We are sad to report the death of long term member and former SIAC treasurer Louis Kuypers who passed away on December 16th at the age of 89. The announcement forwarded by his family.

Berthold Dusil

SIAC mourns the loss of long term member and officer Bert Dusil, sculptor and goldsmith. His will be missed, and we extend our love and deepest condolences to his widow Irmi.

A message from former SIAC president Yan Rieger:

 Hello members of SIAC, it is with great sadness and deep feelings of loss that I learned the passing away of our most honorable and beloved friend Berthold Dusil. Bert was a very appreciated inspirational member. for a long time he held the position of General Secretary in our organization and was instrumental in furthering the cause of SIAC broadening the membership and organizing many valuable gatherings in different countries bringing together artists from many nations. He was a talented artist and donated time and efforts for the cause of promoting profound spiritual creations. We lost a great leader and a very special personal friend. His legacy and his art creations shall be present in our lives. He certainly will be missed by all of us. With my deepest sympathy.

Yan Rieger

Bert at the 2005 SIAC congress in Reichenau, Germany.

SIAC member Anthony Santella has helped to organize and is exhibiting in God Doesn't Like Ugly, a group exhibit to be held within St. Paul the Apostle church in New York City. Exhibition dates below, more info at http://openingsny.com/. 

Congress 2009

SIAC's conference The Image of God  was held July 17,18, and 19th at Glenstal Abbey, Limerick Ireland, Program information available below for reference  in word and pdf format. Registration Form: .pdf .doc                              Program Details: .pdf .doc On-site Accommodations: .pdf .doc Local Bed and Breakfast List:     .pdf .doc Submitting Work: .pdf .doc Payment:  .pdf .doc   During the congress an exhibit of work by the late Benedict Tutty OSB will be on display at the abbey.  Singing the Marrow Bone Benedict Tutty OSB (1924-96) An exhibition of the metalwork, ceramics, sculpture, drawings and paintings of Benedictine monk Benedict Tutty will take place at Glenstal Abbey Gallery from July 7th to August 29th. The exhibition celebrates the creativity and rich artistic legacy of this monk who created both liturgical and personal work from his workshop in Glenstal Abbey for over 30 years. The exhibition provides the first opportunity since Brother Benedict’s death in 1996 to view his artistry in a dedicated gallery space that was recently refurbished at Glenstal Abbey. Metalsmith and curator Kevin O’Dwyer and Benedictine monk Ciarán Forbes have documented over 120 pieces of his artwork and have selected items from both his liturgical and personal work for the exhibition. Benedict’s workshop has also been re-instated and will be open to the public during gallery hours. Press Release: Singing The Marrow Bone.

Yan Reiger In the month of March '09 Yan Rieger executed at the Glasmalerei in Schlierbach an art commission for the church of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs located in Centerport NY. The project is a 6 feet in diameter glassmobile suspended in the baptistery area, an inspirational work of art consisting of fused glass mounted on a bronze frame. The enlarged replica of Venus of Willendorf guarded by two Saints is the future object for the upcoming exhibition Landesausstellung under the title “ Mahlzeit” at the Stift Schlierbach, from April till November.

Muriel Pulitzer

SIAC mourns the loss of Muriel Pulitzer, noted woodcarver and long term SIAC member.  

Muriel Pulitzer with Pope John Paul the II in 1995

On a personal note, I met Muriel only once, days after 9-11, in Luxembourg she told me I didn't understand angels, and needed to read the Divine Comedy, particularly the Paradiso. She said this in such a forceful, authoritative way I've never forgotten it. On getting back to the US I got the Divine Comedy out of the Rutgers University library, and kept renewing it for the next four years, as I struggled through my Phd and all those levels of heaven and hell... In a couple days and less than  50 words she made herself one of those people you never forget. 

I invite those who knew her better to send me any memories they would like to share.  

-Anthony Santella, ed.

Thanks to Richard O'Connor for the photo above

Exhibit:
SIAC Affiliate Christan Arts UK organized a well-attended exhibit at Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire in November of 2008.  Show organizers Maggie and Brian Ayling filled the massive 13th century church with almost ninty works by twenty seven artists. After the shows close, it was moved to the Ammerdown conference and retreat center near Bath, Somerset where it will be on show until the Christian Arts show is held there in April 2009. 

Member News:

Member Yan Reiger

Yan has recently submitted a proposal to the Diocese of Krakow in Poland for a monumental statue of Pope John Paul II. This project in its inception stage and Yan is seeking those interested in the project or in helping with donations of time or services during the planning or implementation stages.  The full proposal sketch. Anyone interested in hearing more about the proposal, or assisting should contact Yan at  fyr2 @ optonline.net

The Oysterponds Historical Society in Orient, NY will host an exhibition by Orient artist and resident Yan Rieger entitled Fusion: Contemporary Art Glass from Friday, May 2 to Sunday, May 18, 2008 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 5pm. 
Read the full press release.

Also the Oysterponds Historical Society is seeking applicants for the position of Director, those interested can email  
sduell (AT) optonline.net.

SIAC regretfully acknowledges the death of former SIAC President Dame Winefride Pruden.  Dame Pruden was a Papal Dame, an honour given her for many years service to the church and to art.  She was an art historian, under her maiden name of Winefride Wilson, and she was also a silversmith, and the wife of well known English silversmith Dunstan Pruden.

Member Anthony Santella

Anthony Santella's painting, Picture of Jesus was recently awarded an honorable mention in the 2008 18th Annual Faces of Woman Exhibit, Las Vegas New Mexico The work is also appearing in the exhibit Sacred Surveillance at St Paul the Apostle church in New York City organized by Openings on exhibit through June 30th 2008.

Glass Workshop Spring 2007  SIAC members held a glass workshop in Schlierbach Austria in March 2007. Members received instruction in glass techniques by Robert Geyer Kubista and enjoyed making fused and leaded glass pieces.  Member Yan Rieger  executed at Schlierbach a stained glass window which he designed for St Luke's Church in Dix Hills Long Island, New York. See more pictures of the work.

Member Michael Burke

.	SIAC president Michael Burke recently installed "Containment". It is located at the Civil Defence Head Quarters in Benamore, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. The work is 3.2m high and is of stainless steel and bronze. Read more

Member Yan Rieger

The Artists/Designers Yan & Françoise Rieger received an invitation from Mr. Robert Fale, director of Agnesian Healthcare, to design the ecumenical chapel for the new Agnesian Health Care Center Complex in Fond du Lac, MI USA.  From the inception the building Committee encouraged the artist/designer to create a contemporary liturgical environment conducive to prayer and celebration of the liturgy, and to serve as a model for future hospital chapels. Read more... Die Künstler/Designer Yan & Françoise Rieger erhielten eine Einladung von Herrn Robert Fale, Direktor der «Agnesian Healthcare», eine ökumenische Kapelle für das neue «Agnesian Health Care Center» in Fond du Lac zu entwerfen...

Member Geraldine Farrell
 Organized a Christian art exhibition in Bristol in June, an offshoot of one that occurred last year at Westminster Cathedral. 

Member John Armstrong  is completing work on a large notice board for the shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, north London, UK . This site has been a national shrine since 1300, and was known to have been visited by Saint Sir Thomas More in the 16th century.

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Past events:

Glass Workshop Spring 2006 In spring 2006 SIAC held a glass workshop for members in Schlierbach Austria in February 2006. Members received instruction in glass techniques by Robert Geyer Kubista and enjoyed making fused and leaded glass pieces. With Father Alfred Strigl and Robert they visited the many buildings in the locality that had wonderful windows made at Schlierbach. While there they were also able to see some impressive pieces designed by member Yan Rieger and made at Schlierbach that were just about to be sent to USA. This  included a 16 foot high crucifix in fused glass, at right, now installed in Muttontown NY.

Congress 2005:  Christian Artists and their Responsibilities
Friday September 30th to  Tuesday October 4th  2005 
The island of Richenau in lake Constance hosted SIAC's 2005 congress. This event was an opportunity for artists from different countries and  backgrounds to meet, share their work, ideas and experiences, and discuss the roles and responsibilities of Christian artists.

Member Events:

War and Peace: Muslim Christian Dialogue
Member John Armstrong with  Muslim friend, Abdoulie Conteh from Gambia, West Africa, have collaborated to produce two large paintings on the theme of War and Peace. They worked together on the two paintings, jointly designing and painting them, so you cannot tell which parts were painted by John and which by Abdoulie.

They exhibited the paintings, together with other paintings that they had each done, at an exhibition at the Grange Gallery, Rottingdean, Brighton, England in March 2006. The exhibition was opened by the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, and was attended by the local MP and representatives from Oxfam and other charities who were to benefit from any sales. All visitors commented on the need for better understanding and friendship between people from different cultures and religions, and were delighted by this practical demonstration of friendship between peoples.

Mayor and Mayoress of Brighton and Hove Bob and Mirle Carden with Abdoulie Conteh and John Armstrong, in front of the two paintings the artists worked on together on the theme of War and Peace.

John was also involved in planning a well-received exhibition of Christian art at Westminster Cathedral, London, England in July 2006. 

Member Anthony Santella
Terrible Lie, a sculptural commentary on a mechanistic view of humanity by member Anthony Santella is included in the 30th Small Works show 80 Washington Square East gallery, NY, NY, USA
February 3-March 9th 2007,