Ten Jesuit artists from six provinces of South Asia gathered at Glen View, Mount Abu on 15 April, 2005 for the second Jesuit Artists’ Workshop (See pic on 15). Five of them were priests, and five scholastics. Three priests were around 60 years old, and all the scholastics at the philosophy stage or below. My impression is that there are more Jesuit artists out there in the Assistancy who did not, or could not, come.
This year the Missionprokur office of the German Jesuits supported the Jesuit Artists’ Workshop, a true international collaboration in the Society of Jesus. P.J.Joseph, JESCOM Secretary for South Asia, was at Mt. Abu to inaugurate the workshop. He made some concrete suggestions to create greater visibility and space for Jesuit artists. Then the the artists began to work silently in the beautiful Glen View Campus, engrossed in their own spiritual/creative world.
Wendell D’Cruz, a well known Jesuit artist, who could not could not make it, sent a special power-point programme on a CD, explaining his growth as a Jesuit artist, and giving us a glimpse of his many and varied artistic works. Wendell felt supported by his superiors in his artistic pursuits. The three points that his then Provincial put to him are relevant to all Jesuit artists: 1. Demonstrate that this was not a passing fancy – today art, tomorrow who knows what! Show consistency, perseverance. 2. Your seriousness to your calling as a Jesuit artist will show itself in your commitment to the other tasks required of you as a scholastic. 3. How will your work as an artist relate to the other works of the Province? The last thing the Province wants is another free-lance Jesuit who no one knows what he is doing!
We had two Adivasi scholastics from M.P., Alius Lakra and Shanti Prakash Tirkey, who were studying ‘drawing and painting’ at an Art college in Bhopal. The fact that some provinces send their talented young men to pursue art studies is a very hopeful sign. Sch.Thomas Carter of Dumka Raiganj province studying science in Chennai rushed after his final exams.
Fr.K.J.Chandy spent all his life as a Jesuit in the field of agriculture at the national level, from Indian Social Institute, Delhi. His artistic talent remained dormant, till it bloomed again now. He has developed a unique style of ‘painting’ without paint! He burns beautiful images on wooden boards with a soldering iron. He works in oil, and in computer graphics too. He seems all set to launch a new chapter in his life dedicated to art.
JAW I veterans – Blaise Benedict, Vijay Gonsalves, Roy Thottathil, C.M.John were there. Aubrey Fernandes worked on cartoons. Blaise concentrated on a marble sculpture. The others worked in oil, acrylic and water colour. . We had a delightful Hindu sculptor with us at JAW II, Sanyasi Red, a committed social activist in his native Bihar. He got us three big marble pieces free from the quarry owner near Ambaji. From six in the morning to eight at night he cut, chipped, chiselled and polished the block of marble into a piece of beauty. In the ten days he not only completed a 36 inch marble sculpture, but also helped Blaise to complete his marble sculpture.
At night each one presented his artistic career and past works of art. We appreciated, critiqued and discussed the works. Some have or are in the process of acquiring degrees in Art, while others are totally self-taught artists. But all had to discover, nurture and develop the call to artistic expression. There is no doubt that most great artists combine inborn talent with systematic and rigorous training.
Another aspect of artistic creation that came up in the sharing was the intense involvement of the artist in the process of painting/sculpting/… The theme, the inspiration, the urge to express take possession of the artist. Painting the recent ‘Tsunami’, one of the participants was flooded with painful images and memories of the reality. For another, painting was a prayer, a creative and nourishing prayer. A painting/work of art does not emerge so much from the head as from the heart.
A Jesuit artist’s mission is defined as much by his artistic skills as his life as a Jesuit. His life’s orientation, commitment and spirituality ‘colours’ his art, and gives it the power to communicate his mission as a Jesuit. That is why art for a Jesuit becomes his ministry, his mission. As very creative people, Jesuit artists may need to be given a wider ‘space’ in life to work. That he does not fit as smugly as others into the ‘Jesuit pigeon holes’ does not make him any the less a man with a mission. Our commitment to the MAGIS is multi-dimensional. By our very vocation, Jesuits are ‘frontier’ people in the Kingdom of God, not ‘settlers’. From that perspective, we are called upon to explore and venture beyond the present frontiers and discover new pastures than to consolidate and settle down.
Like all prophets Jesuit artists too have their share of woes in their prophetic role. Not all the woes come from superiors or confreres, or even the establishments. Their own creative impulses, the intensity of their imagination and vision, and the struggle to express it faithfully and effectively in art can be painful. The Jesuit Artists’ Workshop provides a forum for gathering and sharing, for critique and questioning, for exposure and interaction with Jesuit and non-Jesuit artists. Our fond hope is that that would give the participants greater space in their life as Jesuits, and provide the challenge to continue to tread the path of the MAGIS. Looking into the future, some areas of exploration and action emerged: Making a list of all the talented Jesuit artists in South Asia is a priority. -Collecting digital photos of all the art work of Jesuit artists, past and present. – Getting Jesuit artists to write articles about art in relation to spirituality, our Jesuit Mission, Church etc – Preparing an exhibition to be taken to our Common houses, and other institutions – Helping to sell some of the Jesuit works of art, so that Jesuit Artists have funds for their artistic work. – Preparing two/three posters for the Triple Jubilee celebration of Ignatius, Xavier and Faber this year.
When our God-given talents bloom fully and contribute to the welfare of all, the glory of God is achieved. As men of the MAGIS and AMDG, Jesuit artists owe it to the Society, the Church and the Universe that their artistic creativity grows and flourishes.
See the centrespread (p. 15-18) to sample a few of what the Jesuit artists created on Mount Abu.