After quite a long hiatus and infrequent posting for the last two years since the advent of Ruah Movie Nights and the Human Experience screening, Ruah is back!
My husband and I have wanted to reignite this effort for some time, but things have never quite been right. Until now. A number of circumstances–crosses, joys, encouragement and signs–have aligned, all pointing towards the re-launching of Ruah, this time as a non-profit rather than just a club of loose associations.
We’re currently praying over John Paul II’s Letter to Artists, networking with friends in similar work and with a similar passion, doing the non-profit legwork (incorporation, 501(c)3 paperwork, bylaws, board, etc.), and trying to find part time jobs to keep us afloat until we can get status and apply for grants.
Please pray for our discernment, tasks, networking and especially for benefactors. As you may have heard, this is not the best financial time to begin a non-profit, as nearly all non-profits are struggling.
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Speaking of which, I just got an email from the Foundation for Sacred Arts, and they’re two shakes of a lamb away from cutting and shutting, so please strongly consider sending them a sacrificial gift:
Dear friends,
Since 2002, The Foundation for Sacred Arts has tirelessly worked to revitalize the sacred arts, both by cultivating a demand for beauty in these arts and by supporting those artists who create works of beauty today. During this time, the Foundation has established a seven year track record of important and consequential events and activities, including two national traveling exhibitions, lectures with distinguished speakers, and most recently, the stained glass tour Spendors of the Sacred and the art exhibition Picturing the Rosary.
Though we have been actively developing a number of fundraising initiatives in order to fund basic operational expenses as well as Foundation-sponsored projects, our efforts have been hampered by the still weak economy. Our appeals and outreaches have generated only enough income to sustain us through the end of this month! At that time, without additional funding, the impoverished state of the Foundation will force us to suspend all activity until further notice.
The Foundation has been blessed with a team of dedicated volunteers, and we are eager to continue our efforts to revive the sacred arts for the glory of God, the life of His Church, and the transformation of culture. But our organization, like many others, is in need of funding to cover basic operational expenses: approximately $5500 per month. However, your check or online donation of $1000, $500, $100 or $50 will greatly contribute to this financial need.
With your generous assistance, we will be able to complete our projects already in development for 2010, including the launch of our online archive of artists, architects, and music composers as a resource for patrons; a seminarian arts formation program to equip priests with the tools necessary to direct commissions and restorations within their own parishes; and an expansion of our resources to include segments dealing with art and catechesis.
Please help us in our mission to revive the sacred arts. It is through beauty that man will see God. “In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art.” – Pope John Paul II
Faithfully,
Ann Marra
Executive Director
I received this via the SAF’s email newsletter:
Greetings!
The Foundation has reached a critical financial moment. We still need an additional $20,000 to cover operational costs through the balance of this year. Without it, the Foundation will be forced to cease activity and close its doors by mid-September. Yet, if each person on this mailing list offers a contribution of just $50, this financial need will be more than satisfied. The Foundation depends entirely on the generosity of its friends for the support of its programs. We urge you to consider helping us continue our vital mission to evangelize the world through art.
“In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art.” – Pope John Paul II
Contact Us!
1413 K Street NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
202-898-1288
info@thesacredarts.org
If you’re not watching news reruns of Archbishop Timothy Dolan’s installment Mass as the AB of the NY Diocese, you may be interested in this event at the Catholic Information Center tonight. Don’t worry, if you don’t live in the DC area, I heard they’re recording the talks. Contact the Sacred Arts Foundation or the Catholic Information center for more, um, information on the recordings.
“Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder?”
by H. Reed Armstrong
Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 pm
Catholic Information Center
Hamilton Reed Armstrongstudied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts with internationally recognized sculptors Carl Iluva, Walker Hancock, and Fredrick Shrady. Mr. Armstrong is a professional sculptor who has done commissioned work in Spain, Italy, Germany, Africa, and the United States. Much of his work was produced during an extended stay in Spain, where it was extolled by noted critics Raul Chavari and Cecilio Barbaran as a revitalization of the Spanish mystical tradition embodied in El Greco, among others. Mr. Armstrong is presently the professor of Fine Arts at the International Catholic University, Notre Dame, Indiana; associate professor of Modern Languages at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia; and is the former director of the Magi Center for Sacred Art at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Recent commissions include the commemorative medal for the Victims of Communism Committee, Washington, D.C; a portrait bust of Pius X for the papal memorial chapel, Riese, Italy; and a portrait bust for John Paul II for The John Paul II Cultural Center, Washington, D.C. He is presently working on a series of monumental sculptures for the Ave Maria School of Law, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has lectured on Cathoic art and symbolism worldwide and has contributed to such periodicals as Crisis Magazine, Latin Mass, Communio, and Culture Wars. He has appeared on EWTN and has published numerous monographs on religion and art in both Spanish and English. Mr. Armstrong lives with his wife, painter Roxalana Luczakowsky Armstrong, in Front Royal, Virginia, where he continues his professional work as a sculptor, lecturer, and writer.
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The Beauty that Saves: Art in the Life of the Church is The Foundation for Sacred Arts’ bi-weekly spring lecture series in five parts. With enlightening talks given by prominent Catholic artists and art historians, this series will demonstrate the manner in which beautiful Christian art is indispensable for catechizing the faithful, facilitating prayer, and inspiring conversion.
Lecture schedule:
April 1: Art and the Liturgy ~ Fr. Giles Dimock, OP
April 15: Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder? ~ H. Reed Armstrong
April 29: St. Paulin Art: The Beauty of Holiness ~ Dr. Jem Sullivan
May 13: Transcendent Beauty: The Importance of Catholic Architecture ~ Arthur Lohsen
May 27: Hope in Suffering: How Baroque Art Made God Present on Earth ~ David Clayton
All talks will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m at the Catholic Information Center, 1501 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005.
A $10 donation is suggested.
For more information, contact us at (202)898-1288 or rachelross@thesacredarts.org, or visit our website at www.thesacredarts.org/lecture.
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