Book notes: A Sense of the Sacred, pt. 4 of 4

To finish, I'll list a few quotes of advice that Seasoltz offers churches in art and architecture.

"The best artists should be comissioned to appoint liturgical spaces...Like the architects, they must be willing to dialogue with their clients and should see their role as one of ministry in the community.
"Budgetary limitations should not necessarily determine what is to be built and appointed. A master plan should be created so that long-range projects can be envisioned. The great Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals were not built in a day; likewise, parish plans should be developed always with the future of the community in mind" (p. 271).

Among other points, Seasoltz says the "Rationale" must be clear:
"When a piece of art is commissioned for a church, both the commissioner and the artist need to know why the work is being comissioned. Is it because the pastor and the community want to enhance the liturgy and the setting for worship or because they want to inspire...the faithful by enriching the church environment? Or is the work being commissioned because a benefactor...wants to give money to the church for a particular project?

"Form and space. ...How will each and every aspect of the work fit into the whole liturgical or devotional context?

"Purpose and function. ...How will the work enhance the litugical worship of the community and promote the life and goals of the church? How will it encourage the community to be a eucharistic community? How will it facilitate the preaching of the word and the celebration of the sacraments? How will it promote the devotional life of the community in such a way that their devotional life is consonant with their liturgical life? How will the work challenge and rightly confront the community, which might be indifferent, lethargic...Unlike much of modern art, which often communicates a political message and functions as propoganda, art placed in our churches should be in keeping with the gospel" (pp. 341-342).


Well, that's enough history to suit me for a while! I wish I could hold in my head all the distinctions re: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and which artists and architects belong to what time period, and how this or that work typifies what... etc. Don't quiz me! But I do feel that I got a lot out of this read, anyway. I'm also glad to be finished!