(Artist Mary Gilhuly with one of nine Intentional Heart Tiles created for this project with 9 other mosaic artists of 9 faith traditions. Used with permission.)
Over a year ago, the InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit began developing a program that would highlight artists of different religious backgrounds. Birmingham’s Robert Kidd Gallery planned to host a show that would feature the artists discussing their work.
Then COVID-19 happened, and the show became a video instead, featuring ten Detroit area artists, along with examples of their artwork. Each artist is interviewed by art critic Morgan Mais about their creative, religious and spiritual roots. (For a quick preview, check out the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDDUO8IfRm8.)
(Syrian painter Rana Loutfi's feminist re-take on the Three Wise Men as Three Wise Women. Used with permission of the artist.)
The 55 minute film includes a wide diversity of faith traditions and creative mediums. Among the artists included are Catholic Mosaic Tile Artist Mary Gilhuly of Royal Oak, Jewish Printmaker Robert Aronson of Bloomfield Hills, Greek Orthodox Wood Sculptor Alec LaCasse of Oxford, Muslim Acrylic Artist Illham Mahfouz of West Bloomfield, and Christian Science Painter Nancy Thayer of Detroit.
The video includes contact information for each artist so that viewers can connect with them to view and/or purchase their work. A portion of sales proceeds will go to the nonprofit InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit.
(Work by Greek Orthodox Wood Sculptor Alex LaCasse. Used with permission.)
Art and Faith premieres on Monday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. and will be followed by a Zoom question and answer session with nine of the featured artists. Register at https://e.givesmart.com/events/jW3/) After the premiere, the film will be available for online purchase at the InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit website.