American Association of Iconographers

Woodstock and Frieze!

Dear Artists and Iconographers:

This past month I gave three talks in Woodstock – two at Saint Gregory’s Episcopal Church in honor of the Icon exhibition Hatti Iles curated, and one at WAAM- Woodstock Artists Association Museum.

The talk at WAAM was about thinking of Icons and modern art. Understanding and being able to create a twenty first century Icon is certainly the task of contemporary iconographers today. “The purpose of art is nothing less than the upliftment of the human spirit.” Pope John Paul II

Excerpt from my Woodstock talk:

From the moment that Matisse arrived in Russia in 1911 he became excited and overwhelmed by the beauty and artistic excellence of the icons he saw everywhere. “In these icons the soul of the artist who painted them opens out like a mystical flower. And from them we ought to learn how to understand art” Matisse. “The father of the European Avant -garde discovered (in icons) everything modern art had been strenuously seeking – color applied locally, linear composition, expressive silhouettes, two dimensionality, and image as sign.” Irina Yazykova.

So pursuing the connection between iconography and art making in the 21st Century is an ongoing exploration! Hope you join with me as it progresses!

So, visiting the Art Fairs in NYC last weekend was a highpoint for me – so many creative ideas and people from all over the world.

I saw the Whitney Biennial, too. I had heard there was more “painting” in this year’s show, and there was. But not enough! It’s good news,though, that painting is making a come back in the contemporary art world.

PRACTICAL NOTES FOR ICONOGRAPHERS

The summer schedule for Icon class in Albany is: We DO HAVE class on: June 2, 9, 23And July 7,14,28, and August 4 and 11.

No Icon Class in Albany Memorial Day!

Sunday, May 25 at Christian Community Church, 10 Green River Lane, Hillsdale, NY Blessing of the Icons written by the Philmont Iconography class of Free Columbia Art School. 10:30 Am Service, 12:00 Icon Blessing

WOODSTOCK ICON WRITING CLASS ON SABBATICAL! Email your interest in the next one starting up in the fall.

EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITY

The Jubilee Museum in Ohio is mounting an exhibition, Deadline August 29 for submission, with a call to artists: http://www.jubileemuseum.org/forms/SacredArtBiennial.pdf

That’s all for now: Until next month, I bless you with greater understanding and larger perspective than most people have, that you may enjoy His peace, and know that God holds the ultimate perspective.

Blessings,

Christine

www.christinehales.com www.iconwritingclasses.com, www.newchristianicons.com

April is Holy Fool Month!

According to Mathew Woodley, who wrote “Holy Fools” , the main qualification of a Holy Fool is following Jesus with reckless abandon. “Only a fool would attempt to change the world with a simple message of love and peace…” St. John Chrysostom.

Saint Anthony’s ability to apply spiritual discipline was so extreme as to manifest in victory even over the demons! He demonstrated that , according to poet Kathleen Norris, asceticism is “a radical way of knowing who, what, and where you are in defiance of those powerful forces in society…that aim to make us forget..”. (Holy Fools, Woodley). I think that icon writing, as a form of spiritual discipline, helps us on that path of spiritual discernment and asceticism, a confidence in who we are in Christ, that brings us closer to “a heart overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.”

The Icon Talk at Saint Gregory’s Episcopal Church was well received and the exhibition is a lovely collection of 32 beautiful icons, different stylistically, but all radiating the same holiness and beauty. Worth seeing if you can get to Woodstock on a Sunday morning.

Coming up in Woodstock: WAAM April 26, 4PM. “Concerning the Spiritual in Art” I’ll give a talk connecting Icons with Matisse, Chagall, Kandinsky and the Blue Rider School and speculate on how that plays out in the New Renaissance in Iconography today. Free and open to all.

Woodstock Icon Writing Class: Mondays, 1-4 PM Beginning June 2; See my website for more details on Icon Writing Classes

This Saturday is the opening Reception for this faces exhibition I curated and partnered with Columbia County Arts Council and Columbia County Chamber of Commerce to present some great art and we will hear from some talented writers who will share their readings on April 12, too. Free and part of Hudson’ below 3rd Dine Arts Celebration – Come and See!

Here is the most recent video with Sister Vassa: All Iconography students will gain important information – a must see! It is well done and humorous.

Coffee with Sister Vassa Ep 24, ( Week 5 of Lent)

Here is a link to a beautiful art/faces video. Really a treat to watch!

I’m unveiling my newest, favorite icon at the opening reception and it shall remain a mystery until this Saturday! I’ll include it next month for those who can’t make the Hudson show. This one of Saint Luke is also a recent one.

The Vatican is apparently digitizing 41 million pages of ancient manuscripts: click here for more information on that one.

NEWSWORTHY

Art News article in the April, 2014, issue: “Icons on the Barricades” by Konstantin Akinsha refers specifically to Kyiv anti government clashes where artists created various forms of interactive art to participate in the protest. Interesting that they would use the word “Icon” in the title, but they were referring more to contemporary artists. However, there have been Orthodox priests carrying icons on the battle front too. Food for thought.

One last note: David Clayton’s Blog :The Way of Beauty” has an interesting post on naturalism in sacred art. Worth reading to clarify that important issue.

Blessings and prayers to you all. Please keep our School of Iconography and Saint Luke’s Guild of Iconographers in your prayers as you are in ours!

Prayerfully,

Christine Simoneau Hales

www.iconwritingclasses.com

www.christinehales.com

www.newchristianicons.com

Lent and March!

Hello Fellow Art Lovers and Iconographers:

This month we’ve not seen an end to snow storms but have Lent with Easter to look forward to. Saint Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Woodstock, New York started Lent off with a beautiful icon exhibition curated by Hattie Ilse. It will be on view in the church until after Easter, with an April 6 special program after the service (12:30). I’ll be giving a talk on Icons and the other Iconographers will meet and greet all those who come and stay for refreshments.

I wanted to share this link to “Coffee with Sister Vanessa” – a fun yet informative video series. This one is for Lent and talks about iconoclasm.

Coffee with Sister Vanessa

Also a link here to The Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton Massachusetts. They have ongoing classes and workshops.

I’m curating an exhibition inHudson,New York that opens March 27 with an Artists’s Reception on April 12 from 5-8PM. It’s a beautiful show with “Faces” in widely different styles by four women artists. I will have my two newest favorite icons in it! Secret- you have to come see it to see what they are!

Also wanted to share an amazing talk given by the former Archbishop of Canterbury – given the day after his resignation. This talk goes into the theology behind icons in a way that is as thoughtful and insightful as you would expect. “Idols, Images, and Icons” by Dr. Rowan Williams.

Want to mention a couple of open calls for artists local to the Hudson Valley area: Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, Catskill NY, from my friend Madeline Behrman: First Annual Thomas Cole Weekend, May 10 & 11- Application Deadline April 21. Spencertown Academy Open Call for artwork Deadline July 15, Exhibition to be in the fall. Any questions feel free to ask me.

I have a new icon writing class starting in Troy at the Arts Center of the Capital Region on March 20, Thursdays 1-4PM. Still a couple of spaces available!

Until next time,be well and send in your links, or comments that you’d like to share.

Blessings,

Christine

www.newchristianicons.com

February Inspiration

It takes a lot of inspiration to make it through all these snow storms!! On the right I am standing in front of my “Baptism of Jesus” icon currently on view at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy, NY.

There is an interesting exhibition at the museum of Russian icons this month “The Symbolism of Color”. Here’s the link: Russian Icon Museum. I plan to visit February 27th.

On the left here is my original “Christ the Healer” Icon which was commissioned for Father Nigel Mumford. The seven scenes around Christ are seven stories of Christ healing – each one is repeated in at least three of the Gospels. This tile of icon is called a “Vitae” icon because it has scenes from the life of the saint, who is in this case, Jesus Christ.

In my studio this month I’m exploring a few contemporary “Memorial Portraits” . I’ve been reading biographies of Nelson Mandela all winter ( a very good one is: “Mandela” by Anthony Sampson) and find such a wealth of inspiration in how he lived his life. He was far from a perfect person, often making mistakes, but he had such an ability to have deep enduring, mentoring relationships in his life. He also mentored many of the young revolutionaries while in prison. So Mandela’s need for and value of relationship helped to keep him on track in a constantly changing political world. His faith, too, in the victory of his cause for freedom for all people helped him overcome so many hardships. He kept his focus on that goal and befriended many people who were his oppressors so that his goal could be accomplished. Here’s a preview of my “Nelson” memorial portrait – almost finished!

News: I have a page on Saatchi Online Gallery for my landscapes; Click here to view it. Also a page on Artspan: Click here.

I will leave you with three ideas on what to do if you’re an artist who is snowed in for the fourteenth time this winter: 1. Order art supplies from Dick Blick – check out the minimum for free delivery and check their websites for the discount of the day. (click the red “save now” button at the top of the page and see what you can get!) 2. Take an online class from Skill Share. I’m taking pencil portraits for this snow storm and it’s fun! There’s a $10 discount for each of us if I refer a friend so let me know if you want to try that. 3. Spend an extra 3 hours in your studio – you’ll be glad you did!!

Cheers, everyone! Looking forward to your comments!

Christine

www.newchristianicons.com

www.christinehales.com

January Icon News and Links

The nice thing about writing icons is that whether it is “January Freeze” or “January Thaw”, you can usually manage things to be able to write icons for a few hours a day!

My new “Christ” icon study has accompanied my prayers over the last two weeks in the area of inner healing. Particularly the idea that Christ came to FORGIVE us of our sins. That call for us also to forgive has been part of the prayer journey for this icon. I really love it! It’s almost finished now.

“The degree to which art has a liturgical quality is in direct ratio to the spiritual freedom of the artist.” from The Meaning of Icons by Leonid Ouspensky

I think that making twenty first century icons has to incorporate the Traditions of the Church as well as spiritual freedom. Andrey Rublev in the Fifteenth Century being able to occupy that place of Spiritual freedom, training, and artistic skill points toward what we aspire to today.

The icon class I teach in New York is a spiritual and artistic container for the students and myself to grow in relationship to each other, God, and the icons. It’s an honor to be able to serve such a courageous group of people.

The Art Center in Troy, New York is hosting a student/faculty exhibition of our icons later this month. Here’s the description and you are invited!

Contemporary Icon
January 31 – March 2, 2014 | Faculty Student Gallery
Reception: Friday, January 31, 5-9PM at Troy Night Out | Artist Demonstration at 6:30PM

Master iconographer and faculty member, Christine Simoneau Hales will exhibit her icon paintings along with selected pieces from her past students. Icon writing is a traditional method of painting that dates back to the ancient Byzantine era of using egg tempera, rare natural pigments and gold leaf gilding to create beautiful works of art. Hales takes the step-by-step method of classical painting and infuses it with contemporary inspirations all while keeping with the spiritual subjects found in these works on panel.

I came across the website that offers short introductory art and business classes that looks very good. Here’s the link: Skillshare

Also a link for icon boards that I use and like: St. John’s Workshop.

One last quote from Ouspensky and The Meaning of Icons book to leave you with:

“For a true iconographer, creation is the way of asceticism and prayer, that is, essentially, a monastic way.”

TO see a gallery of my completed icons visit my website, New Christian Icons.

Blessings,

Christine Simoneau Hales

Christmas and Joy!

Dear Fellow Iconographers and Friends:

This is a time of year for all of us to truly participate in Christ’s Presence amongst us. I am starting a new icon of the face of Christ (from a Byzantine model) to carry me through the Christmas season with prayer and thanksgiving to our savior.

The other icon I’ve started recently is that a of Saint Benedict, from a Fra Angelico model.

In the weekly icon class I teach in Albany, New York we have been reading Esther DeWaal’s book “Seeking God” as a way of incorporating a Spiritual rule within our fellowship and practice. “..writing his rule with a community of laymen in mind, his very clear grasp of the principles underlying the commitment underlying the vows remains applicable and valuable to all who are trying to follow Christ.” We are studying this book and its possible applications to iconography.

Here is my Saint Benedict – about 3/4 finished. The best part is the finishing!

My website about teaching Iconography has just been updated with a new materials page for those who want to take class and are curious about what materials are needed. There are useful links for purchasing materials on the site.

Recently one of my spiritual mentors, Randy Clark blessed two of my icons at a conference in PA. Here is the video that my husband, Mick, took of the moment. Randy Clark is a non denominational Pastor and teacher with a world wide ministry of healing. He was praying that God’s healing grace would bless people through the icons. One of my icons is on the cover of his wonderful teaching on Communion.

One of my early teachers-Vladislav Andreyev has created a lovely instructional video on how to write an icon which I highly recommend. Here is a link to a promotional video which shows some of the steps of icon writing and describes his dvd.

That’s all for this month. Have a wonderful, Christ filled Christmas! As always I look forward to your comments and iconography events. If you email me with icon information I will try to post it in the next blog.

Blessings,
Christine Simoneau Hales

www.newchristianicons.com www.christinehales.com

November Icon Blog 2013

Dear Fellow Iconographers:

First, thanks to all of you who are bearing with my faulty web/blog process for these many months while I try to turn this ship around! You will notice a new format here – one which I hope will allow more readability and easier transfer of information, photos and links. As always, your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

The Icon Class I teach at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albany has evolved into a lovely group desiring to form the Saint Luke’s Guild of Iconography, whose initial main purpose is spreading the joy of icons throughout the world. Saint Luke, the physician and Gospel writer, is our patron Saint and we are reading Esther deWaal’s “Seeking God” The Rule of Saint Benedict, for spiritual inspiration in the formation of our community. There is an excellent Face Book page for the Guild, set up by Jennifer Richard-Morrow.

I will be teaching a new icon writing class for beginners at the Art Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY on Thursday afternoons beginning in March 2014.

For information about taking icon writing classes visit: iconwritingclasses.com or newchristianicons.com

We begin each class with prayer using an icon, and share a time of intercessory prayer for those who are ill and need healing. Currently myself and the students in the class have an exhibition “The Art of Devotion” at the Slate Valley Museum in Granville, New York, through the end of November. This show has attracted a lot of community attention and has been drawing people into the museum who hadn’t visited previously.

I have the honor of having my Christ in Glory Icon on the cover of the 2014 Missal for Oregon Catholic Press. So happy when more people get to experience the joy of icons!

I’d like to share some photos of the icon gilding workshop I took with Peter Murphy, from the UK. It was a superb class and I highly recommend it for next year. This is the water gilding method – not for the faint of heart!

Peter Murphy’s website

The workshop was held in Fairfax, Virginia, organized by Veronica Royal.

“In all that he did in service of the Temple of God and in his effort to follow the law and the commands, Hezekia sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result he was very successful.” 2 Chronicles 31:21

Father, help us to please You in writing icons. We seek Your face and cherish Your Presence in the process of icon writing. Amen.

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