Creation of the Week #71 - Michelle Arnold Paine, Gold Silhouettes

GOLD SILHOUETTES

“Stay gold, Ponyboy”.

I had a flatmate who used to say that, it seemed, at random intervals, as a way of encouraging me somehow. Before a gig, before a first date, that sort of thing. Almost like a “go get ‘em”. Only later did I come to learn that the quote in reference, from S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age novel, the Outsiders, was itself quoting the line from a Robert Frost poem: “nothing gold can stay”.

The reality, though, is that gold is, chemically speaking, one of the most stable elements known to humankind. It lends its name to expressions such as “the gold standard” (no politics, please) and “all that glitters is not gold” (*cue Smash Mouth in the background*) for good reason. There is a timelessness in the substance. A universal value.

Enter Michelle Arnold Paine. Michelle had made something timeless of her own, though not in what I would consider the most conventional manner. And that’s what we love about it.

Michelle has just released a miniseries of paintings entitled Gold Silhouettes, and they are brilliant.

Literally.

“Entrance” from Gold Silhouettes by Michelle Arnold Paine

Now when I first encountered this piece, I had a series of thoughts. Here’s a little glimpse into Jude’s inner-monologue.

1. Wow, I like this! I would totally hang this in my living room. Or maybe in my studio.

2. Wait a second. This looks kind of abstract. Is this abstract art? I don’t like abstract art. That is in no way influenced by an ex who loved abstract art.

3. As a responsible adult, I should probably seek further information and allow my views and opinions to be informed by authentic sources.

And wouldn’t you know it, Michelle had a gold mine of insight that I never would have expected.

For starters, the series was first conceived out of an affinity for the work from the medieval and Renaissance eras. Michelle, who spent three years studying and working in Italy, was drawn to the art from these past generations of Catholic creatives, and was inspired to bring elements of their work into her own. Specifically, she cites artists such as Giotto, Simone Martini and Fra Angelico as providing the foundational inspiration for her use of paint and gold leaf to illuminate the various images of Mary found in Gold Silhouettes.

That’s pretty cool. Still, Michelle sees a larger vision to the piece and the miniseries as a whole:

Each of those artists took elements of Eastern iconography and combined with the “new” Western trends towards more emotional and expressive poses and more dimensionality in the figures. I believe we are once again in a moment where Christian art needs to draw from a diversity of artistic traditions in order to speak to our time.

Michelle Arnold Paine

You know how speakers and rappers have the micdrop? Whatever that is for painters, that’s what this is. I’m sure it leads to quite a bit of tidying up and lots of gold leaf and paint stains on the floor. #WorthIt

“In Waiting” from Gold Silhouettes by Michelle Arnold Paine

Michelle has an interesting vantage point to the role of her creativity in the broader community of the Church. For her, art, spirituality and devotion are thoroughly intertwined. Having been confirmed and received her first Communion in Italy at age 23, Michelle cites the art she encountered in Italy as one primary vehicle whereby theological and scriptural truths were made present and relevant to her in a way she had never before encountered.

The relics of a Eucharistic miracle in the Orvieto Cathedral forced me to confront the truth of the Eucharist, forcing the question “Should I become Catholic?”. Medieval art, Italian Charismatic Catholics, and a couple of Italian nuns taught me about Mary’s place in salvation history and how the Annunciation is the moment of Incarnation. All of these images, places, narratives continue to play a role in the art that I create.

Michelle Arnold Paine

In a Church becoming so increasingly and so bitterly divided along lines involving art and liturgy, this is a breath of fresh air.

To me, Michelle’s work is not just a blend of historical styles with what is en-vogue in the present. What she has made is indeed reminiscent of the iconography that resonates with Catholics of the more traditionalist persuasion, but the edgy, abstract posture of her pieces evokes the allure of innovation and novelty that speaks to progressives. It unifies a centuries-wide chasm of artistic preference in a series that serves to help us meditate on the Blessed Mother’s obedience and surrender to the Father’s plan. If gold is a timeless substance, it is only fitting that gold can be used to bring to life such a timeless truth.

Anyway, we are totally on board with what Michelle is doing. Be sure to check out her website and leave her some love in the comments below. What speaks to you in her pieces? And what role has visual art played in your spiritual journey?

Until next time, stay gold.

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by Benjamin Jude

Worship Leader / Recording Artist
CC Admin

Creation of the Week #70 - Gus & Iggy, "Emmanuel"

EMMANUEL (SINGLE)

Do you ever hear a song and instantly fall in love?

In 2009 I was in O’Malley’s Irish Pub in Salzburg, Austria when I heard Mumford and Sons’ song “Little Lion Man” for the first time. I was hooked. Sometimes you vibe with a song because you already know it’s a hit or because you connect it with an incredible live performance. This was neither of those. It was just me, my pint of Kilkenny, my friends Danny, Csilla and Jasmin, a BBC radio playlist and a chilly winter breeze that blew fresh air off the Alps and straight into my face every time someone opened the bleeding door next to where we were sat. In the coming years, I would hear that song countless times, it would become a smash hit on the charts, my punk band would record our own prog-rock cover, Mumford would release several more records of songs that sound pretty much the same, but to this day the opening chord takes me back to that moment in the pub with my mates.

Click here to listen to “Emmanuel” by Gus & Iggy.

I had another experience like that recently, only this time I was sat in my studio, having changed back into my pyjamas after my 5AM workout, procrastinating arranging backing tracks for an upcoming event when I heard the single “Emmanuel” by the Australian singer-songwriter duo Gus & Iggy.

Seriously, click on this album art and go listen to it.

Like, now.

I’ll wait.

Do you have chills too?

My first reaction was: wow, if you had Missy Higgins sit in on an acoustic Snow Patrol / Bon Iver collab track, you’d get something like this. And for the record, those are three of my go-to artists for those times when I just need something I know will put me in a good place emotionally and spiritually.

It’s the same vibe I get from Gus & Iggy.

That is the stage name for the Wollongong, New South Wales-based duo comprised of Marilyn Ng and Louisa Daniels. While I’m not certain which one is Gus and which one is Iggy, these two Au-gus-tinian- and Ig-natian-inspired songwriters have got something special going on beyond the clever nomenclature. They fuse a smooth, smoky vocal tone with an arpeggiated riff-based guitar style that sits somewhere in between the hypnotic picking patterns of Damian Rice and the lilting, leaning chord structures of John Mayer.

“Emmanuel” is a song you count in 4s, but Marilyn’s guitar patterns and Louisa’s mirroring vocal line flow with such an extended motif of syncopation and delayed resolve that the first couple times through the intro and verse, you get lost, and you stop analyzing and just appreciate the beauty of what’s happening.

Not surprisingly, Marilyn and Louisa cut their teeth in music when they were quite young. Louisa started singing early on and began writing her own songs when she was 10. Marilyn was set in front of a piano at 7 and started putting pen to paper at 13. For real though. That’s impressive. And for the record, Marilyn says she was heavily influenced by Blink-182, which I feel deserves a slightly raised fist and a subtle nod of solidarity. #EmoForever

A decade or so later, after two EPs, they released “Emmanuel”, a single inspired by the Incarnation of Christ. And as I get to know these women, their music and their story as a duo, I find it very profound just how central a role the spirituality of meditating on the Incarnation plays in what they do.

In fact, it was central to ‘Gus and Iggy’ from its inception.

It was early one Christmas morning – immediately after celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Word ‘incarnate’ – that Marilyn and Louisa had their first im-promptu collab. “Early Christmas morning about 8 years ago, we were at Maz’s parents’ house after midnight Mass at about 3AM, and just started jamming to a song by Brooke Fraser.” As Louisa shares this moment of connection, a craftful lyricist in her own right, she permits herself this one solitary cliché: “The only way to describe it is ‘electric’. We knew in that moment this was something special that we had to grab hold of and run with, so we started writing together”.

Fast forward several years, plus one day, and the foundations of Gus and Iggy come to a head in the early workings of the song “Emmanuel”. Marilyn shares the moment in which this song came into existence:

It was Boxing Day a few years back and I was just sitting [playing] on the guitar in the morning while everyone was still asleep. I was reflecting on the gift that was God's Incarnation to the world and what that means for me today, and I was just overwhelmed with gratitude. I imagined that it was the clearest of nights when the three wise men were searching for their Messiah. Then the first line came to me: ‘a star rose up in the evening sky, leading us to a saviour child’, and next thing I knew the first 2 verses flowed out of me.

Marilyn Ng

Without missing a beat, Louisa jumps in.

Maz brought all this to me and I was just stunned by the beauty of the guitar part. I’ve always been totally captivated by the Incarnation and so was just musing on that from what Maz had written, and wanted to connect that reality to the personal, to our experience of it (‘my life began’).

Louisa Daniels

Yeah, that’s the line that hit me like a roundhouse kick to the face, except instead of Chuck Norris’ sweaty boot, it was the Holy Spirit.

On that note, one thing I truly adore about the music of Gus and Iggy, and specifically about Maz’ and Louisa’s writing process, is that everything is incredibly Spirit-driven. Literally, in chatting with them about their music and the inspiration, each of these two women as individuals referred to their work as “co-creations” with God. Now as a songwriter myself, there’s usually a part of me that is a cynical prat and will roll my eyes whenever a worship leader says “God gave me this song” -- it’s like, nah mate, you may have been inspired, but you wrote that -- but for Maz and Louisa, this whole notion of “co-creation” is not just an empty platitude, and there is no false-humility here.

I think that’s what I’m left with every time I listen to this song. And for real, I’ve listened to this song at least 30 times since I first heard it last Tuesday. Best 5 Australian dollars I’ve ever spent.

Every time through, it’s the same thing, but it’s unique at the same time. I get lost in the technique, or at least I think it’s the technique. What is really happening is, Louisa and Maz are walking me through the greatest event in the history of the universe, the almighty and eternal God taking on human form and stepping -- no, crawling, as an infant child -- into our own fallen condition, so that one day we could share in His eternal and divine life. And that profoundly earth-shattering truth is expressed and articulated with such grace and beauty, of course you get lost. If our goal as creatives is to capture and express truth, goodness and beauty, these women are onto something real. “For me it’s a lot of sharing my prayer, what God is teaching me about Himself, myself, His love for me”, Louisa explains. “I find other people tend to resonate with that, and if it helps other people pray, that’s all we could ever ask for.”

Well, that’s me booking my flight to Sydney for tomorrow-ish.

Now it’s your turn. What do you love about “Emmanuel”? And how does the music of Gus & Iggy speak to you? Leave us a comment below and share some love with Maz and Louisa.

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by Benjamin Jude

Worship Leader / Recording Artist
CC Admin

Creation of the Week #69 - Clay Imoo

LIP READING CHALLENGE (FEAT ARCHBISHOP MILLER)

When I was a kid, I thought I was going to be a professional ice hockey player.

Now I don’t just mean that in the way every 10-year-old boy idolizes his favorite players from his childhood. Don’t get me wrong, I was a total dork about it. I could draw every NHL club’s uniform, knew every player’s sweater number, mimicked Wayne Gretzky’s goal celebration and lived and died by Gordon Bombay and Disney’s “the Mighty Ducks” (why didn’t Gunnar shoot blocker side? We’ll never know…). But my head was in a different place. When I was 14 I picked up a Russian book because I was so enamored by surnames like Kovalenko, Konstantinov, Nabokov (the hockey player...my love of the author would emerge a decade later) and more. It was all “formation”. And while I never “made it”, I have been playing organized hockey all my life. And of all the people I met playing this exhilarating game, some of my favorites were Canadians.

Some things you may or may or know about the wonderful nation of Canada.

1. The city of Vancouver is sometimes known as “Hollywood North” for the prevalence of its cityscape in film and television.

2. The Canadian national anthem is possibly the coolest anthem in the world. Seriously, I love Austria and the United States. Those places are my home. But “O Canada”, your anthem legit makes me want to stand on guard fo-ohr theeeeeeeeeeeee.

3. The word “sorry” rhymes with “story”, and while I’m not sure what to do with that information, it’s definitely a thing.

4. Something something something Drake something.

5. Archbishop Michael Miller of Vancouver is absolutely hilarious.

Wait, what?

That’s right. Archbishop Michael Miller of Vancouver is an absolute riot, and it’s so refreshing. If you don’t believe me, watch this video of Vancouver-based speaker and blogger Clay Imoo facing off against Archbishop Miller in a “Lip Reading Challenge”.

I’m not sure which part of the video I laughed hardest at. Here are my top 3 moments:

• Clay shouting “PUSH SALLY” while Archbishop Miller over-enunciates “prodigal son”.

• Archbishop Miller shouting “WHO VESTMENTS” (Old Testament). Also, side note: the Archbishop is absolutely rocking those Beats by Dr Dre headphones. Just saying.

• Archbishop Miller miming a cannon as he attempts to get Clay to say “canonization”.

There is just so much to love about this. We saw this video and simply had to know more about what inspired it.

The genius behind this is Clay, who...well...I’m not sure how you describe someone with the presence Clay possesses.

He’s a family man.

He’s a blogger.

He has absolutely bossed the youth ministry circuit around Vancouver for the better part of the last two decades.

He works passionately to share his Catholic faith and speaks at Christian events across North America.

He won the “Best Video Marketing Creator Award” from Vancouver’s first annual Canadian Video Marketing Awards in November 2018.

And...oh yeah, he is a Vancouver Canucks superfan who has 4.5k subscribers on his YouTube channel, where he shares daily commentary about his favorite team, with the occasional Canucks-themed parody music video sprinkled in. I highly recommend their “2015 Canucks Christmas Rap” (pictured right), which features collaborators AJ and Marie alongside then-Canuck players Ben Hutton and Jake Vrtanen. It’s ridiculously over-the-top, and it’s absolutely perfect.

Needless to say, I really enjoyed chatting with Clay. The love he has for everything he does is so present in his work, and the video with Archbishop Miller puts that on full display. Clay says it best:

We all know [Archbishop Michael] is an amazing leader and shepherd, and very intelligent.  But he’s very fun as well. Archbishop Michael and I are quite close, and I really wanted more people to see his humor and wit.

Clay Imoo

Hey Roman Catholic Church, more of this, please.

This video takes that argument we’ve all probably heard about the Church being “a bunch of old, white men telling me how to live my life” and turns that completely on its head. Clay shows us that Archbishop Miller is a down-to-earth human being who is not only willing and able, but eager to see the beauty and grace in laughter, even sometimes at his own expense. He’s not stuffy. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. He’s genuine. And he’s willing to have that broadcast to a stream of 4.5 thousand people that bleed Canuck blue and green.

And this video is not a one-and-off thing. It is actually a highly demanded follow-up to a hit 2017 video, in which he challenged Archbishop Miller to a bad joke contest: you laugh, you lose. (I lost pretty much right away, because it’s hilarious.)

Clay’s attitude is infectious. For all of us, as creative minds and hearts within the Church, Clay can serve as a brilliant example of the many ways in which we can use the unique and diverse passions God has placed on our hearts to share joy, to share Christ’s love with others, and to build the Kingdom in our own circles.

Despite the nature of social media and creative work, I deeply desire to build genuine relationships with people and to have a lasting impact on people.  I don’t take my influence for granted, and I strive to be a witness of Christ’s love and mercy in all of my projects, whether it’s through my work and ministry, my family vlogs, or my favorite hockey team.

Clay Imoo

Yes, brother.

What I love most (and to be honest, what kicks my butt the most) about Clay’s work is the way in which his various passions are so seamlessly interwoven in the content he creates. One day he’ll be breaking down the Canucks’ 2-1 overtime loss to the St Louis Blues as a tiny violin plays Laura Branigan’s “Gloria” ever so softly in the background, and the next day he’ll be having a “car chat” and sharing about his faith and family life. It’s real. It’s a unique and special collision. It’s being in the world but not of the world. And it’s something we all can appreciate and learn from.

We love what Clay is doing over in Vancouver. What Catholic creatives are inspiring you in this way? Whom do you see showing off the fun-loving, engaging aspect of the Church? Leave us a comment below to share your response and show Clay and the Archbishop some love.

Eh?

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by Benjamin Jude

Worship Leader / Recording Artist
CC Admin

Creation of the Week #68 - Katerina Cabello Deem

Little Way Design Co

When I was 21 years old, my drummer and I earned the nickname “the fashion police” from our other three bandmates. It all started when our lead guitarist picked out the absolute sickest outfit (and not in a “rawk” sort of way — it actually made my soul nauseous) for our biggest show to date, then insisted on wearing it despite our protests. Sorry Ryan, but a bright orange undershirt under a beige plaid short-sleeved collared shirt is still the worst outfit I’ve ever seen. Love you, brother.

The reality is, whether you are a 20-something preparing for a big breakthrough gig or an ordinary human being who just wants to look presentable and moderately stylish as you sit at a coffee shop on a brisk autumn day, design matters. And wouldn’t you know it, there are some amazing Catholic Creatives who are doing something about it.

One of these creatives is Katerina Cabello Deem, owner and designer of Little Way Design Co. As the name indicates, Katerina draws inspiration from St Thérèse of Lisieux and her value of the simple, the ordinary, and the little things, and channels this philosophy in her art and the mission that fuels it.

Something that instantly struck me about Katerina’s work is the simple elegance of her designs. And as someone who has worked for the past decade in high school ministry, I’ve seen the entire spectrum of Catholic design.

A few years ago, a youth minister I was assisting designed a group t-shirt for a Steubenville conference that literally had a Catechism paragraph (not a Bible verse — a. Catechism. paragraph.) plastered in all-caps, block-letter, C-O-L-L-E-G-E-style typeface on a blindingly astroturf-green garment. I was playing on-stage as a worship leader at that conference, and do you think that shirt made it through the fashion police filter? Such no.

Contrast that with some of the slick designs you see from the graphics and design professionals at Life Teen, Pal Campaign and Blessed Is She, which take an almost covert approach to spirituality at times, blending in seamlessly with the pulse of our contemporary culture.

What I absolutely love about Katerina’s design style is that it occupies the perfect middle ground between overt-Catholic and stealth-Catholic. It is elegantly minimalist. It draws on real and meaningful devotions with a simple aesthetic. It does not shy away from depth, but also does not feel cluttered or excessive. There is a balance, an order, a clear sense of purpose.

My personal favorite item in the Little Way Design Co shop right now is the Sacred Heart-themed sweatshirt.

Sacred Heart sweatshirt by Little Way Design Co

The first thing about this Sacred Heart sweatshirt that caught my eye was the color: I absolutely adore the primary claret model of this sweatshirt. It’s a bold tone. It’s really nicely suited to the autumn and winter months. It’s reasonably unique, but not attention-seeking. Ticks all the boxes, really. (The design also comes in black, heather grey and navy, each of which look brilliant as well.)

Katerina was kind enough to share a bit about her work and mission, and describes the inspiration behind the piece as something of an exercise in trust.

I never quite really understood the Sacred Heart devotion and thought it was yet another weird thing that Catholics did...until two years ago, during a particularly dark time in my life, a priest encouraged me to rest in the Heart of Jesus and be assured of His Love. My life has never been the same since. Interestingly enough, I encountered so many roadblocks while creating the design and it took me months as opposed to weeks. But the time I kept working on it and refining it, only served as time to meditate on the devotion and trust in His love even more.

Katerina Cabello Deem

Heck yes.

I really love that the simplicity of the one-color-on-one-color apparel design reflects the spiritual journey Katerina so eloquently and vulnerably articulated. I can have a habit of over-complicating things in my own spiritual life. Maybe this sweatshirt will help serve as a reminder to me — both physically and spiritually — to keep things simple.

That idea makes a lot of sense after all, given Katerina’s formation and journey to Little Way Design Co. She is a chemical engineer who worked in the oil industry for 10 years, somehow managing to work a Masters Degree of Theology into the picture along the way. And even more central to her life and faith: Katerina is a mother of four children.

All of these occupational influences show themselves in Katerina’s work. Her design bears the logical and organized mark of her background in engineering, but also demonstrates a playfulness and flowery aesthetic of someone creating with her own children in mind. It’s a unique marriage of what might be considered opposing angles to design, which absolutely works for Katerina’s style. And it looks jolly good on a sweatshirt.

I’ll say this too: Katerina’s philosophy speaks deeply to me. Katerina recognizes the power of visual storytelling, especially as our culture relies more and more heavily on social media and digital marketing, and her mission aims to bring something of true value to the table in light of this cultural reality.

I believe that for us Catholics, the incredible visual power of design has tremendous potential in evangelizing and opening our hearts to the divine. I see how my kids, some who can't even utter words yet, are able recognize logos and brands and are deeply affected by them (try giving your child the generic Goldfish bag as opposed to the real thing!). So I want my kids and our family to be surrounded by images that remind us who we are, where we came from, where we want to go (heaven) and what we need to do to get there. That's why I created Little Way Design Co: to share those images with other Catholics who would like to make them part of their lives as well.

Katerina Cabello Deem

All of the feels.

You’ve gotta love what Katerina is doing. “Little Way Design Co” is aptly named. It serves to create items that are both fashionable and intentional in instilling in the lay Church a mindfulness and appreciation for the little forms of beauty. Perhaps one day it’s in finding yourself admiring the fineness of the rose stems surrounding the Sacred Heart on Katerina’s new sweatshirt. Maybe the next day it’s simply acknowledging and recognizing a unique blessing in one’s life that ordinarily gets overlooked.

However this little way takes form in your life, we hope you are as inspired by Katerina’s designs as we are. Be sure to share some love with her, check out her shop, and keep making brilliant creations!

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by Benjamin Jude

Worship Leader / Recording Artist
CC Admin

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 55 - Brandstanding

Brandstanding

One of the things that I love the most is watching collaborations develop through the Community. I think it was about a year ago that Tony Vasinda and Mark Guiney invited my brother and I to test out their new board game. It was fun and quirky and very up the CC ally, but I didn’t think much of it again until Sunday morning of the CC Summit last September. While people were trickling out and our team was tearing down our decorations, a small group of unlikely people were uproariously laughing around a table together playing the Brandstanding demo. A week later I’d heard from Ryan Boh and Chris Pesigan, two that they’d decided to fund Brandstanding’s first round.

This game is very much up our ally. At the Summit we love to ask crazy, playful questions to get things kicked off in the mornings like: “Write the Church’s official response to the Zombie Apocalypse” or come up with a “No holds barred R rated parish announcement about NFP.” Tackling ridiculous questions like that actually teaches us that play and creativity go hand in hand. Brandstanding is an awesome game to play for that reason and I hope everyone in the community gets the chance to play it at least once.

Their kickstarter launched this week and I’d love to see them continue to get the liftoff that they need to succeed. Next one could be us!

I asked Ryan to write up their story for anyone who’s interested. I think it’s an awesome case study in what the CC community really is now and potentially could be for us as we grow.

Catholic Creative Case Study: BrandStanding

After launching our Kickstarter we wanted to share how the Catholic Creatives Community influenced the establishment of our team and many milestones made over the past six months.

Investment & Partnership

After playing the game at the Summit, Chris and Ryan asked Tony about his intentions with it and his go-to market strategy. Tony vulnerably conveyed fiscal and organizational constraints that led Chris and Ryan to offer funding and consultative expertise in business, finance and operations. Following extensive discussion and collaborative sessions, there was unanimous consensus that Chris and Ryan offered unique skill sets that would drive growth.

Healing & Harnessing Creative Culture

One of the major realizations for Tony and the creative team was how much deep-seated distrust that creatives often times harbor towards administrative or executive personalities. When you work in and with parishes and diocesan offices there is often open animosity between vision keepers, direct ministers, and administrative staff. The BrandStanding project has been a place of healing and growth for all members of the team in learning how to use best business practices to harness a creative vision and move it intentionally towards success. It’s a place where team members are able to trust each other, speak openly, ask questions, and grow. Our hope is that this mindset and experience is something that could become commonplace in the Catholic Creatives community in order to move closer toward the vision of creating a new renaissance in the Church.

Inspiring Corporate Guys

Through the discussions about partnering and understanding Tony, Mark and Michael’s creative motivations, Ryan and Chris became captivated by the idea of providing financial security so they could focus on their art. In this case the Art was BrandStanding which is an entrepreneurial pitching and investing game. Chris and Ryan share the belief that Creatives deserve a fair income for their creative work and talents. They believe that by investing in BrandStanding it will enable Tony to spend more of his time creating and testing games (which happens to be something he loves).

Next Steps

Our team is proud of the fact that we are able to support the Catholic Creative circuit and beyond. Our passion for paying creatives to do amazing work is driving our fiscal and cultural goals with BrandStanding. From a community perspective, we appreciate how our flagship product brings people together to laugh and enjoy each other’s company. From an application perspective, we’re excited to watch BrandStanding become a catalyst to “break” traditional education with our goal to drive skill sets required for entrepreneurial culture within high schools and universities. More than anything we are thankful for the Catholic Creative community that helped facilitate a partnership aiming to change the world. If you appreciate what we are doing and want to get involved, then please support our Kickstarter, tell all your friends, and the Catholic Creative group will have a chance to create a set of cards that go in the core game, and create an 18 card expansion that we will make available exclusively to the CC community.

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