Findlay artist shares his talents with parish |
 |
 |
|
Written by LAURIE STEVENS BERTKE, Chronicle Writer
|
|
Thursday, 27 May 2010 00:00 |
FINDLAY—Two paintings installed in the day chapel of Findlay St. Michael the Archangel earlier this year are just the latest works by parishioner Kevin Rooney to be featured in the church.
"The Woman at the Well" is one of two new paintings that were installed at Findlay St. Michael the Archangel earlier this year. The works were created by parishioner Kevin Rooney. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens Bertke)
|
Based on images created by renowned American illustrator Dean Cornwell, the oil paintings depicting scenes from the life of Christ are titled “The Woman at the Well” and “Feeding the Five Thousand.” They complement a third painting, “The Healing of the Sick,” that Mr. Rooney painted for the day chapel when the Findlay parish opened its new church on Bright Road in 2003.
A lifelong parishioner of St. Michael, Mr. Rooney attended St. Michael School, Findlay High School, the Columbus College of Art and Design, Black Hawk Mountain School of Art and Bellarmine University.
Over the years, the parish has frequently called on Mr. Rooney for his artistic skills. He helped restore a painting in the old downtown church and designed the wooden celebrant’s chair for the new church.
He also created paintings for a triptych displayed in the Holy Family Chapel at St. Michael. The images are copies of classic works by the old masters that depict major events in the life of the Holy Family, including Anna and Joachim (Mary’s parents), Flight to Egypt, Wedding Feast at Cana, Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, Joseph’s Carpenter Shop and the Nativity.
Mr. Rooney says the subject matter for the triptych was determined in consultation with the parish priests. The purpose of the piece was to remind people “that Jesus had a family,” he explains.
In addition to his freelance artwork, Mr. Rooney has worked for two architectural rendering companies and more recently in the field of construction, including commercial and residential masonry.
He says his first experience with creating religious artwork was as a student at Bellarmine University, a Catholic school in Louisville, Ky. A priest had invited him to illustrate the Sunday readings during Lent, so he created a series of large works on paper for display in the school’s chapel.
As a member of his parish choir, he had the opportunity to travel to Rome and admire the artwork there shortly before he created his first paintings for St. Michael.
“Religious artwork has always been part of art history, and the Catholic church has always been sort of a patron of the arts,” says Mr. Rooney.
“Nothing would make me happier than to do something that would make people believe more in the things that the Catholic church has always meant to me,” he adds. “If a painting of mine could bring some people back to the Catholic church, I’d be all for it.”
|
|
Last Updated on Thursday, 27 May 2010 00:00 |
