images are built and carefully weighed and balanced to elicit a powerful response to the work. I enjoy the fact that people either love it or dislike it. It says a lot about us as human beings and how we feel about our culture, the current climate of the world and what we believe to be the truth of our origins. My hope is that regardless of one's religious background and experiences, that when they walk away, they contemplate even for one second, their actions, beliefs and effect on this world and their souls.
I create these works in an attempt to help our generation relate to these sacred stories and events by putting them into a context in which we can more easily identify. For me, there is no other subject matter with such infinite depth, complexity and freedom of interpretation than the word of God.
Below I have included the images, artist statements, links to the full screen works and further information about the show.
* Please click the link to explore this image in detail.
http://www.christopherruane.com/Set/Religion/The-Good-Samaritan*
The Good Samaritan has been represented many times throughout art history; but as I was taught this story as a child, I never realized until recently just how powerful the message of loving your neighbor is or how difficult, in modern times, it has become. Inspiration arose from contemporary news events and I saw an opportunity to expose the meaning with contrasting imagery showing a message of love where one would expect animosity. This prompts inspection of the image, leaving the viewer seeking the familiar story, as opposed to the message of Christ.
During the story of The Good Samaritan, Christ explains that a man is robbed and left –for-dead and a priest and a Levite, those who would have been most likely to render aid, do nothing and pass him by. Then a Samaritan man, who in Hebrew culture was despised, stops, and tends to the man.
In my interpretation, I chose an unlikely Samaritan, separated by cultures and reviled in the media, to bring the message of neighbor. Clearly, those who had responsibility to help and even those with the desire to help, are justifiably frightened and look upon the scene as they have been taught, self-preservation first. The piece shows a scene that should be easy. As children, we are taught, to “love thy neighbor” and help; but we are also taught to flee from danger. Modern times have made our intentions and our actions diametrically opposed.
In many historical images of The Good Samaritan, the thieves and robbers responsible for the crimes against the innocent are usually depicted as fleeing the scene. In my depiction, you the viewers become the robbers, standing outside the piece represented by the shadowy figures in the foreground, possibly hopeful of benefiting from the misfortune. It is designed to have you ask yourself, how would you profit? Will you take the last bit of money spilled onto the street by the innocent man or will you choose to help? The piece suggests, by the streetlight shining on the graffiti, that you choose to avail, or be of help or service.
* Please click the link to explore this image in detail.
http://www.christopherruane.com/Set/Religion/Faith*
The image,
Faith, was created as part of a series on modern interpretations of biblical events. Faith is based on the account of the gospel that appears in Matthew:14, describing the miracle of Christ walking on water.
In this account, Peter steps out of the boat and takes several steps toward Christ. A heavy wind blows. Peter loses faith and starts to sink. Christ saves him and says, “Oh thou of little faith”. Faith takes the account to contemporary times. The artist fears the entire world has lost faith. The buildings, bridge, and drowning victims are all symbolic of society as a whole, and their collective lack of faith in modern times.
In one example, the young woman in the foreground does not care to recognize that she is drowning; she has lost faith, and therefore hope and would blindly succumb rather than fight for salvation.
In scripture, Christ called Peter “the rock on which He would build his church.” This is represented through the imagery of the tree growing from the rock. The infant is symbolic of the original innocence of man and the journey from birth to death. The serpent, always hidden- yet always infiltrating, even in the most unpolluted soul, creates the potential for sin. The disintegrating tropical island depicts the paradise we were given turned into the product of our neglect.
Faith is the artist’s plea for each individual to hold onto their faith despite the continual threat of heavy winds.
* Please click for more information on The Fourth Nationwide Juried Catholic Arts Exhibition.
http://gallery.stvincent.edu/current_exhibition*
