We are experiencing a new and exciting time of artistic creativity in Catholicism – it extends to even the fusty basement of St Mary Moorfields, the only Catholic church in the Square Mile of the UK’s capital city.
I’m there listening to the warbling tones of singer Adeniké: I have goosebumps. This young Catholic is the star of musical “Whitney Queen of the Night”, putting on an impromptu set for thirty people, and I have a sense that I’m experiencing a Moment in Time, a flourishing of Catholic creativity at last.
Perhaps it’s because contemporary culture has lost its way, but Catholic artists are very much alive and out there. Come with me into the New Renaissance.
Creativity matters. It’s Autumn 2022 on the steps of Farm Street Church; I meet an elderly woman. “I viewed an exhibition of lake photography here in the summer,” she explains, “and it really inspired me, and now I’m thinking of becoming a Catholic.” I realise with shock that she is talking about my own tentatively put-together exhibition of words and images!
As young people increasingly come to Mass, a host of creative groups and artists are flourishing. The range is fantastic, bolstered by the global internet village: over in the US we have Jen Fulwiler, mother of six, espousing the theme of “Village Hustle” through her hilarious – and clean – Catholic comedy.
If stand-up comedy is perhaps the art form which most defines our mentality now, Fulwiler’s podcast is on the frontline of the mission to restore the culture.
Back in the London art scene, Gabriele Finaldi is steadily bringing a rich understanding of Catholic art to his role as director at the National Gallery. Former monk Gianni Notarianni is a Catholic artist creating meditative canvases; not devotional but still inspired.
Patrick Van der Vost’s devotional email service and website Christian.art hosts the exciting Laudamus Award. It highlights devotional talent and attracted a record 1,200 artists to its £25,000 prize last year.
Detail from ‘A Reflection’ by Rebecca Witchalls, coloured and graphite pencils, one of the winners of the Laudamus Award 2024; screenshot from https://christian.art/art-competition-2024-winner/.
At St Patrick’s in Wapping, Catholic artists of different disciplines work alongside each other in a dedicated space and host frequent exhibitions. Meanwhile the Marian Franciscans are holding exhibitions to encourage artists to create beautiful devotional images in a figurative, traditional style.
Many creative support groups sprang out of lockdown. Musician Edwin Fawcett is organising Eighth Day events, which is how I heard Adeniké. He tells me: “The events are a way of exploring what it truly means to celebrate through music, games, cocktails, food and drama, bridging the gap between liturgy and life.”
A host of talented artists give their time at Eighth Day events, including Ela Kalicka, Will Hickl, Adeniké and Tim Hutchinson.
New York-based Arthouse 2B was conceived in lockdown as a direct response to widespread isolation experienced by artists. Visual artist Erin K. McAtee and former New York Ballet dancer Claire Kretzschmar seek specifically to cultivate connection among Catholic artists of New York City.
Poetry is flourishing. If you get the chance to go to a Catholic poetry writing workshop, do. It is an amazing way to bring out faith and fellowship. Catholic poets abound; I have even noticed Catholic poems surfacing in the secular Poetry Society Review magazine.
Radio Maria’s sumptuous Florilegium and “The Bardcast” are well worth a listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Performance poet Sarah de Nordwall, better known as “the Bard with a Bard School” also hosts “Write in the Light” poetry workshops. She has just performed in Derry with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal as part of a healing night and recently 23 seminarians wrote poetry at one of her workshops.
You can also examine your faith “in the incarnate reality of art”, as organiser James McKee of Deo Gratias puts it. This literary society attracts many young artists, intellectuals and other lay people who desire to know Christ more deeply through exploring traditional Catholic theology as expressed through different forms of art and literature, all rounded off with a very highbrow drink at the pub afterwards.
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It’s impossible to list every Catholic arts organisation here, but I must mention the venerable Farm Street Church which has a long history of nurturing artists and its own artist in residence, Andrew White.
It offers a gallery space for Catholic artists in the Jesuit Centre in London’s Mayfair. Father Dominic Robinson argues that “art connects with spirituality, with the issues of the day, with faith. It’s vital to encourage Catholic artists and for Catholic artists to be seen to be part of the wider artistic community.”
And, excitingly, the Catholic Talent Agency has just launched with a directory of talented speakers, singers, musicians and other performers available for Catholic performances. The idea is to encourage churches to be able to host events more easily. It will also give much needed support to Catholic performers in their vocation.
“Beauty will save the world not because it is nice or pretty, but because it is the very light by which we encounter reality, it is the disclosure of being that precedes and makes possible knowledge and love. Everything—everything—hinges upon it,” writes James Clark, author of The Witness of Beauty.
There is no doubt that Catholicism has not seen such a flowering of creativity for a long time. However, to fully flourish it needs Renaissance Patrons: it needs investment.
Catholic groups spring up like mushrooms and disappear under the weight of lack of funds and lack of spaces. We’re in an exciting time; let’s help it gain momentum.
Photo: Detail from ‘The Apotheosis of John Paul the Great’ by George and Polly Capps, oil on canvas, one of the winners of the Laudamus Award 2024; screenshot from https://christian.art/art-competition-2024-winner/.
Fiona Campbell Hicks’ next exhibition of words and photographs, ‘The Light on the Water’, is at Farm Street Gallery 6th – 14th July 2024.
