Kate's in the News!
Kate Morales-Marin was featured in the January-February issue of St. Austin Review, after Joseph Pearce met her when he came to speak for our community. What a fortunate connection, to have our own Artist in Residence and her amazing Holy Family sculptures brought to wider attention through one of the great Catholic publications!
Kate described the concept and process behind the life-size bronze grouping called The Holy Family’s Return to Nazareth., commissioned by the monks of Benedictine Abbey in Atchison, KS. (Read the entire article in the adjacent post.)
“The scene invites the viewer into the story and composition, and emphasizes the humanity of the Family in the concrete physicality of figure rendered in a three-dimensional medium. ”
“As I began praying with the scripture (Luke 2:46-52) and meditating on this journey I was amazed by how deeply intricate the dialogue and interpretation could become from such a short story. ...I was able to imagine a scene that would express not only what the Holy Family was likely going through in this moment of their lives together, but would also present the viewer with other themes and angles from which to enter the contemplation of this Family and the Gospel message in our modern time and in our particular area of the world.”
The sculptures are in the outdoor prayer garden beside the Abbey - easy to access any time from the campus of Benedictine College. They really must be seen in person to be fully appreciated, but Kate’s photos give an idea of the experience of walking with the Holy Family, and seeing their inter-relationships from various perspectives. The multiple layers of meaning and significance in this work make it a ‘sculpted poem’ you hear best in person.
I suggest you print her article for a guided tour - see the adjacent post, or order the St. Austin Review (staustinreview.org).
“As you enter the garden and follow the path leading to the Holy Family, you view the young Jesus, flanked by his parents. From this perspective, they stand together as two pillars guarding, nurturing, and supporting their son in his mission. On one side you see Joseph, and from this viewpoint it looks as if his outstretched hand is coming to rest on Jesus’s shoulder in a loving and supportive gesture. On the other side of Jesus you see Mary, turning towards him to see what is happening. Though her hand is reaching towards Joseph’s, in this view it is meant to look as if it is coming to meet Jesus’s outstretched fingers, in a gesture of tenderness and an ode to Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam.” ”
Joseph and Kate gave us permission to print the full text of her article (though we do hope you’ll subscribe to St. Austin Review, if you haven’t already!), and I suggest you take it with you to be led through the piece and its many complementary themes. We are so blessed to have this opportunity to experience a guided tour by the artist herself, and to travel not only along the road from Nazareth, but along her journey of creation.