Creation of the Week #67 - Patrick C Rivera

Brave Little Typewriter

If you’re anything like me, nostalgia can be real. Autumn and Winter bring it out in a major way. Maybe you have a heart for simpler times, or just really like cool gadgets that make fun clicking noises. In either case, Patrick C Rivera and his Brave Little Typewriter project are sure to add a creative and inspirational spark to your day. It sure got me excited to get up and go make something.

Real talk though. As the digital revolution continues to infiltrate the world around us, it’s impossible to escape the fact that our lives are becoming more and more saturated with keyboards and touchscreens. Soon the alphabet will begin with QWERTY (or QWERTZ for us German-speakers), and the beauty of personalised handwriting and cursive will be lost as mobile phones and tablets replace stationery, paper reams, fountain pens and idk. Ink*. #DamnYouAutocorrect

Patrick C Rivera shows that this sense of nostalgia can intersect beautifully with artistic passion and a heart for ministry.

On the surface, Brave Little Typewriter is a one-man business that restores vintage typewriters. Which in and of itself you gotta admit is pretty dang cool. But dig a little deeper, and you find that Patrick’s passion project is so much more than a flannel-clad hipster’s nostalgic daydream; it is his expression of the appreciation for individuality and intimacy, and we at Catholic Creatives are absolutely here for it.

I really love the way this whole thing got off the ground. Brave Little Typewriter started with a simple need: Patrick’s daughter had read a book about a girl who owned typewriters, and she asked for one of her own for Christmas. So naturally, Patrick helped Santa track down a 1941 Remington typewriter, took the thing apart, put it back together and gifted it to his daughter. Tell me that doesn’t give you all of the feels. In the months that followed, Patrick took on additional typewriter restoration projects, posting pictures of his work to social media along the way. This led to contacts reaching out to ask about buying typewriters for themselves.

One of these individuals was Paul Massell of New Eve Media. Paul, like Patrick, recognized and appreciated the beauty in the design and build of these typewriters, as well as the ingenuity of Patrick’s garage-based typewriter business. This prompted Paul and his colleague Jacob Spence to meet Patrick and chronicle the story of Brave Little Typewriter.

I got my creative spark playing in garage bands in the ‘00s. Safe to say, Brave Little Typewriter blows emo-fringe-hair-Jude out of the water when it comes to garage-based artistic endeavors.

Personally, I find Patrick’s project inspirational on a number of levels. First and foremost, his work serves as a constant reminder to him of the individuality of the user of each and every typewriter he takes on. I’ll let him explain:

Every typewriter has a story. Some come with phone numbers and addresses etched into them underneath; driver's licenses and social security numbers; office badges or nameplates; they come with residual imprints of their previous owner. These imprints of the typewriter's story are unique because they were used as part of the previous owner's story telling. I am blessed to continue those stories.

Patrick C Rivera

Mate. Yes. I love the intentionality Patrick gives to taking on a piece of equipment that has been used and worn-in by a previous owner. It’s something we all relate to. Maybe it’s a nicely broken-in baseball glove you’ve purchased secondhand. Or an old acoustic violin you found in your grandfather’s attic. Or maybe a coat or dress your grandma used to wear. I play a 1952 Gibson guitar that was literally in 12 pieces before my mate and I began restoring it. We named it Lazarus, because…well…yeah. But Brave Little Typewriter takes the beauty of weathered instruments and turns it into something that can literally be given for someone else to hold, a personal note as a physical, tactile sign of human connection. What many people write off as wear-and-tear, Patrick sees as an individual’s story, etched -- sometimes literally -- into the walls of the machine he is bringing back to life.

Each typewriter provides more than just a glimpse into the past. Patrick also sees the present value of the typewriter as anything but obsolete. Sure, iMessage and WhatsApp may be able to get a message around the world in seconds. But a typewritten note brings a mindfulness and personal connection that is lacking in the digital age. Just as a handwritten letter is unique to the individual writing it, no two typewritten notes are identical. This line Patrick says in the New Eve video hit me like a ton of bricks:

When you type on a typewriter, no person typing a note is going to have the exact same note, because every single person types differently, with a different level of force. Each typewritten note or letter is just as unique as the person who wrote it.

Patrick C Rivera

Woof. That gives me all of the goosebumps. 

Now I don’t know about you, but I definitely need to track down a typewriter and have Patrick restore it for me. Keep up the great work, mate, and we are stoked to keep up with you and all the amazing things you’re doing with Brave Little Typewriter!

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by Benjamin Jude

Worship Leader / Recording Artist
CC Admin

Creation of the Week 65 - Tianna Williams: Oil Painting of St. Gianna Molla

Tianna Williams is at it again, this time working on an oil painting of St. Gianna Molla. If you haven’t seen her beautiful paintings, or any of the stunning time-lapse videos that she’s done of her painting process, check it out here!

Personally I never got past a 1st-grade painting level, and in my attempts to recreate fire trucks and dinosaurs I really only succeeded in getting paint all over several of my patient homeschooling Mom’s belongings. As a result my commentary comes more from my appreciation of the art of painting than any semblance of experience in it.

That being said, I find Tianna’s work to be uplifting and inspiring on multiple levels. Incidentally she is also a talented Graphic Designer, Web Designer, and Photographer, but I’d like to focus here on her prowess at oil painting, and specifically the piece she’s currently working on, of St. Gianna Molla.

One of the things I find fascinating about Tianna’s work, is her process of drawing inspiration. Before the actual painting even started, Tianna looked to the CC community for inspiration, in this post:

“It’s been on my heart for a few months now to paint an image of St. Gianna Molla (and God keeps reminding me... pretty much every day, haha). But I’m struggling with how to portray her... In all the famous photos and in every painting I’ve seen she is holding her babies—which is lovely and iconic but I feel like I’m supposed to something more than simply copy a photo. I think part of the struggle is that I’m only passingly familiar with her story. So. Those of you who love her—what about her inspires you the most? What details of her story stood out to you? How do you imagine her? What kind of painting would you love to see? I’m in the stage of gathering ideas and inspiration, as I’m still a few weeks away from starting the painting, so I’m open to all suggestions!”

— Tianna Williams, April 30, 2019

A series of beautiful reflections on the figure of St. Gianna Molla ensued, and from the looks of it Tianna has drawn from this inspiration in a beautiful way.

The image is vibrant and full of life. As with all of her other saint portraits, you can almost feel the character of St. Gianna bursting off of the canvas. Her spirit as wife and mother shines in her eyes, and her lab coat covering her everyday clothing alludes to her role as a professional woman. She is surrounded by white flowers, among which lilies, roses, daffodils are immediately recognizable, pointing perhaps to the way she lived purity in her vocation as wife and mother. Her gaze is lifted to heaven, with hope and quiet joy. It’s still a work in progress, but I can’t wait to see the finished piece!

We reached out to Tianna to share a bit about herself and her work, and here’s what she said:

“I was raised in a ministry family. My father is a Catholic evangelist and singer/songwriter, and his concert tours took us all over the USA and Canada. So, from an early age, I was given a great appreciation for the power of art in communicating the beauty and goodness of God.

We are all artists in my family, stretching back generations. For as long as I can remember, we’ve been encouraged to not only use our gifts to the best of our ability—drawing, painting, music, video, writing—but to use them for the glory of God and love of neighbour.

I’ve carried that with me into adulthood, into the graphic design & photography business I began at age 16 and now into my ministry as an oil painter. Every painting is a prayer—a journey with the saints into the wilderness of my soul, where I encounter Christ so that I can share him with the world through my art. Always, always, I desire to be no more than a mirror reflecting the beauty of God.

I live in Alberta, Canada, with my husband and 3-year-old daughter. I love to paint first thing in the morning after a strong dose of coffee and prayer. You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook (@artbytispark) for updates of my latest paintings, videos, and blog posts. You can also check out my website at ti-spark.ca.

Oh, and it’s pronounced tEE-spark.”

— Tianna Williams

When our art becomes a prayer, we’ve attained what’s at the very core of creativity. Our own creations are united to the Creator upon whom all creative work rests. We take our place in his work of creation, and share the light that we have been given. This is at the heart of Tianna Williams’ achievements, and shines through everything that she creates. Her work inspires, uplifts, and encourages us in our own search for God, on and off the field of practicing our craft.

You can contact Tianna or hire her for oil painting and photography needs!

The final painting of St. Gianna Molla by Tianna Williams

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 64 - Alex Quintana: On Fear, Drones and Volcanoes

Drone videography is something else. Pretty much anyone who has tried it will agree; there’s nothing quite like the feeling of lifting your heart and mind to the skies, while your feet remain firmly planted on the ground. Our earth-bound existence is such that the changing our point of view by only a dozen feet into the air captures the imagination like few other fields.

This week we’re looking more closely at a video called “Hidden Victory” that Alex Quintana published a few weeks ago, featuring Volcanoes in Guatemala. The drone-work and timelapse work of the video are outstanding. I think the biggest challenge of this medium is lighting and coloring; it’s a wild, changing, moving setting, and overexposure is a constant threat lurking behind every cloud waiting to jump out and zap your sensor and blast your color range into oblivion.

Alex knocked it out of the park. He’s captured and balanced the colors, showing full and vibrant scenes, (almost always) perfectly exposed, across normal shots, aerial shots, and time-lapse exposures. The piece is balanced, beautiful, has a compelling soundtrack, and most importantly packs a punch with a powerful message about breaking out of the fear that holds us back from being who we are made to be.

Here’s the video:

Check out Alex's film and photography portfolio here.

In his own words:

“I’m a filmmaker from Austin, TX, where I began developing the craft. I now live in Guatemala, where my wife is from.

This new chapter in this beautiful country led me to shift towards photography and start AQUI Studio.
Back in February, I was brought onto a volcanic expedition as a professional photography guide and had the opportunity to capture the footage I used to create this video. The voice-over I wrote stems from my own creative struggles, which I believe we all face.

Fear keeps us from pursuing our biggest dreams, yet in overcoming that fear we are fully able to realize the unique purpose that God created us for. If fulfilled, this purpose ripples out into a culture in great need of noble pursuits.

I’ve been fortunate to work behind the camera on projects that have aired on CNN, TNT, Showtime, National Geographic, Netflix, and in theaters around the US. The secular environment has been a great training ground to develop my skills and voice.

Please pray for me as I strive to break my own chains of fear and let what’s hidden burst forth!

You can find my film work at www.alexquintanafilms.com and my photography work at www.aqui.studio.”

— Alex Quintana

What Alex says really speaks for itself. Fear is not from God. So that leaves one guess as to where, or better whom, it comes from. It’s a temptation. A temptation to smallness, to inefficiency, to holding back from doing what we are called to do and having the impact we are created to have. I think we can learn a lot from Alex’s example, and from that of so many others around us who push forward in spite of their fear. Break those chains. It may not lead you to flying a drone over a volcano in Guatemala, but I guarantee you it will take you to new horizons of possibility and impact.

You can contact Alex or hire him for your film and photography needs!

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 63 - Joseph Barringhaus: Photography

In a world where almost everyone has a phone, and almost every phone has a camera, we’re constantly surrounded by photography. Technology has gotten so good, that to some it may be hard to understand the skill that is required to capture something extraordinary. The knowledge and techniques that a photographer must employ, working with varying light and almost constant motion, swapping lenses, adjusting settings, all the while watching the framing of the shot and the positioning and focus of their subject, often with only one chance to capture key moments, make it an art form that is very difficult to master.

This week we’re highlighting Joseph Barringhaus, who among his other endeavors is an accomplished photographer. Joseph’s broad work experience includes portrait work, sporting event coverage, other event work, and videography. A few weeks ago he photographed the Archdiocesan Youth Conference for Galveston-Houston, and captured some truly gorgeous shots of Benediction:

Photo Credit: Joseph Barringhaus/Downrock Creative

Photo Credit: Joseph Barringhaus/Downrock Creative

Photo Credit: Joseph Barringhaus/Downrock Creative

Check out Joseph's portfolio here!

In his own words:

“My name is Joseph Barringhaus. I’ve recently accepted a job as the Director of Marketing and Events for a Catholic Church in Grapevine, TX. Between working full time and planning a wedding with my future bride, I work as a freelance photographer and marketer in the DFW area as well as doing photography with a local studio. My goal has never been to be a Catholic creative only. Don’t get me wrong, I love being Catholic, I love the Catholic Creative community, and I really enjoy Catholic photography/events, hence why I’m a freelance photographer for Catholic events, but my goal is really to be a great photographer and marketer, a great creative, in all aspects of my craft and also be Catholic. That’s what drives me to get better as a photographer and marketer, as a creative, and to try new things. Knowing that I can be authentically Catholic in every aspect of my work and that that identity shows throughout every aspect of my work. That’s why I’m a Catholic Creative.”

— Joseph Barringhaus

I love what Joseph says about identity, that being authentically Catholic must shine through every aspect of our work. I think he has grasped the core of what being a Catholic Creative is all about. Whatever our art form might be, wherever we have been placed to create, and however we make that happen, all of these are bound together and lifted high with the strength of our faith, uniting us and our work with God the uncreated Creator, in whose sacred Act of Creation we have somehow been privileged enough to participate.

We wish Joseph the best in his future endeavors; feel free to contact him or hire him for your photography needs!

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 62 - Nicholas McCann: Freelance Logo Design Work

Logo Design is one of the most challenging areas of graphic design. To create an image that contains within itself the core identity of the organization in question, in a way that is easy to read, easy to remember, and recognisable at a distance, is a very challenging thing.

I feel like creating a good logo is like mastering another language. When you really want to speak another language well, it’s not enough to memorize vocabulary, irregular verbs, or key phrases, piecing together the elements that the language is comprised of. There’s much more to it. Language is the verbal expression of a whole cultural reality, and in order to speak the language “like a native”, you have to assimilate that culture at an intense level.

Logo design works the same way; you have to understand what a company is about, what it stands for, the geographical context it operates in, the age, dreams, desires, and fears of its customers. You have to take all that information, and create something that brings it all into one small space. And that is tough.

I think this is why there are so many who attempt freelance logo design, and yet so few who really excel at it. So when we find someone who has really nailed the logo design process, it’s a remarkable achievement.

This week we’re highlighting Nicholas McCann, a graphic artists from Austin who’s fascinating logo work encapsulates the look and feel of the southwest, blending bright colors, cultural elements, and a focused approach that makes his logos both appealing and memorable.

In his own words:

“I am a freelance graphic artist and brand consultant based in Austin, Texas.

I specialize in creating hand-made and sleek-modern graphics for small and large business’s visual identity (logos, icons, illustrations, patterns, typography, color libraries etc.). The style that I work in is uniquely southwestern at its core and can adapt to meet your needs. Whether the need is for a set of vintage icons that use the desert for inspiration, a gritty campaign that taps into the roughness of the cowboy lifestyle, or establishing a brand to have an overall feeling of the American southwest, I’m your man to do the job!

Give me a holler if you want a southwestern spin to your business and want the job done well!”

— Nicholas McCann

Check out Nicholas’ portfolio here! The variety that he has been able to create, while paying such close attention to his clients’ cultural reality, is outstanding.

My main takeaway from studying Nicholas’ work a little more deeply is that our art is valuable and it is needed. In a world so full of ugliness, so many people around us are waiting for more beauty to be added to their lives, and very often they’re ready to pay for it. Don’t be afraid to get your work out there, to grow it, build it, improve it, sell it. Find your market and go to town. You’ve been entrusted with the sacred spark of divine beauty; don’t hide it under the bushel basket of fear, self-doubt, laziness or excuses. Let it shine.

Feel free to contact Nicholas or hire him to make you a great logo!

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 61 - Sean Beeson - Soundtrack Composition for Word On Fire

Music has an almost unparalleled power to stir our emotions, striking chords within us that we may not even have known were there before. Music is also a central element in scriptural imagery, as well as in much of mythology. Tolkien fans will recall the Ainulindalë, in which the creation account of Middle Earth is framed in a breathtaking symphonic narrative. C.S. Lewis’ account of the creation of Narnia portrays the world literally being sung into existence by the great Lion, Aslan.

I believe that this is no accident. I believe there’s music written into our hearts and into the world around us in a way that words fail to describe, the pounding throb of ecstasy that can only recall from afar the echoes of the voice of God speaking in our hearts.

This week we’re highlighting Sean Beeson, a musician, composer, and digital audio production master. Recently Sean composed the soundtrack for the trailer for the next “Pivotal Players” production from Bishop Barron and Word on Fire. Enjoy:

The music in this piece is beautiful, evoking feelings ranging from epic raw emotional power to peaceful focused harmony, supplementing and supporting the flow of the piece without distracting or calling attention to itself above the narrative of voices and imagery.

And yet every creation points not to itself, but to the mind of its creator. Sean Beeson is a remarkable example of artistic creator and polished professional, besides being an all around solid guy, husband and father, with a great sense of humor and a heart for service. And he rocks a mustache, which is a rare accomplishment!

In his own words:

“I am a 34 year old composer, producer, and sound designer who lives in rural Ohio. I am a husband and father to five children. We are parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus Bethlehem, Ohio where I am also a music teacher a few hours a week (to teach my own army of children!!) and a choir director, pianist, and organist.

As a composer I have worked on hundreds of sacred and secular media projects including games, films, trailers, ads, with clients like Google, SpiritJuice, Word on Fire, Taco Bell, Disney, Sprout Studio, Wizards of the Coast, and Sony.

As a sound designer, I have designed sounds for Google apps, and hardware devices as a UX sound designer.

What I do is driven by my passion to create emotionally engaging music, and fueled by technology. I use cutting edge tools to create authentic sounding scores using a stack of workstation computers and also working with live musicians and orchestras when the projects allow for it!

I sit down at an acoustic piano and sketch ideas out until I find something that I feel strengthens the core purpose of the project, be it emotional music, neutral underscore, or intense, driven themes. I then begin to mockup the idea into a fully-produced, realized version of the sketch, tweaking it as needed until it fits the final projects perfectly.

It is my job as a composer to bring extra beauty, life, intensity (or lack thereof!), to your visual art. What I am doing is engineering music to evoke whatever emotional response will help a project sound its best.”

— Sean Beeson

Sean was highlighted in this short from the Benedict XVI Institute, created by Spirit Juice Studios.

Personally I’m a well-intentioned and enthusiastic, but unpolished and undisciplined musician. So for me Sean’s prowess is particularly inspiring and uplifting. But I think all of us can learn from his example.

To see him continue to pursue, improve, and share his music with the world in the midst of the duties of life and family, with such determination and grace, is extraordinary.

Don’t give up on your art, people. It isn’t always, or even often, easy, but it will always be worthwhile, and if you put in the effort, you will reap the reward of mastery.

Feel free to contact Sean or hire him for all your digital music needs!

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 60 - Joe Pelletier - Unleash the Gospel Video: "Reading the Bible"

It seems like everywhere we turn, we see division, pain, and darkness. Even inside the Church itself, we’re constantly confronted with examples of human brokenness and the the pain that that brings in its wake. It can feel like the work we do in evangelization isn’t enough, and isn’t making a difference. But if we look around we find that we’re not alone, and that there are lots of positive things happening in the Church. Unleash the Gospel is a prime example.

If you haven’t heard of Unleash the Gospel, you should really check them out. It’s an evangelization program started by the Archdiocese of Detroit that has been making waves due to their cutting-edge approach to the New Evangelization. With their website, videos, magazine, and other means of outreach, they have created a powerhouse for spreading the joy of the gospel. This week we have the unique opportunity to study one of the pieces created by their team, and learn a bit more about one of the talented individuals behind it.

I’m speaking specifically about the piece that AOD did featuring Fr. Mario Amore on how to approach reading Sacred Scripture. You you can view it here:

I find this particular piece is remarkable in several ways, very much in keeping with the achievements of the program as a whole. The motion graphics work is intricate, clean, modern, and adds a great visual aid to the commentary, without distracting from it. Making the processes of scriptural exegesis available and relatable is a daunting task, but the combined simplicity and precision of the writing of this piece, combined with that spot-on visual storytelling, make this a unique and compelling accomplishment.

I reached out to Joe Pelletier, who made the video, because I wanted to understand more about the Unleash the Gospel program, and about the individuals who are working to make that vision a reality. Here’s what Joe kindly sent me:

“I work in the Communications Department for the Archdiocese of Detroit as one of a three-man video team. With such a small crew we get to wear many hats and work in everything from on-set video production to editing and post-production to motion graphics.

This project in particular is part of an ongoing series featuring Fr. Mario Amore, pastor of St Aloysius Parish in downtown Detroit, giving his personal reflections on common questions Catholics and non-Catholics may have.

The idea behind producing motion graphics on top of the recorded audio (as opposed to simply releasing the audio track on its own) is to give as much visual aid to the audience as possible given the sometimes complex nature of the topics. Some of the themes lend themselves well to visual accompaniment and others are a bit more abstract so it’s always a creative challenge trying to find the best way to present. I draw a lot of inspiration from the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism books, which are absolutely brilliant in illuminating theologically deep concepts in simple illustrations.

In a way this series embodies the spirit of the Unleash the Gospel movement happening in the Archdiocese of Detroit. If we can present the world with simple, easily digestible kernels of truth packaged in an engaging presentation, we’ve provided them with an attractive shallow entry point into the ocean of God’s richness.

Some of my fondest childhood memories involve watching old James Stewart and Bing Crosby films with my grandfather. Those classic movies are so rich in virtue and demonstrate the incredible potential of the visual mediums, film in particular, as a force for good. From an early age I was hooked.

Being husband to an amazing young woman and father to a curious one year old boy has helped me to realize that, as Samwise put it, there is indeed good in this world and it is worth fighting for. Beauty, truth and goodness will always be worth fighting for.

I’m a bit on the quiet side so I couldn’t be more blessed than to be able to share the treasures of the Catholic faith through art and hopefully spark in someone else the same feelings of joy and hope I experienced as a little boy watching “The Bells of St. Mary’s” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

— Joe Pelletier

I think anyone can benefit from Joe’s example, and from what Unleash the Gospel is doing. He is very good at what he does, and his faith provides the rock-solid foundation for his life and work in evangelization. If you haven’t checked out what Unleash the Gospel is doing, it’s worth taking a look at, and imitating. These guys are on the front lines of evangelization today, working to spread the light of the gospel in a world that seems to be growing more and more dark.

So if you feel like your work isn’t making a difference, or if it feels like a drop in the ocean of problems that surround us, take courage, and keep fighting. Don’t be afraid to let your light shine, because it’s nothing less than the light of Christ light shining within you.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.”

— John 1:5

Feel free to contact Joe or check out the Unleash the Gospel website to learn more.

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 59 - Charles Collins' Glassworks

Art is broad reality, the multifaceted expression of the human experience, our innate search for beauty and truth that is nothing less than the thirst for God in our hearts. Among all the art forms out there, at least in my opinion, one of the ones that best blends practical application with aesthetic power, is the art of glass blowing.

Creating something that is designed to be both useful and beautiful is remarkable. Add working at mind-boggling temperatures into the mix, and you have quite a unique craft. And that’s exactly what Charles Collins loves most about this medium, and we’re featuring his work this week. He recently created a set of whiskey glasses that are not only hand-blown, but are inlaid with gold leaf. I reached out to Charles for an intro:

“My name is Charles Collins. I was raised in Mobile, Alabama, one of five children. I have an older sister and three younger brothers. I graduated from the University of South Alabama as a four-time letterman in Track & Field throwing the javelin. While earning a degree in Sports Management I started blowing and manipulating glass in my senior year. During that first class three years ago, I fell in love with the art form.

After graduation, on a leap of faith, I moved to Houston, Texas to intern at Western Academy, a private liberal arts school for boys. I have just completed my first year as a full-time teacher for Western Academy as the Art Director, P.E. Coach, Assistant Football Coach, and Head Track & Field Coach.

Upon moving to Houston, I found a small glass studio, Three Dimensional Visions, where I continued my passion for glass blowing. After a few months of renting time at the studio, Three Dimensional Visions offered me an internship which turned into a part time position as an assistant Gaffer (glass blower). With this opportunity I was able to start my own Glass Crafting business. I blow glass because I love the danger of it all and the beauty that results.

Gathering glass at 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit, stretching, shaping, blowing, to form something that compliments the light so well is like nothing else. The way the glass feels, how it moves, and the limitless applications are all very exciting. Glass Blowing and coaching are my passions, I am blessed to be able to do both.”

— Charles Collins

To me this is the sign of a true artist and artisan: his passion and excitement for what he does. He talks about glass blowing the way I talk about pulled pork, but that’s a separate issue. As someone who’s been interested in glass blowing for a while, I found it fascinating to hear about the art form from an insider, someone who actually does it for a living. After reading his introduction I spent more time than I’d like to admit to watching glass blowing videos on YouTube. Don’t start down that path; you’ve been warned.

Here are a few samples of his work.

I think Charles’ example is remarkable because he has discovered his main passions in life, and what’s more has put in the hard work that it takes to master them and make a living doing them. As a collegiate athlete, a coach, and an Artist and craftsman, his dedication to what he does is an invitation to all of us to find what we love, and then master what we find. Maybe our achievements won’t happen at 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit, but that same effort and determination are invaluable assets in the pursuit of our art, and of our dreams.

Feel free to contact Charles, or hire him for customized glass creations.

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 58 - Nicholas DeRose and Ascension's "Confession is a Place of Victory"

A few weeks ago the Catholic Community buzzed with the launch of a video called “Confession is a Place of Victory”, part of Ascension Press’ awesome new series called The 99. Featuring the unforgettable Fr. Mike Schmitz, and the beautiful animation work of the legendary Todd Bright, the video is a stellar accomplishment from many perspectives: cinematography, animation, storytelling, and evangelization, to name a few. Here it is, if you haven’t seen it yet:

Confession is not an easy topic, in any circle, and it is probably one of the most widely misunderstood and most heavily under-appreciated means of sanctification that the Church offers. Taking full advantage of Fr. Mike’s uncanny ability to explain things in a way that is refreshingly engaging, memorable, and relatable, the Ascension team has presented the sacrament in a way that anyone can connect with.

Artistically, the project is a masterpiece. The look and feel that the crew was able to achieve, with the help of some huge lights and expert color grading, is stunning. It blends perfectly with the beautiful animations to create a work of art in the truest sense, that simultaneously enlightens, uplifts, and teaches the viewer.

While this video is obviously the accomplishment of many people, we wanted to focus in a little bit on the man who directed it, Nicholas DeRose. After working for years with Ascension Press, Nicholas has recently struck out on his own.

Anyone who has made the jump into freelancing or starting their own business, especially if they are supporting a young family, can attest to the daunting nature of that decision. It takes guts to leave the security of a steady paycheck and a regular schedule, and expand into unknown horizons to make it on your own. But the possibilities that open up in front of you when you take a step like that often prove to be beyond your wildest dreams.

I reached out to Nicholas for a bit of an intro:

I am the Founder and Director of Visual Rose Productions.

I grew up loving movies and how they were made. Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Lost left huge impressions on me. My mom homeschooled my siblings and I growing up and that’s where I fell in love with Catholicism.

It’ll be eight years this September that I will have been married to my beautiful wife. Being a father of three has really changed my perspective of beauty. Before kids I thought of beauty in terms of music, lighting, art, video and I still think that’s all true but what’s even more beautiful are the small moments, the memories, the interactions I experience with my wife and children.

I love being a father to them like God is a father to me. Being a husband and father is and will always be the most thrilling adventure of my life. It’s in the home with family and God that beauty is found.

I worked ten years for Ascension and have recently jumped into doing my business full-time. I learned a lot from my time there and it’s been an adjustment for me and my family over the past few months but we are beginning to settle in to the new role / schedule. Having more autonomy over my work and spending more time with family has been huge. I love what I do and I am excited for this journey that God has me on.

I think that’s a pretty remarkable approach, and one that anyone can benefit from imitating. To me it seems evident that Nicholas is a man of God, a man for his family, and a master of his craft, and that’s a combination that is not easy to find. Oh and his demo reel is pretty fantastic, if you haven’t seen it.

If fear is keeping you from taking a leap, or even a step, in your life or career, look to examples of people like Nicholas DeRose. They are living proof that although it’s not easy, it’s worth it, and that when you expand beyond the horizon of what you know, you begin to understand the extent of your potential.

Feel free to contact Nicholas, or hire him for any of your film needs.

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 57 - Chris Alles' St. Charles Borromeo

In this day and age, it sometimes seems like practically anything can be called art, and no questions are asked. So when we come across a true masterpiece, the breathtaking result of decades of the painstakingly determined mastery of a centuries-old craft, it is a stunning accomplishment.  This is exactly what Chris Alles has achieved.  

This week we’re featuring Chris for his bronze-cast statue of St. Charles Borromeo that he created for the church of St. Charles Borromeo in Montgomery Township, NJ. A brief visit to his website portfolio reveals that his talents go far beyond his bronzework, but that’s the focus of today’s post. Check out Chris’ freelancer profile or portfolio.

Chris is a sculptor currently residing in New York.  He began drawing at the age of two, but it was not until sixteen years later that he began to take art seriously. His passion for art ultimately led him to Florence, Italy, where he apprenticed for six months under sculptor Dony MacManus. 

There, he discovered the beauty and power of the Italian Renaissance masters, and in the presence of the raw energy of their work, he encountered the need to become a sculptor.

After his time in Italy, Christopher returned to his hometown of Portland, Oregon and continued his studies with Polish sculptor Tomasz Misztal. Under Misztal’s guidance, he discovered how to link the influence of the past with that of the present. 

Consequently, his work often references and quotes artists ranging from the Renaissance to the early to mid-twentieth century. The primary process behind the creation of his art consists of a study from the past and its development to now, then responding to the contemporary world in light of this study.

Christopher has been commissioned for projects throughout the US, from church restoration projects to religious statuary, including most recently a set of reliquaries for the St. Joseph Dominican Province.

© Christopher Alles

© Christopher Alles

© Christopher Alles

© Christopher Alles

© Christopher Alles

In 2018, Monsignor Gregory Malovetz, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Montgomery Township, NJ, commissioned Christopher Alles to sculpt an image of the saint. The pastor and artist decided together to depict a typical scene from the Saint’s life: St. Charles serving the poor. Christopher decided to focus on the penitential aspect of this relationship, showing Borromeo receiving the poor man’s confession. Here one can clearly see quotes from Rembrandt’s famous Prodigal Son painting.

“We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. The prophet says: ‘I will pray, and then I will understand.’ This is the way we can easily overcome the countless difficulties we have to face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work. In meditation we find the strength to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in others.”

— St. Charles Borromeo

If I have learned anything from Chris, it’s to never give up in the pursuit of mastery.  We are all given gifts and talents that it is our task to develop, perfect, and ultimately put at the service of God and others.  It’s precisely in the often unrewarding daily drudgery, the small steps towards perfection, that from our own clay we will one day find our own masterpiece taking shape.

Feel free to contact Chris, or hire him if you’re in the market for timeless bronze masterpieces.

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 56 - Laura Allen's Bulletin Design

This week we’re featuring Laura Allen.  Laura is a writer and director, who shoots and edits event videography and habitually works on film projects which raise awareness for schools, charities, and nonprofits, all endeavors she is passionate about.  She lives and works in New Jersey, and is a charming, creative and talented individual. Check out her freelancer profile and portfolio! 

Laura stirred things up a few weeks ago for what might seem to be a side project; her beautiful bulletin design for the People of Hope community.  “Beautiful” is not usually the first word that comes to most people’s minds when they think about most Church bulletins, but the work that Laura has done here truly breaks that stereotype.  Her use of balanced fonts, discrete, gentle color combinations, and a pleasant and engaging layout all combine into what has to be one of the prettiest bulletin designs I’ve ever seen.  

To me this hits the heart of what the New Evangelization is all about: presenting the eternal truths of the faith in a new and engaging way.  While I wouldn’t call Church bulletin design an eternal truth, the current system does feel pretty eternal, and this new approach is a breath of fresh air that any Church or organization could benefit from imitation. Here’s a snippet from her profile: 

“I am a little pencil in the hand of God. Whatever he writes is beautiful”

-St Teresa of Calcutta

It’s funny. I am a writer and filmmaker who has had a long, hard, struggle to accept that I am a writer and filmmaker. That I’m a creator and a creative. Growing up, these seemed like very silly, even self-centered pursuits.

I’ve always loved the Lord and wanted to serve him, but for some reason, for the longest time, I thought that had to look a certain way. That it had to be heroic.  That I had to be a missionary, or be serving the poor in a foreign land, or a campus minister, or a nun and that any other form of service was somehow a waste. But Christ, in his patience and tenderness has slowly been teaching me that to serve him is to simply be a little pencil in his hand.  And, for me, I’m learning, that means creating. Creating is my way of loving others. 

It’s a walk of trust to believe that making meaningful things can change hearts. That Christ can move and grow, if we’re humble enough to be simple sowers of seeds. And that’s how I see what I do: to make little films is a simple sowing of seeds. How beautiful it is that we artists have the opportunity to evangelize simply, in smallness, and then to watch in faith as God does the rest.”

Laura’s example is a great reminder to all of us, living out our faith in the creative field, to not hinder or hide the God-given gifts and talents that we have been blessed with, to seek and find Him in the beauty that is all around us, and where there doesn’t seem to be much beauty, like perhaps in some Church bulletins, to put it there, and watch how He is able to work through it. 

Feel free to contact Laura or hire her for design or video work! 

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by Nik Sternhagen

Marketing Specialist at Catholic Support Services

Creation of the Week 54 - Novum Collective

With the revolutionary advancements of the technology, transportation, Internet, social media, etc., collaboration is no longer as difficult as it once was, and yet in the Catholic world it is still often times a source of power left untapped. That’s why I was so pumped when I saw the Novum crew’s newest collaboration, the Novum Collective Christmas Album. It’s not because their site is amazing or because I absolutely love every piece of art on there. I think it’s all great, but the fact that they are teaming up to put their collective energy and effort behind a common cause together, that’s what gets me pumped.

I remember three years ago feeling totally alone and like I was the only one who thought the way I think about creativity in the Church. Now I’m friends with a couple thousand new like minded people, some of whom I feel like I’ve been to war and back with. 40% of our clients at Sherwood Fellows have come from the CC community, 100% of our team members and freelancers have been brought together through the community, I’ve been mentored, I’ve been challenged, I’ve been stretched to my limit and beyond it, and literally everything in my life is better for it.

Sometimes I feel like a crazy person when I tell people that CC is one of the most powerful forces for transformation in the Church today. When I say that, I don’t mean the organization behind Catholic Creatives, because (shhh don’t tell anyone) there isn’t some big organization behind Catholic Creatives. I mean the decentralized network that’s powering crazy things like this wacked out crowdfunding campaign from Novum Co.

Here’s the reality: Most of us musicians, artisans, makers, and artists are really in the beginning stages of our careers and the odds are mostly stacked against us. We have might have 1-5k followers on our social media platforms and we’ve fought hard for each and every one of them. We’re not that connected, and though we’re talented, we don’t have access to the kind of force multiplier following that let Audrey Assad jump ship from her label and go solo. We don’t have big names, there’s not a connected economy for what we do that’s supported like it is in the protestant world, we don’t have a lot of mentors or infrastructures that exist to help us. That’s how I felt 3 years ago, and CC has totally changed that for me. Now I’m getting to see that happening for others as well.

As the Catholic Creatives movement picks up momentum,a great side effect has been a new awareness of other creative communities around the country (and globe).  With this greater connectivity comes greater potential. Will Hickle, Eric Wilkes, and all the other people involved in Novum saw the distributed network of CC and saw it for the force multiplier it is. What was once Novum (just Eric and Will doing their thing) they’ve expanded into a collective of Catholic creatives musicians who are putting out a super sweet Christmas Album together. They are crowdfunding it not simply by preselling the album, but by teaming up with a whole bunch of other Catholic Creative artists to sell unique Christmas gifts.

I asked Will why the move towards collaboration, and he told me that it started with the music:

“in my experience musical collaborations yield amazing results when compared to trying to do it on my own.” YES WILL. PREACH. He talked about how they leaned on each other’s talents and gifts to make the music amazing, but looked to leverage each other’s following by opening it up to one another. By collaborating instead of going it alone, “we build awareness of every artist that’s a part of the project. Every artist gets exposure to every other artists’ following.”

Everyone reading this, be like Will. Will was smart. He saw that his following might not be that big, but if he joined with 12 artists who all also have small followings, those numbers turn into a force to be reckoned with. 12x5,000=60,000. That’s a tide that can raise all ships.

Collaboration is smart, but it’s also what’s best for our souls. Will was really emphatic about that point when I asked him about how this project got rolling. He told me that as a part of the process all the musicians cleared their schedules to go on a writers retreat together. “I personally have never experienced such a wave of inspiration that came from being around so many creative people. Many of us had never been so productive or so excited to write music. Sadly I've observed that many circles of creatives work in isolation - a lot of people work alone because of schedules, location, or lack of community.  This is where CC offers hope, and if you're reading this I encourage you to reach out to someone you've seen on the group that you have thought "I would love to work with them"!

Listen to Will. Find a team. Also, go buy some Christmas gifts on their site and support them. Their crowdfunding ends on Friday, so go show ‘em some love.

By Marcellino D’Ambrosio
Cofounder of Catholic Creatives
Creative Director of Sherwood Fellows

Creation of the Week #54 The Pal Campaign

If you struggle to figure out Christmas Presents for all of the white elephant gift exchanges you've got coming up, look no further. The PAL Campaign's got your back.

Those of you who know me, know that I grew up rocking Blink 182 albums in my beat-up old homeschool minivan on the way to some skate spot while I was playing hookey and killing time between rock shows. Needless to say, my Catholic retreat t's have mostly tended to serve as workout shirts, rags, and dust collectors. Thankfully, the Church has picked up it's t-shirt game since I was in high school. Joe Kim of the PAL Campaign (Peace and Love) has been on the front lines of this t-shirt design revival. Take a gander:

Joe's design is super fresh, minimalist, and worthy of wearing by any twenty one pilots fan. His shirt's range from the subtle "Peace" shown above, to more explicitly Catholic designs, but even those are so edgy that you almost put them in a totally different category.

I also love how attentive Joe is to his brand. All of the mockups show good looking artistic people sporting PAL merch the way you'd want it worn. It's quirky, fashionable, and interesting. When I asked Joe what inspired his design style, he had an interesting answer:

"Because I believe that this universal faith we call ours is the most attractive thing in the world, PAL Campaign's products never pander to fleeting trends or desperate attempts to stay relevant. That is the difference. Industry experts assert that the average t-shirt is read about 3,000 times before it gets discarded. Because of this, a core value behind the design process is to allow the t-shirts to solicit questions about their meaning. It's my prayer that the dialogue created from curiosity can lead one from beauty to goodness, and eventually to truth. "

It's not enough to me for faith based t-shirts to simply be designed according to the current trends. I really need any shirt that I wear say something about the faith that's interesting or different. I love the Verso Alto, Donna Nobis Pacem, and More than Flesh and Bone shirts for that reason. 

PAL Campaign. Do it. 

By Marcellino D'Ambrosio
Catholic Creatives Founder

Creation of the Week #53 Ascension's Marriage is Dance

Ascension has been seriously upping their game over the last few years, and I'm not just saying that because my sister works there. The team has been producing stories with stunning visuals and really rich meaning. They've recently updated their Joy-Filled Marriage series, and thank God they did because speaking as someone currently in marriage prep, let's just say that the gap in production value is noticeable. I've never seen something done by any Catholic organization on marriage that's beautiful, artistic, and shareably short.

Tell people all you want that sex outside of the vision God created for it is wrong. Anyone can do that. But to make someone want the vision that God has for sex, now that is a task for an artist. This video is awesome because it points to God's vision, and lets you feel the difference between that vision and the one the world gives us. The man and the woman dancing are in sync in all of their innocence, strength, and passion.

The team told me that they were given the challenge of addressing sexual honesty in a way that wouldn't be preachy or trite. They said that they instantly knew they wanted to tackle this piece from the perspective of a dance. They couldn't have been more right. There's something so real about how dance shows the complementarity of man and woman, you need only draw attention to it. That's why this can be so powerful, but only 4 minutes long. Christopher West only needed to point to set the stage for the dancers, they did the rest.

The dance is art worth commenting on in and of itself. The choreography captures the dance of man and woman so well. At some moments, the dance is noble, they waken each other's hearts to life, they learn one another, delicately. They embrace with the desperate childlike glee of young love and then chuckle at the jokes that come only with the dignity of years. It makes my heart yearn for marriage even more than I already do. This kind of art should not be an anomaly in the Church. It should be the norm.

My fiance and I did our marriage prep weekend last week. All of us were more or less forced to be there. We watched a talking head video of a Catholic speaker who did a great job explaining to people why they should save sex for marriage and not look at porn. It was fine. It probably didn't do a great job of changing anyone's mind. It is so much harder to create art that lets you taste and feel God's vision for marriage. It's much more costly, but the truth is that it's not worth doing it any other way. We are the only ones who are going to champion the sacraments. Where else are people going to see a glimpse of the beauty God has stored up for them? It has to be us. 

We're proud of you guys for the work you're doing over there at Ascension. It always amazes me how many people and how much intentionality is involved with video. Nick DeRose directed the film, Matthew Pirrall produced it, Sean Boyd ran the lighting, Matt Longua did all of the close-ups, Kate Camden and Christopher West visioned the script, and Felicia Cruz choreographed the dance. 

For that many people to all work in harmony with each other to create something this effortless is amazing. Nick and Matthew pointed out the light sweeps as a particularly difficult part of creating this. They had to block out their own movements as cameramen so that their angles would be perfectly in line with the light reveals and that they wouldn't get in each other's way. According to Matt: "Our dancers, Felicia and Alrick, were amazingly professional and danced this difficult piece over the multiple takes and nailed it every time. For me personally, moving with them with the camera felt like being a participant in their dance, and was a dynamic that I had not experienced behind the camera before.

That's some next level artmaking right there. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the rest of the series and all that you guys at Ascension have in store for us this year! 

This Creation of the Week by Marcellino D'Ambrosio
Catholic Creative and Cofounder of Sherwood Fellows

 

Creation of the Week #52 William Price III's "Together We Are Motherhood"

Brave Love is doing some powerful stuff for the cause of life and William Price III of Whiskey Ginger Please is helping to show it. 

Video is a powerful medium to work in, but that's part of what makes it tricky. Because it engages three senses at once, video grips us in a way that still images on their own simply can't. It's almost too easy to make the viewer watch and illicit at least a semblance of an emotional reaction if the subject matter has any substance. Because of this, it's (sometimes) easy to set up space for an interview with good lighting controlled sound, grab a mostly surface level interview, cut in some stock b-roll, and post a video on youtube and still get some good results.

But no one remembers those videos. We remember videos that tell stories, where characters experience life-changing events and we learn the lessons they learn. We experience delight, elevation, insight, and achievement with characters in videos offer us a story and not just ideas. William Price does an awesome job of capturing these impacting moments on screen and allowing us to experience some of the journey these two women took as their story intersects. 

One woman yearns for a child, the other discovers she's pregnant. One woman prepares to give birth, the other prepares the baby's room. One woman delivers, the other receives the child and holds him. 

The task of video, and of all art is to draw us into an encounter with the specific. To take us out of the realm of ideas and submerge us in the small moment that matters in all its reality. Not every line of this video feels like that, but the line at 2:20 just hits me in the heart with its unpretentious smallness. It's so authentic. "I wonder, will he have my nose, my sweet tooth, what will make him laugh?" In that line, the difficult choice that this mother is making becomes real to me as I'm drawn into her experience and feel the heartache of that decision with her.  Well shot, William.

by Marcellino D'Ambrosio
Catholic Creative and Creative Director at Sherwood Fellows

Creation of the Week # 51 Will Armstrong's Work On "The Long Road Home."

It's always such an honor to get to recognize one of the community members whose doing work out there in the real world. Our members have done some amazing things, from designing the titles for Wonder Woman, to launching a kickstarter that made 200,000 in a day. Will's work in "The Long Road Home, a National Geographic mini-series that chronicles the events of April 4th, 2004, when a platoon was ambushed in Sadr City, Baghdad, in an attack that came to be known as "Black Sunday."

Will was one of the assistant art directors for the series. They work with the production designer and art director to create a vision for all the locations and sets, which is saying something considering that the set was the largest working set in America during it's filming. Will and his team's work on this is beyond a shadow of a doubt a massive undertaking that ultimately lead to this series' unique visual identity.  I mean, honestly, to get a handle on what kind of set design we're talking about just look at this picture:

Learn more about The Long Road Home.

Will, keep up the good work, brother. You're making us proud.

Creation of the Week #50 Blessed is She's 2017 Advent Calendar

Blessed is She never ceases to amaze me. Those ladies are such incredible pioneers in every non literal way possible. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Blessed is She circles got started on mars in the next 10 years. Their Advent calendar this year is another example of how consistently they reinvent themselves and push the boundaries of what they offer to women through their ministry.

Blessed is She is known for beautiful design. Many of us know this. But many organizations that start there find their one look and stick to it for 20 years. That doesn’t work for anyone. First it’s cool, then it’s a fad, then it’s cheesy. It also takes what once gave voice to some deep guttural utterance in the spirit of an artist and turns it into a disembodied commodity. That is how many organizations approach design. Blessed is She embraces the significance of art in a way that so few ministries do. Good art doesn’t subtract from the meaning of its content, but rather it emphasizes that meaning, allows it to breathe, and gives it a dwelling place.

That is exactly what this design does. It's sophisticated, it's fresh, it's alive, and it opens up Advent to the viewer to look at it from a new and different vantage point.

Jenna Guizar led the charge, Laura Fanucci wrote the gospel intros, Erica Tighe designed the calendar and prints, and Katie Haviland Waldow took all of the amazing product shots that show off all the inside details.  Every single lady involved in this collaboration deserve special shout-outs for breaking new ground. We're proud of you guys!

Creation of the Week #49 Created Book by Cory Heimann

“In some way we are all artists, we just have to recognize it.”

— Cory Heimann

One of my favorite things about Cory is how fascinated he is with the creative spirit. It's his obsession to understand the spiritual nature of creativity, how it functions, and what it's role is in our lives.  The Created book is just one amazing fruit of that obsession, and it is awesome.

The Created Book is a beautiful book about beauty from the wells of wisdom found in the creative expertise of so many amazing creators. If you haven't already pre-ordered a book through the kickstarter, do it now. It got fully funded in one day and the stretch goals are pretty epic, so help him out!

The Battle

What I love about this book is the most is that Cory inadvertently is fighting a battle against a certain set of beliefs that we hold as Westerners. We think that creativity is some handicap that only a select few oddballs get saddled with.  For us, creativity is a great added bonus, but productivity and responsibility are absolute necessity. Our western, american view of human natures says that there are some kinds of people who are creative, and others who are not. 

This book flies in the face of those assumptions.

A lot of people tend to think that Catholic Creatives is really for the art crowed, that it's for hipsters with round glasses who own wacom tablets and use macs. Creativity isn't just about art. In the words of Sam Sorich: "Art isn't just about art, it's about being human." 

This book isn't just about sharing some wisdom from a bunch of creative folks or showcasing some beautiful design. It's a manifesto for the regaining of a creative Church. It's a blueprint for a revival of Catholic culture because it stakes a flag in the ground and says "we are ALL called to be creative." 

The first five words of the Bible are also about creation: “In the beginning, God created.” (Genesis 1:1). That is the beginning of all things. According to Cory: “I realized that's why it's so innate in us to create – because we're sharing in the first thing that God shared that He did,” he said.

Cory didn't just find sacred artists or designers for this book. He called together Catholic architects, chefs, musicians, calligraphers, podcasters, painters, theologians, and teachers. He talked both to artists who are doing specifically Catholic work, and creators who are Catholic but working in the secular world.  That’s because, as Catholic author and philosophy professor Peter Kreeftsays on his page: “We're artists because God is.”

Pope John Paul II in his 1999 letter to artists  he wrote: “Not all are called to be artists in the specific sense of the term. Yet, as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece.”

If we want our Church to be the creative masterpiece that we know God intended her to be, we need to take up the mantle of creativity. We need zealous visionaries on fire for their prophetic love for the world to join our God in his ongoing work ofco-creation.

Cory, more than anyone else I've ever met has taught me by example the love of the act of creation as a participation in God's generative being. There is no one better to draw from such a well of wisdom as Cory, so I'm grateful to him and to all of the community members who participated in this awesome collaboration. I can't wait to put the prints I'm getting with my book up on my wall.

If you guys have not already watched Cory's talk from the CC Summit, do it now. It'll change your life.

Blog by Marcellino D'Ambrosio
CoFounder of Catholic Creatives

Creation of the Week #48 LIFE Collage by Life Teen's Ryan McQuade

This year Life Teen is creating a new series on what it means to value life. Life Teen knows the value of art for both attracting and challenging young people to and with the faith. They got Ryan McQuade on it because we all know that Ryan doesn’t disappoint, and sure enough he blew it out of the water. He designed a collage for each life issue in the series that both sparkle in your eyes and punch you in the gut.

This year Life Teen is creating a new series on what it means to value life. Life Teen knows the value of art for both attracting and challenging young people to and with the faith. They got Ryan McQuade on it because we all know that Ryan doesn’t disappoint, and sure enough he blew it out of the water. He designed a collage for each life issue in the series that both sparkle in your eyes and punch you in the gut.

The primary message behind the series is that being pro-life is much more of a mentality you carry through life than a just a political cause to rally behind. Each life night in the series covers a marginalized group or life issue. Just looking at the collages will tell you that this is not the same kind of ProLife series many of us probably had in our youth groups. This series is going to feature ever so popular topics like immigration, the poor, the death sentence, and assisted suicide. Most of us that are working in the Church know that on the ground in parishes, those topics are not the safest to break open. I’m proud of Life Teen for pushing their youth ministers to talk about these issues and equipping them not just with teaching, but with art.

I asked Ryan why he decided on collage as his medium for this project. This is what he said:

““I’ve never really worked in collage before but I felt it was the right project to try it out on. It was really important to me to show photographs of real people. I didn’t want any of this project to be idyllic. I wanted it to challenge your perception of being pro-life in someway. I’ve been happy to see that working as I get peoples reactions and opinions of the work. It seems that something different stands out to everyone and I’m really excited about that. I hope that it challenges everyone differently.””

— Ryan

Collage is particularly powerful in that it gives the artist the ability to build metaphors into the creation of a single image. Take this image of the prisoner for example.

The orange wall behind the prisoner’s prisoner’s head is cut out to resemble a halo. A blue cloth is draped over his orange jumpsuit, which is often how Christ is portrayed in traditional icongraphy. A hand in the gesture of blessing in traditional completes the icon, inviting us to see this prisoner as the image of Christ. The symbolism deepens as you notice the white space and numbers behind the prisoner’s head. This recalls the mug shot, a particularly unsettling moment of condemnation. To his right, the arm of a crucifix protrudes and above it the words “death sentence.” Below his arm, the plaque that marked Jesus’ cross is placed. “The King of the Jews.”

We cannot help to see Christ in the image of one of our culture’s undesirables, a black felon condemned to death row. This relationship between Jesus and the prisoner created through the collage leads us to contemplate both the prisoner and Jesus in a new way. We tend to think that “these people are get what they deserve” and are happy that “they are off the streets.” But when I look at this collage, I feel challenged by the question: is that not how people thought of Jesus? A trouble maker? Got what he deserved?

It puts the rejection that Jesus experienced in a whole new light, doesn’t it?

It also makes us consider the death sentence in that new light as well. How can we be so quick to condemn another human being to death when we condemned the most innocent of men, Jesus, to a brutal torturous end. The prisoner and the Christ are drawn together and made one in this image. It’s powerful, it’s beautiful, and it’s alive with meaning. Great work, Ryan. Keep on creating!

Blog by Marcellino D'Ambrosio
Cofounder of Catholic Creatives

Creation of the Week #47 Elissa Voss' Verily Magazine Shoot

Elissa Voss is an incredible photographer. I keep realizing this every time I see one of my friends get married. Chances are if you want to FSU or Ave Maria, she probably took all of your friend's wedding shots. So, hi five Elissa for cornering the Catholic wedding market. That's probably the best wedding market to be in since we tend to do a lot of them. Incidentally, now that I'm actually on my way to getting married, weddings photos are starting to look a lot less alike, so I'm actually beginning to really appreciate what all of you go through that brave the harrows of wedding photography. In any case, Elissa has always been awesome, but her most recent shoot for Verily was definitely some next level stuff.
 

Elissa's style is beautiful, nostalgic, and real,  She captures something so deeply of the feminine genius in her work. When I asked her what she was trying to accomplish with the shots, she said: "My focus was to capture the happy and healthy Verily woman through lifestyle images. My hope was to capture the beauty of womanhood and how we interact with others in everyday life, fully alive and loving well." In these shots you don't see some dark brooding woman, sensual and mysterious, you see women just alive and living their femininity in a real way. You really see that with the dinner party shots. "For the female friendship part," she said, "I really wanted to show the beauty of community/intimacy in friendships and how important it is just to 'be' together." That's exactly what Verily is about, women just "being," not trying to impress, not trying to put on a face, just being as they were meant to. Mission accomplished, Elissa!

That style is not so easy to capture, however. There's a lot that had to go into planning this thing, which is one of the biggest reasons I admire this work. If you go through the whole gallery on Elissa's site, you can see just how many sets, models, and wardrobe changes, and props that needed to be worked with. She had to think about light and time of day, which location to hit first, hire models,  and work with them to get authentic looking moments. A shoot like this with so many pieces can very easily fall apart. All it takes is some random unexpected detail to get dropped and you're screwed. Your battery runs out and you realized you left the spare at the last location, your SD card is full and you only bought 5 and you needed 10, you get stuck in traffic on the way to the sunset and by the time you get there its dark... so on and so forth. You get the idea. It's not exactly a cakewalk.

Elissa had to have spent countless hours in the planning for this shoot and it shows. We're proud of you, Elissa! Keep up the good work.

 This shot needs an honorable mention. Erica Tighe volunteered her house and studio for Elisa's shoot. That should be #lifegoals for all Catholic Creatives. May we all create our spaces so beautiful that professional photographers ask us to set up photo shoots in our homes. 

If you want to see more of Elisa's work, go here. If you want to reminisce on last year's CC Summit, or get really really excited about next year's CC Summit, go look at her CC Summit Gallery. It's amazing.

Creation of the Week by
Marcellino D'Ambrosio
CoFounder of Catholic Creatives