Artist as Pilgrim
Repeating a journey over a thousand years old, and echoed in communities throughout time, artist and art found their way to Rome. On this particular journey, artist Lynn Kircher and his sculpture entitled “At Peace” traveled to the heart of the Catholic faith, in silent tribute to the ultimate founder of Christianity.
ARTIST AS PILGRIM
As Lynn Kircher and Pope John Paul II met, Kircher realized a life long dream of placing his art in the Papal collection. The bronze life-sized torso was presented to His Holiness during an audience attended by the sculptor, his first patron and mother, Betty Kircher of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Mr. & Mrs. John Saeman of Denver, Colorado. The sculpture portrays Jesus shedding a single tear, at the moment when He accepts death and relinquishes earthly life, and is based upon Kircher’s own near death experience many years ago.
The Catholic Church hosts one of the greatest repositories of faith based art in the western world. Throughout every crisis, upheaval, reform movement and war, the Church maintains steadfast support for the arts. This position forms an integral part of what started as an oral tradition and subsequently has fostered the visual and musical arts worldwide. Catholic churches are known as refuges of beauty and remain destination spots for pilgrims, tourists or parishioners.
The artist’s mother originally cast the striking depiction of the crucifixion presented by Kircher to His Holiness this spring, for her own church in Arkansas.
Lynn Kircher has been working in bronze extensively for over three decades, and has been an artist his entire life. Emotional realism is his strong suit, and he works closely with his patrons to capture the moment and expression that forms a core for their artistic vision.
How does he feel about this international recognition that places his work at the heart of the Church? “Humbled” he says. Speaking quietly with fingers pursuing cloth of clay on yet another sculpture for another church, Kircher states that with honor comes responsibility. He now challenges his artistic expression to a new level and requires of himself the skill that he still only dreams of.
Repeating a journey over a thousand years old, and echoed in communities throughout time, artist and art found their way to Rome. On this particular journey, artist Lynn Kircher and his sculpture entitled “At Peace” traveled to the heart of the Catholic faith, in silent tribute to the ultimate founder of Christianity.
As Lynn Kircher and Pope John Paul II met, Kircher realized a life long dream of placing his art in the Papal collection. The bronze life-sized torso was presented to His Holiness during an audience attended by the sculptor, his first patron and mother, Betty Kircher of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Mr. & Mrs. John Saeman of Denver, Colorado. The sculpture portrays Jesus shedding a single tear, at the moment when He accepts death and relinquishes earthly life, and is based upon Kircher’s own near death experience many years ago.
The Catholic Church hosts one of the greatest repositories of faith based art in the western world. Throughout every crisis, upheaval, reform movement and war, the Church maintains steadfast support for the arts. This position forms an integral part of what started as an oral tradition and subsequently has fostered the visual and musical arts worldwide. Catholic churches are known as refuges of beauty and remain destination spots for pilgrims, tourists or parishioners.
The artist’s mother originally cast the striking depiction of the crucifixion presented by Kircher to His Holiness this spring, for her own church in Arkansas.
Lynn Kircher has been working in bronze extensively for over three decades, and has been an artist his entire life. Emotional realism is his strong suit, and he works closely with his patrons to capture the moment and expression that forms a core for their artistic vision.
How does he feel about this international recognition that places his work at the heart of the Church? “Humbled” he says. Speaking quietly with fingers pursuing cloth of clay on yet another sculpture for another church, Kircher states that with honor comes responsibility. He now challenges his artistic expression to a new level and requires of himself the skill that he still only dreams of.
