"APOSTLE" : BISHOP MICHAEL BURBIDGE, BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF RALEIGH
I hope that you like my latest portrait of a man that I admire deeply. Bishop Burbidge came to our Diocese from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia a little more than two years ago, but his zeal for the Gospel and his love for the people he shepherds has endeared him to us all. When he speaks, I can feel myself getting stronger. Stronger in my faith, stronger as a man, and stronger as a husband. This is the mark of a great leader and a great pastor. This is why I chose to draw him speaking. The drawing is from an excellent photograph by my friend Paul Tomas. I hope he likes it!
This drawing is the first in a series I have on a fast track to prepare for Ignited by Truth, the Catholic Conference to be held in Raleigh the week of February 13th. I am going to be drawing portraits of the keynote speakers, to be assembled into an IBT 2009 poster. Thank you for following this blog and for your patience with the infrequency of new posts! It takes a while to put this stuff together!
To see an example of the great gift of preaching that Bishop Burbidge has been blessed with, please enjoy the following video. In this video Bishop Burbidge is delivering a homily, or sermon, to a large group of married couples celebrating their anniversaries.
WELCOME!
I appreciate your time and your interest in my work. If you are interested in knowing more about me and my philosophy of art, please feel free to scroll to the bottom of this page. I would rather spare those who have no interest in such things from having to read about me before looking at my work. God bless you :)
The Vocation of the Artist
I firmly believe that art is meant to serve others, especially in lifting the hearts of people, through "ephiphanies of beauty," (John Paul II's letter to artists) to the contemplation and the glory of God. The artist participates in a unique way in the inspiration of the Creator of all things, and knows something of His joy in the act of creation, for "the act of creation is an act of love."(The Agony and the Ecstacy) This act is essentially bound up with the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus, in which what had been invisible was made visible in His person, His life and work, and finally in His death and resurrection. The artist is exhorted by the very perception of his gift to its service. Art is not merely, nor should it ever be, a vehicle for selfish ends or cheap shock and awe, but it must seek to give joy to the lives of others. The artist is then in the end merely a servant of truth, beauty, and goodness, and his work must serve to convey these to a wider audience. "Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 15-16)I believe that the artist finds in the lives of Jesus, and of His foster father Joseph, essential role models, especially in their hidden life at Nazareth. Though very little is handed down to us in the Gospels or in tradition illuminating this period in Jesus' life, I believe that this hidden, simple, carpenter's life of "working quietly" (2 Thessalonians 3:11) can be a model for all artists, in which delight is daily sought in the manifestation of beauty in wood, paint, charcoal, dance, the stage, and music. This is a life of humility, where the artist freely accepts that this world, including his own work, "will pass away," (Matt. 24:35) but what it points to never will. Obedience to inspiration, especially as it is inspired by God's Word (itself the revelatory self-expression of God) is the artist's highest calling. This new site is dedicated to this higher calling of the artist, to this challenge.
You will find included in this site examples of my own work, as well as links to other sites which
celebrate the arts, and especially challenge the artist to reach the fullness of his own abilities
in the service of something greater than him or his work. I hope that you will enjoy this site, and
take full advantage of its links, especially the Letter to Artists of our Holy Father (of beloved memory) John Paul II. Thank you for your comments and your consideration of this website.
David Myers
I hope that you like my latest portrait of a man that I admire deeply. Bishop Burbidge came to our Diocese from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia a little more than two years ago, but his zeal for the Gospel and his love for the people he shepherds has endeared him to us all. When he speaks, I can feel myself getting stronger. Stronger in my faith, stronger as a man, and stronger as a husband. This is the mark of a great leader and a great pastor. This is why I chose to draw him speaking. The drawing is from an excellent photograph by my friend Paul Tomas. I hope he likes it!
No comments:
Post a Comment