Into the Molds...

Last month we were delighted to post an update about the Stations of the Light that we are currently creating for Immaculata Monastery in Norfolk, NE.  However, in the last month we’ve made such great progress on the Stations that we can’t resist sharing this project again.

Since our last post all but one of the clay models has been used to create a casting mold for the final fiberglass stations – and 5 of the final stations have already been cast!  We’re hoping to keep this pace and have the entire series ready for delivery at the end of the year.  But until then, here are some photos of the newly created molds and freshly cast stations.

If you have questions about this projects or your faith community has its own need liturgical artwork, feel free to contact us at any time.  Or please visit our website at www.inspiredart.com.

 

Update on the Stations of Light

Last November Inspired Artisans was excited to share our commission for Immaculata Monastery in Norfolk, NE to create the first ever artistic representation of the ‘Stations of the Light’ to be created in the United States.  Now as fall fast approaches, we are just as excited to share our progress on this important project. 

Over the past year each station has been developed from the text of a Biblical passage into a design sketch, and now the physical stations are being created in full-scale clay models.  Featured below are the first nine stations that are currently being worked in clay.  They are various stages of completion, and Station III has actually already been cast in our signature exterior fiberglass and finished to replicate bronze – this is what all fourteen stations will ultimately look like.  

If you have questions about this projects or your faith community has its own need liturgical artwork, feel free to contact us at any time.  Or please visit our website at www.inspiredart.com.

A Summer of Corpuses

Despite the 100 degree weather, the studio has been buzzing with activity this summer at Inspired Artisans.  We have quite a few different projects going, but the main theme of the summer seems to be the ‘Corpus’.

Starting off in May, we completed and installed a 7’ Corpus and 14’ cross in the newly renovated sanctuary of Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Church in Leavenworth, KS.  The Corpus was created in fiberglass and finished as bronze, while the cross was created in oak wood and stained to match the renovated pews.

We have also been working on Corpus for the new church currently being constructed at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Sugar Grove, IL.  Their new 5.5’ Corpus was also created in fiberglass, but features a green-patina bronze finish that was delicately applied in layers to create the ‘antique’ look.  The completed Corpus will be suspended on a custom 12’ aluminum cross over the sanctuary, and is due to be installed later this year when the building construction is completed.

 

Two other Corpuses also in the process are being created for St. Vincent de Paul Church in Houston, TX and St. Mary Church in Omro, WI.  St. Vincent’s Corpus has been hand-carved in linden wood by one of our affiliated artists and soon will begin its journey to our studio from Italy.  The Corpus for St. Mary’s is currently being sculpted in clay, and following any design revisions, will be cast in fiberglass and finished to replicate natural wood tones.

 

And to keep the momentum going, we were also just recently commissioned by Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia, IL and St. Frances de Sales Church in Houston, TX to create new Corpuses for them as well.  Each will be ultimately be created in fiberglass and finished to replicate wood.  Hopefully we will have pictures to share of these latest projects soon.

If you have questions about any of these projects or your faith community has its own need a custom Corpus (or any other liturgical artwork), feel free to contact us at any time.  Or please visit our website at www.inspiredart.com.

New Cemetery Artwork - Inside and Out

Happy summer everyone!  Inspired Artisans has more to celebrate than just the official arrival of summer this month with the recent completion of yet another project for the Catholic Cemeteries of Newark at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, NJ.

Last fall, we were given the opportunity to design and create six angel reliefs to fill exterior wall niches on the front facade of their chapel mausoleum.  Dubbed 'Angels of Our Lady', each fiberglass relief features a shield depicting one of the symbols of the Blessed Mother and was created in fiberglass colored to match the existing stone.  Here are a few photos we took of the installed reliefs when we visited the cemetery again last month:

While the installation of the angel reliefs in November 201l helped to close out the year successfully, we were even more pleased when we were again commissioned by Catholic Cemeteries of Newark to create an altar and ambo for the mausoleum as well.

Starting with a sketch of the 'Lamb of God', a design for the marble altar with the lamb created in Venetian glass mosaic and raised bronze accents was created.  A matching marble and wooden ambo also features a cross emblem in Venetian glass mosaic, with the addition of raised bronze panels depicting the Evangelists adding a unique luster.

The marble elements and the hand-crafted mosaics were produced by our affiliated artists in Italy and shipped here to be combined with the wooden ambo top and bronze pieces.  The completed furnishings were assembled on site at the cemetery in May, completing the interior of the new chapel.

Some of the images from the creation process for the altar and ambo are posted here:

 

It was a pleasure to once again serve the Catholic Cemeteries of Newark, and the greater Catholic community as well.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions about these projects, or for more information about our work, feel free to visit our website at www.inspiredart.com.

Chapel of Angels

Last August we took a trip down to Alsip, IL to look at a construction project the Catholic Cemeteries of Chicago had going on at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.  A new addition was being constructed directly across from the existing mausoleum which housed very modern stainless steel statues of the Archangels.  In accordance with the style of the existing mausoleum, a plan was formulated involving the 8 pillars of the addition to create a chapel of angels.  Although the plans changed a little from that point, the concept stayed the same.

Approaching the newly constructed mausoleum the artwork blends in under the pavilion until just before you reach its pillars.  However once you are inside, the artwork really pops out at you and you get a feeling of wholeness.  The final project consisted of four 4 1/2 foot aluminum angels, 4 plaques, and a 11 foot cross that sits atop a beautiful large stone.  As in the past, the photos attached tell the story of the project from design to sculpting to installation.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Project Update for Trustees of St. Patrick

It seems as though it was just yesterday that 2012 started, and here we are almost 1/4 way through... Wow!

Entering 2012 Inspired Artisans will be celebrating our 15 year anniversary!! We have some really exciting projects this year (and we hope to get more!).  One of them, already blogged about, is for the Trustees of St. Patrick at their new mausoleum in Staten Island's Resurrection Cemetery.  This project has been a delight from the beginning and is nearing the final stages.  10/12 relief statues have already been cast in fiberglass and are awaiting the finishing touches!  Just recently, we went out east to visit the clients and their new construction; it is going to be a truly beautiful building!!

In addition to the 12 reliefs, we have been commissioned to sculpt a Risen Christ on the Cross.  The Christ is 7 ft. and is just about ready for installation!

The photos attached depict part of the sculpting process.  I am also attaching a photo of the construction in Staten Island (the photo was taken with a cell phone so please forgive us for its quality!!).