July 14, 2010

Icons: Windows to God

Editor's note: This story starts an occasional series on sacred art.

By Julie Filby

Painting icons and praying with icons is a long-forgotten tradition that a group of Denver-area Catholics is hoping to revitalize.

“Many people don’t realize painting, or writing, an icon is a spiritual exercise,” explained Cecelia Aguallo, artist, instructor and mentor with Iconographer Guild of Denver (iGOD). “We pray before, during and after working on an icon. Everything we do has a spiritual element as well as a practical one.”

An icon is a sacred work of art depicting Jesus, Mary, a saint, angel or cross. While most commonly they are paintings; icons can also be mosaics, cast in metal, carved in stone or wood, embroidered on cloth, or printed on paper.

“It all depends who you learn from and what you want to achieve,” Aguallo said. “There are different ways of making icons, but they all point up to the same God.”

Essential qualities of an icon include that they rely on a minimum of detail, faces are seen frontally or in three-quarters view, they are silent and invite prayer.

“The (saint’s) mouth is smaller because they don’t have to speak—the most important things they say come from God, powerfully and succinctly,” she said. “Their eyes are larger because they have ‘seen’; their noses are long and narrow because they’re breathing in the life of the Holy Spirit.

“They’re different and yet they’re human.”

For three years, iGOD has been meeting two Saturdays a month in a basement classroom at the Dominican Novitiate in northwest Denver, provided courtesy of Father Clinton Honkomp, O.P., pastor of St. Dominic Parish. Father Honkomp paints with the group as his schedule allows.

Guild meetings are an opportunity for iconographers to work and pray as a community, collaborate on projects and share ideas, socialize, and at times simply enjoy “blessed silence” together. Aguallo is on-hand to teach, mentor, answer questions, solve problems and do demonstrations.

A calling
Aguallo’s fascination with icons began when her mother died 17 years ago and she found a “beat-up, mass-produced icon” among her mother’s belongings.

“It kept calling to me,” she said. “And I eventually answered the call when I saw a workshop advertised in the Denver Catholic Register.”

In 2002 she attended her first workshop: a Byzantine-Russian (Prosopon) workshop brought to Denver by artist Madeleine Dodge. Dodge, known for her work in fine arts, is described as the “unsung hero” in the local iconography community.

“I knew I’d finally found what I’d been searching for,” Aguallo said. “To me iconography is more than a dream come true, it’s a vocation, a calling I was fortunate to hear.”

Iconography became not only her passion, but her profession. In addition to conducting workshops, Aguallo “through the grace of God” has painted large icons in the adoration chapel at Holy Trinity Church in Westminster, the adoration chapel at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Northglenn, and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Russian Byzantine Catholic Community at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Denver. She also gilded the hand-carved Stations of the Cross in the adoration chapel at St. James Church in Denver.

Ladder of icon writing
Creating an icon is complex and symbolic. Each step is distinct, like the steps of a liturgical service.

“We use centuries-old techniques,” Aguallo said. “Each step is accomplished with deep reflection and prayer.”

The Prosopon technique of icon writing strives to use only natural elements such as wood panels, natural plaster, genuine gold leaf, egg and wine tempera using ground pigments, and linseed oil.

The process begins with a wooden board with a vertical grain, symbolizing the tree of life or the tree on Calvary. It is reinforced with a linen cloth, then covered with 10-12 layers of true gesso (artist’s plaster) before being sanded until perfectly smooth.

“The pure white board reminds us of the purity of God and his design for our soul,” Aguallo said. “It also represents that all things are possible for those who are with Christ. So it is with the board.”

The desired image is traced and etched on the board, gilder’s clay applied and gold leaf added. Dark colors are applied first, followed by several layers of highlights and washes called “floats” to create depth and texture. When completed, the icon is not signed.

“Iconographers view themselves as instruments of God,” she explained. “So we do not seek credit once finished.”

To protect the icon, it is sealed with chrism oil.

Important as artistic skill may be, it is the faith of the praying person that matters most during the process, not the quality of the icon.

“It’s not ‘art’ for art’s sake. Icons are teaching tools for the mind and visual reminders for the soul,” Aguallo said. “This work will speak for us long after we can no longer speak for ourselves.”

Guild member, Carol Benjamin from St. Joseph Parish in Akron, discovered iconography four years ago when attending a spirituality class with her husband, Deacon Joseph Benjamin, during his diaconate formation.

“It’s very spiritual, it changes your life. For the better,” Benjamin said. “You spend a lot of time in quiet prayer and contemplation.”

Michael Zappe, convert to Catholicism and parishioner of St. Mary Magdalene in Denver, recently joined the guild and is working on his first icon.

“Icons proved to be an amazing vehicle to help me truly start to get the Catholic faith,” he said. “They provide an amazing window for people to get closer to God and in touch with the tradition of their faith.”

To learn more about iGOD contact Aguallo at 303-238-8983 or e-mail imaflibbertygibb@msn.com. The guild meets the first and third Saturday of each month at the Dominican Novitiate at 2901 Grove St. in Denver.

For more information on the annual Icon Workshop coming to Denver next month, see below.

ICON WORKSHOP
The week-long workshop will explain iconographic symbolism, present the theological base of each step, and provide technical instruction. No artistic experience is required.

When: Aug. 30-Sept. 4
Where: Dominican Novitiate, 2901 Grove St., Denver (former parish center for St. Dominic Church)
Instructor: Master iconographer, Father Mefodii from The Prosopon School of Iconology
Cost: $750 includes materials to complete an icon
Deadline: July 30
Register: Contact Cecelia Aguallo at 303-238-8983 or imaflibbertygibb@msn.com