VISUAL ART at GENERAL CONVENTION

news • schedule • preludes

Sanctifying the Convention Hall through Art

How do you transform a 99,000 square foot convention hall into a space for worship? That's the task before ECVA and the General Convention Worship Team as we approach next summer's General Convention at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The room that will be used for worship is an ample 300' by 350', and will accommodate some 9,000 delegates. How do you transform it on a limited budget? ECVA's response will be to use projected images to create an atmosphere for worship appropriate to the theme of each day's service. In addition to the Feast of the Transfiguration (images of transformation), the feast days of St. Ignatius and Enmagabowh will provide an opportunity to showcase Latino and Native American art, and the convention's sub-themes of Receive, Repent, Reconcile, and Restore will provide motifs for other days. We expect that this will mean a higher visibility for ECVA as well as lots of new members.

The use of projected images that are not simply a direct-feed video link of the service will be a new departure for General Convention, and we are  very excited about the possibilities, not only for the transformation of the space, but for showcasing the work of artists in the church.

Other art at  Convention? Look also for images of reconciliation that will be executed by participants at a workshop on the Morning of Prayer, and for a set of Stations of the Cross in the chapel, being created by Tom Faulkner, sculptor and ECVA member.

Eliza Linley and Mel Ahlborn
Co-Curators

Work Appearing in Visual Preludes

The following artwork appears in the Visual Preludes before worship every day at the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church 2003.

Note: The Visual Preludes are designed as Flash movies. The movies will be added to this site as they can be prepared.

Wednesday, July 30th, 2003: Visual Prelude
Rose Window Calvary Episcopal Cathedral, Sioux Falls, SD
Ancient Light Icon Susan von Medicus, Fort Washington, PA
Abstract Donald Forsythe, Grantham, PA
Harrows of Hell Icon Kathryn Carrington, Manchester, VT
Advent Card Roy Parker, Santa Barbara, CA
Mandala of Sowing Woman Diane L. Powell, Philadelphia, PA
Native American Crucifixion Melanie Twelves, Duncan, OK
God's Eye Cross Kathy Hettinga, Grantham, PA
Make Us One Rietta Bush, Tuscon, AZ
Creation of Heaven Susan von Medicus, Fort Washington, PA
Spiral Landscape Barbara Fernie, Boulder, CO
Dome of Heaven Catherine Parker, Buffalo, NY
All Creation Praises Thee John Walsted, Staten Island, NY
Mary and Elizabeth Laurie Gudim, Lander, WY
Landscape Laura Armnell Champion, Eugene, OR
He is Enthroned Upon the Cherubim Tobias Stanislas Haller, BSG, Bronx, NY
May Jesus the Christ Mel Ahlborn, Moraga, CA

Thursday, July 31st, 2003: Visual Prelude
Sacred Heart Laura Armnell Champion, Eugene, OR
Triptych Sara Waterbury, Los Angeles, CA
Alpha and Omega'A Annette Durkin, Boise, ID
Dawn after Dark Night RoJean Madsen, San Francisco, CA
Moment of Passage Sarabeth Clevenger, Abilene, TX
New Light Brian Winter, Brigham City, UT
Fourth Day of Creation Betsy Porter, Oakland, CA
The Hope of Glory Sarabeth Cleevenger, Abilene, TX
God's Presence in Creation Roger Hutchison, Columbia, SC
Mary Seed of Hope Kathy Hettinga, Grantham, PA
Easter Restore Catherine Parker, Buffalo, NY
God's Gift Brian Winter, Brigham City, UT
Meditation on Salvific Light #2 Tony Morinelli, Ardmore, PA
She Knows Only Love Roger Hutchison, Columbia, SC
Meditation on Salvific Light #3 Tony Morinelli, Ardmore, PA
The Gift Gary Gorby, Wellsburg, WV

Friday, August 1st, 2003: Visual Prelude
Orant Paulette Kaskinen, Albuquerque, NM
Birth at the Tomb Mel Ahlborn, Moraga, CA
Exile Judith Maxfield, Santa Cruz, CA
Joseph Stefan Bell, Laguna Hills, CA
Meditation Ardell Nelson, St Paul, MN
Descending into Ascension Rodd Umlauf, Minocqua, WI
Ascension 3D Stefan Bell, Laguna Hills, CA
Repent Noel Hennelly, New York, NY
Stations of the Cross 3, 8 20 Noyes Capeheart, Boone, NC
Stations of the Cross 8, 10, 12 Dorothy Gager, St. James Cathedral
Your Sins are Forgiven Alison Vogel, Mercer Island, WA
9/11 Wanda Hurt Warren, Vicksburg, MS
Brulage Nos. 1, 2 Suzanne Jones, Frederick, MD
Station of the Cross Church of the Advent, Spartanburg, SC
9/11 One Year Later Eliza Linley, Berkeley, CA
from Archive Beau Wagner, Kerhonkson, NY
Foggy Path Constance Wilson, Evanston, IL
Neina 5 Dorothy Kennedy, Longview, TX
Tree in Valley Frank Logue, Kingsland, GA
Enlaced Tree of Life Doug Earle, San Antonio, TX
Oasis Frank Logue, Kingsland, GA
The Protective Veil Judith Maxfield, Santa Cruz, CA
Heretic 2 Benjamin Privitt, San Francisco, CA
Crucifix Katherine Carrington, Manchester, VT
Mother of Queer Folk Laurie Gudim, Lander, WY
Reconciled Rietta Bush, Tuscon, AZ
It Is Accomplished Susan von Medicus, FortWashington, PA
Welcome Home Celtic Cross Gurdon Brewster, Newfield, NYSaturday,

Saturday, August 2nd, 2003: Visual Prelude
Untitled #22 Mark Dunnam, Pensacola, FL
Sudanese Refugees in Uganda M.O'Neill, G.Strickland, T.Reeder, Sewanee, TN
Black Madonna Kathryn Carrington, Manchester, VT
Onions Erin McGee Ferrell, Fredericksburg, VA
Connect Fred Carlson, Monroeville, PA
Crucifixion 2002 Christine Nicholl Parson
My Sister, My Self Barbara Hughes, Sewanee, TN
Iraqi Woman and Child Cherie Glasse, Orinda, CA
Iraqi Crone Cherie Glasse, Orinda, CA
Mary Holds Her Son Marion Rectenwald, Sewanee, TN
Crucifixion Sarabeth Clevenger, Abilene, TX
Prayer of St Francis Leslie Pepper, All Saints by the Sea
The Alpha and the Omega James Janknegt, Elgin, TX
Graveguard Michael Gibbons, Tubac, AZ
Mary Great with Child Ben Long, West Jefferson, NC
Juanita Alegria Michael Gibbons, Tubac, AZ
In the House of Mary and Martha Eileen Kennedy-Dyne, Perrineville, NJ
Grapes at Prayer RoJean Madsen, San Francisco, CA
Stained Glass Cross Sara Balogh
Untitled #3 Barbara Fernie, Boulder, CO
Babysteps Rena Van de Water, Boise, ID
Untitled #2 Barbara Fernie, Boulder, CO
Trust in the Lord Pat Gordon, Logan, UT
Untitled #19 Mark Dunnam, Pensacola, FL

Sunday, August 3rd, 2003: Communion Meditation
Triptych Kathryn Carrington, Manchester, VT
An Invitation Jane Irwin, Dallas, TX
The Gift Gary Gorby, Wellsburg, WV
Communion Plate Colleen Meacham, Kirkland, WA
Receive Noel Henelly, New York, NY
Communion Anne Wetzel, Bar Harbor, ME
Sanctus Jan Neal, Opelika, AL
Prayers of the People Nancy Chinn, Mendocino, CA
Triptych Roberta Tucci, Wilmington, DE
Hope Krystyna Sanderson, New York, NY
Grace Cathedral, Pentecost Nancy Chinn, Mendocino, CA
Red Tony Morinelli, Ardmore, PA
Yellow Tony Morinelli, Ardmore, PA
Grace Cathedral, Pentecost, 2 Nancy Chinn, Mendocino, CA
Candlelight Vigil Brian Winter, Brigham City, UT
Paschal Candle Elizabeth Foster, Blacksburg, VA
Waters of Baptism Anne Wetzel, Mount Desert, ME
Moment of Passage Sarabeth Clevenger, Abilene, TX
New Light Brian Winter, Brigham City, UT
Fourth Day of Creation Besty Porter, Oakland, CA
Untitled (1&2) Tony Morinelli, Ardmore, PA
Life Cycle Sarabeth Clevenger, Abilene, TX

Monday, August 4th, 2003: Visual Prelude
Rock of Ages Barbara Baumgarten, Kalispell, MT
God Requires Laura Smith, Los Angeles, CA
Hands Murray Taylor, Phoenix, MD
Rebuilding in Honduras - photo series James Solheim, Max Hernandez, New York, NY
God Gives Us Tools Jabez van Cleef, Madison, NJ
Absolution Judith Maxfield, Santa Cruz, CA
Untitled Abstracts Mark Dunnam, Pensacola, FL

Tuesday, August 5th, 2003: Visual Prelude
Tell the Good News Kimberly Anderson, Naytahwaush, MN
Landscape photos Eliza Linley/David Richardson, Berkeley, CA
Stations of the Cross Melanie Twelves, Duncan, OK
Proverbs 31:21 Pat Gordon, Logan, UT
Snowy Boulder: Living Stones Anne Wetzel, Bar Harbor, ME
Beaded Driftwood Ann Cantrell, Oklahoma City, OK
Spirit in the Desert Mary Adebonojo
Totem Poles and Church Spire St. Philip's, Wrangell, AK
Totem Pole in Trees St. Philip's, Wrangell, AK
The Way Out Sarabeth Clevenger, Abilene, TX
Magnificat Gurdon Brewster, Newfield, NY
Fiery Sunset Laura Armnell Champion, Eugene, OR
Enmegabowh Icon Johnson Loud, Prescott, WI
Legendary Collection Pendleton Blankets, Portland, OR

Wednesday, August 6th, 2003: Visual Prelude
Darkness Holds the Seeds of Light Jennifer Murphy, Los Angeles, CA
Hostas Anne Wetzel, Mount Desert, ME
Second Epiphany Christine Nicholl Parson
Affirmation James Zingarelli, Amesbury, MA
Pantocrator Kathleen Collado, TSSF, Bangor, PA
Woman and Children in Honduras Episcopal Relief and Development, New York, NY
Peruvian Girl David Richardson/Eliza Linley, Berkeley, CA
Dancing Christ Laurie Gudim, Lander, WY
Aztec Dancer David Richardson/Eliza Linley, Berkeley, CA
Episcopal Youth Event, 1999 Church Center Communications Office, New York, NY
Episcopal Youth Event, 1999 Church Center Communications Office, New York, NY
Give Me Your Hands Wanda Hurt Warren, Vicksburg, MS
Burning Lights Donald Forsythe, Grantham, PA
Birth, Life, and Afterlife Lucretia Robbins
Head of Christ Ioanna Datcu, Pearce, AZ
Ugandan Refugee Cherie Glasse, Orinda, CA
Cairo Girl Episcopal Relief and Development, New York, NY
Christ Icon Kathryn Carrington, Manchester, VT
Boy with Chick Episcopal Relief and Development, New York, NY
Tibetan Girl Cherie Glasse, Orinda, CA
Christ the Teacher Thomas Howard, Salem, OR
Brown-Eyed Boy Episcopal Relief and Development, New York, NY
Stations of the Cross, Number 8 Simon Carr, NY
Smiling Boy with Down's Syndrome Cherie Glasse, Orinda, CA
Red Headed Girl Episcopal Relief and Development, New York, NY
Baby with Braids Episcopal Relief and Development, New York, NY
Holy Mandillion Susan von Medicus, Fort Washington, PA
Mexican Mother and Child Cherie Glasse, Orinda, CA
Havana Girl David Richardson, Berkeley, CA
Karin Frusin in the Surf Patricia Dalzell, Burgess, VA
The Sheikh David Richardson/ Eliza Linley, Berkeley, CA
Stations of the Cross, Number 2 Simon Carr, NY
Trinity Christine Nicholl Parson
10,000 Cranes "Slug"

Thursday, August 7th, 2003: Visual Prelude
Two Red Angels with Candles Constance Wilson, Evanston, IL
Arabesque Roberta Tucci, Wilmington, DE
Pentecost Scroll Sara Waterbury, Riverside, CA
Second Epiphany Christine Nicholl Parson
Newborn and Salted Erica Grimm-Vance, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Crucifixion 2003 Christine Nicholl Parson
Peace on Earth Sarabeth Clevenger, Abilene, TX
Tendril Pattern Number 2 Roberta Tucci, Wilmington, DE
Tendril Pattern Number 4 Roberta Tucci, Wilmington, DE
Bryonia Stripe Roberta Tucci, Wilmington, DE
Black Woman Cherie Glasse, Orinda, CA
Mary Christine Nicholl Parson
Loop Roberta Tucci, Wilmington, DE
Mango Insight Rojean Madsen, San Francisco, CA
Miriam Gurdon Brewster, Newfield, NY
Blind Bartimaeus Gurdon Brewster, Newfield, NY
Trev's Blues Nancy Jackson, Vallejo, CA
A Beautiful Day on Planet Earth Pat Gordon, Logan, UT
Flying on Faith Pat Gordon, Logan, UT
Triptych Gary Rowe, Wilmington, DE
Triptych Nancy Jackson, Vallejo, CA
Ruach Victor Challenor, Brooklyn, NY
Black Stations of the Cross Melanie Twelves, Duncan, OK

Friday, August 8th, 2003: Visual Prelude
Reprise of the visual preludesAugust 4th - August 7th

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One of the challenges facing the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church is how to create a worshipful setting in a convention hall that measures 300x350 ft. The scale is enormous, and conventional decor treatments run into enormous expense. The Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts has addressed this issue with a creative solution that will be different every morning of Convention.

Each day's worship will begin with a visual meditation based on the themes of Convention and daily lectionary. These preludes consist of original work from contemporary artists across the church. They will be projected as digital images on a screen behind the altar before worship to the accompaniment of live music. Both the music and the art express the richness of artistic diversity in the church.

Mel Ahlborn and Eliza Linley of ECVA's Advisory Board selected from among hundreds works by over 150 artists. Most of the work has been submitted specifically for Convention, but the presentations will also draw on work from the shows ECVA has mounted online over the last two years. Art to be shown at Convention ranges from figurative to abstract, and includes sculpture, painting, photography, manuscript illumination, iconography, collage, fabric and digital art.

The Rev. Eliza Linley

For more information on ECVA's presence at General Convention, contact

For more information on ECVA programs and conversations, contact
Dr. Susan Dixon, Program Director, Episcopal Church and Visual Arts
607 272-3162 info@ecva.org