DoDo Jin Ming, Free Element XXXI. |
A Contemporary Dialogue on the Sacred and the Spiritual |
Brian Tripp, Protection from Those Kinds of Things.
Steven Heilmer, Nativity Stone (Mother’s Milk).
Susan Schwalb, Sacred Land IV.
Seyed Alavi, Noli me tangere. |
Museum Drawing primarily on the MOCRA collection, Pursuit of the Spirit places works in dialogue in order to examine major themes that have emerged in MOCRA’s first 35 exhibitions. Pursuit of the Spirit, sets works by over 40 artists in dialogue with each other, exploring broad themes such as Sacred Spaces, The Sublime, Mother and Child, and Image and Text. Artists in the exhibition include: Alvin Ailey, Seyed Alavi, Romare Bearden, Lore Bert, Frederick J. Brown, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Junko Chodos, Jon Cournoyer, Michael David, Lewis deSoto, Sue Eisler\, Robert Farber, Oskar Fischinger, Arshile Gorky, Steven Heilmer, Tony Hooker, Carolyn Jones, Tobi Kahn, Dean Kessman, Paul Kos, Robert Kostka, Frank LaPeña, Belinda Lee, Tim Liddy, Whitfield Lovell, Stephen Luecking, J. W. Mahoney, Bernard Maisner, Richard Meier, Jeff Miller, DoDo Jin Ming, Anne Minich, Jim Morphesis, Gary Passanise, Daniel Ramirez, James Rosen, Georges Rouault, Susan Schwalb, Shahzia Sikander, Thomas Skomski, Kazuaki Tanahashi, Kanya Tjapangarti, Michael Tracy, Brian Tripp, Andy Warhol. In a time when religion is a predominant topic in societies throughout the world—often generating more heat than light — MOCRA continues to foster dialogue that seeks deeper understanding of others’ traditions and greater appreciation of one’s own. For over 35 years, the Fusz Memorial Chapel was used by Jesuits studying philosophy at Saint Louis University, but in 1990 the Jesuits relocated to smaller residences near the campus. In Spring 1991 Saint Louis University President Rev. Lawrence Biondi, S.J., gave permission to Rev. Terrence Dempsey, S.J., to adapt the chapel for use as a museum devoted to the presentation of contemporary religious Art. A thoughtful renovation made the chapel a suitable and noteworthy space for displaying art while honoring the original purpose and architecture of the building. Since then, the museum has mounted 35 exhibitions involving more than 160 artists. MOCRA’s exhibitions have demonstrated the range of contemporary religious and spiritual artistic expression, presenting the work of artists who have attained recognition regionally, nationally, and internationally. Some work overtly pays homage to particular faith traditions while other works are more oblique but nonetheless spiritual. The media employed have varied from traditional painting, drawing, and prints to unusual materials such as blood, earth, mylar, and helium. Exhibitions at MOCRA have been enhanced by numerous conferences, lectures, and performances involving major theologians, visual artists, art historians, museum directors and curators, doctors, lawyers, philosophers, psychologists, choreographers, and musicians. |
Carolyn Jones, Friends in Deed. |
