Newman's Legacy An Honors Thesis (HONRS 499) By Ann Klatt Thesis Advisor Elizabeth Dalton Ball State University Muncie, Indiana March, 2009 Expected Graduation Date May 9,2009 j .. Abstract (~ J.. ..... Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman has impacted the lives of many college students through the establishment of Newman Centers on non-Catholic universities worldwide. He believed that Catholic students should have a place where they can go for pastoral services and ministries as well as social interaction with peers. Newman emphasized that students should "seek after knowledge, first the knowledge of God and then human knowledge in all its fascinating variety" (Sugg 140). Newman was chosen as the subject of this project to serve as a teaching tool for the parishioners, students, and visitors of St. Francis as he is currently being considered for canonization, or sainthood. This creative thesis project includes a research portion which was used to develop a six by four and a half foot painting which will be permanently displayed in the narthex of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. A sketchbook was also developed during the design process to serve as a record of the design process and a teaching tool to explain the background of the painting. This research includes details on the rules and regulations regarding how and what type of artwork can be displayed in the Catholic Church and a biographic representation of John Newman's faith journey. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Elizabeth Dalton, my thesis advisor for her knowledge and guidance as I complete this thesis. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Professor Barbara Giorgio- Booher and Father John Kiefer who have extended their guidance through the design and creation process of the final artwork. I could not have achieved such high quality work without their knowledge. 2 I Page Introduction Students on a college campus typically use their college experience as a time to find out who they are and what they believe. As the only student from my high school to attend Ball State University, I turned to the Newman Center at St. Francis of Assisi as my "home away from home." It was here that I felt most comfortable among peers with the same faith. This is the precise purpose of Newman Centers on non-Catholic universities across the world-to provide a place for pastoral services and ministries as well as a location to socialize on a common ground. With the Newman Center as my backbone, I was determined to experience everything I could while developing my talents as much as possible. r had previously determined that I would study actuarial science instead of art because I did not want to be a "starving artist." Math and art are my two main talents, but time commitments in both areas prevented me from becoming a double major in both. The Honors College philosophy, however, has allowed me to develop my art background further. The Honors College as well as Ball State's philosophy emphasizes the immersive learning experience and the edification of communities inside and outside of Ball State. r have chosen to further expand my knowledge and experience by dabbling in research and history in order to design and create a six by four and half foot painting to be permanently displayed in the narthex of St. Francis Catholic Church. This entire endeavor required a large amount of collaboration and research to fulfill. Before the painting could ever be designed, research was required to determine what elements properly represented Cardinal John Henry Newman, the founder of Newman Centers on non-Catholic universities, and the rules and regulations that the painting would have to adhere to in order to be displayed in the church. Collaboration with Father John Kiefer, pastor of St. Francis, has helped determine where the 3 I P a g e painting will be hung for permanent display. St. Francis also provided a facility to paint in. Father John also provided important resources regarding artwork in a Catholic Church and on Newman, as well as providing the final approval of the design for the painting. The following research and collaborative experience have provided an excellent foundation for the completed masterpiece. Display of Artwork within a Catholic Church "Authentic Christian art is that which, through sensible perception, gives the intuition that the Lord is present in his church, that the events of salvation history give meaning and orientation to our life, that the glory that is promised us already transforms our existence." John Paul II, Duodecimum Saeculum The Catholic Church is home to the congregation of God's people. It is God's Church and therefore must be respected and decorated in such a way that it does not cause a distraction. According to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, if artwork is used within the liturgy, it must aid and serve the action of the liturgy (25). At the same time, artwork as well as architecture, music, furniture, and dance must be appropriate and of high quality in order to allow the congregation and visitors to feel that they are a part of the mystery that takes place within the walls of the church. The Catholic Church has established guidelines for priests and artists to follow when choosing or creating artwork to include in the liturgical setting. According to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the most important aspect of the artwork is that it must enhance the experience of the liturgy and not detract from the service (25). In fact, Karl Rahner, a Roman Catholic theologian, once said in a talk given to Catholic artists in Munich, "Each language of the arts has evolved because it, and it alone, can express something of the human vision and can embody that which no other language can"(Jones-Frank 8). This requires the artwork to be simple and have an attractive beauty that will allow one to .4 I P a g e partake in the liturgical experience as a whole and sense something special. One of the best ways this is achieved is through high quality work and appropriateness. Artwork must be of high quality because it serves as a teaching tool and allows viewers to reach the higher realm through a means which is not possible in all aspects of life. As defined by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Environment and Art in Catholic Worship , quality means love and care went into the making ofthe work of art, honesty and genuineness are qualities sought for in the choice of materials used, and the artist's special gift is used to produce a harmonious whole, well crafted work. According to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, artwork must be appropriate in two ways at the same time: 1) it must be capable of bearing the weight of mystery, awe, reverence, and wonder which the liturgical action expresses; 2) it must clearly serve (and not interrupt) ritual action which has its own structure, rhythm, and movement (21). The first point leads to quality within the work in order to see and experience both the work of art and the mystery behind it. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that "since art is revelatory, a gift from God, a truly beautiful object stretches beyond what the senses perceive and, reaching beneath reality's surface, strives to interpret its hidden mystery" (51 ).The second point leads to the purpose of the work ofart within the church: No piece of artwork should be displayed within the liturgy unless it blends into the service to be one with God and the mystery involved. In order to achieve this transformation through the visual art and into the mystery ofGod behind our existence, artwork tends to incorporate various symbols within the work. The location of the artwork does not matter unless it detracts from the liturgy service or is part of the altar, chair, or baptismal font. 5 I Pn g c Symbolism within Artwork A piece of art is composed of many elements. Religious artwork is meant to be a way for Catholics to venerate the cross and saints and/or experience miracles, sacraments, and the story of Jesus and God. One of the main components of artwork involves symbolism. Symbolism is defined to be "the investing of outward things or actions with an irmer meaning, more especially for the expression of religious ideas" according to the Catholic Encyclopedia (Thurston, par. 1). Symbolism can be found in multiple forms-action, painting, literature, etc.-and all have a purpose or meaning behind them. Christian symbols have developed from various sources, many of which are from the Old Testament scripture. Other sources of symbols include emblems taken by saints and clergy as their own, representations of a higher power, historical events, Jesus' parables, etc. All of these symbols can be seen in everyday life. People outside of the Catholic faith use and/or know what the symbols represent. Some of the most common symbols used in Catholic art and Christian art generally include the cross or crucifix, the triangle for the Holy Trinity, a snake for Satan, the ring for marriage, a dove for peace and Confirmation, fire for the Holy Spirit and Confirmation, bread and wine for Jesus' body and blood, and a heart for love. All of these have developed and were passed down through tradition to modem day, but may have changed in representation through the years. Today, many of these symbols are used in artwork to help Catholics call upon the saints to intercede for them with God, venerate Jesus through the cross, and keep with a person as a constant reminder of his or her faith.