Saturday, March 17, 2007

Let Us Pray

The tour of Kalaupapa and Kalawao is soaked in religious history and imagery. As a lapsed Catholic I have made my peace with the Church and organized religion long ago. I don't now and never have recoiled from the art and architecture that is used to speak to the great unknown. For me a lot of the art seems freed of dogma. It is easier to touch the spiritual through art.


In Kalaupapa:

Refrigerated Nun





















Kitty Communion
















The Colors of Mary





















Conversation Beneath a Vaulted Ceiling

















Skull on the Right Foot of a Preacher Man

















Kamiano aka Father Damien




















Kalaupapa Harbor Statue

















In Kalawao:

The First Little Part of a Church



















The Resting Hand of a Saint and the Rest of the Church
















Silver Chandeliers

















The Sanctuary in Exile

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

like the cats.

Christopher C. NC said...

They were every where.

Gorilla Bananas said...

I've written to the Pope asking him to open the priesthood to gorillas. Is it any wonder that people are leaving the Catholic Church when they have no fear of their pastors?

Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener) said...

I really like the Refrigerated Nun and Kamiano. Are they tile mosaics? It's hard to tell what the materials are from the enlarged photos.

The whole place appeals to me on many levels.

I used to describe myself as an escaped Catholic, but that was so long ago (age 13 or so) it no longer has any meaning. I also used to describe myself as a rabid atheist. I've mellowed over the years; today, "hard-core" atheist suffices.

And I'm partnered with a minister. Go figure.

chuck b. said...

Where are we? Are we in Molokai again?

Christopher C. NC said...

Yes those are tile mosiacs. They are outside at the entrance to the church grounds, one on each side of the corner lot it is on.

An atheist and a minister, interesting. That could spark some lively conversation.

GB I believe the new pope may like your FEAR idea.

Yes we are back on Molokai for Sunday services.

Anonymous said...

I think it really depends on my mood on whether or not religious art bothers me or not, or perhaps it has to do with who and how it is being presented.

I appreciate the early works of religious art, architecture and sculpture done by the great masters but I recoil in repulsed disgust to its hateful and divisive dogma.

And talk about queer partnering.
My long time business partner is a hard core dedicated Catholic 'child of God' and I put my faith in science and works of non fiction.

Deviant Deziner, aka Michelle said...

I think it really depends on my mood on whether or not religious art bothers me or not, or perhaps it has to do with who and how it is being presented.

I appreciate the early works of religious art, architecture and sculpture done by the great masters but I recoil in repulsed disgust to its hateful and divisive dogma.

And talk about queer partnering.
My long time business partner is a card carrying Catholic and I am firmly seated with the Darwinian camp and much prefer to read non fiction over fiction ( as in the Bible ) any day of the week.

Deviant Deziner, aka Michelle said...

er um, how did that double posting happen ?

well, at least it is not a sin to double post, otherwise I might be told to say three Hail Mary's, Two Our Fathers, light 5 candles and put a $ 20 spot in the collection box to make amends .

Christopher C. NC said...

All forms of queer partnering were the very first things that came to my mind when I saw the picture of your business partner on the black bench with the red wall fountain.

My what big beefy bear paws you have. Can I shake that thing?

Annie in Austin said...

The refrigerated nun is my favorite. St Francis statues frequently show him surrounded by birds, so maybe this is Francis' friend St Clare. Except she's the patron saint of Television, not refrigeration.

Annie

Christopher C. NC said...

Clare who was with us on the tour said it was St. Clare because of the birds. Her name saint.

A quick glance at the plaque said it was sister somebody else. I didn't want to dispute her or read the whole plaque.