Celebrating the Visual Arts

Whim Lynch, the Rev. Robert Tate, Phoebe Griswold, the Most Rev. Frank Griswold, Mel Ahlborn, and Grace Allen

The Church Club of New York enjoyed an evening with Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts at the Episcopal Church Center on September 15th, hosted by Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold and Mrs. Phoebe Griswold.  Mrs. Griswold is a founder of ECVA, whose mission is to encourage artists, individuals, congregations, and scholars to engage the visual arts in the spiritual life of the church.

The evening began with a slide presentation by Mel Ahlborn, an artist and ECVA's chairman and president.  She spoke about ECVA's history and mission and its role in the church as a platform for artists to explore spiritual themes.

"Worship is central to the Christian tradition and welcomes all into the communal mystery that is the body of Christ," she has written.  "Art is a visual language of color and symbol that, like worship, has its earliest Christian usage in the catacombs of the first centuries A.D.  The reconciling power of art calls us beyond our spoken and sung rhythms, and extends an invitation to community that each member of the congregation may receive equally."

Work by Church Club member Mary Melikian Haynes, also an ECVA artist, was included in the presentation.

Afterwards, Club members enjoyed a reception in the Presiding Bishop's residence.  For pictures from the party, click here.