Meet the Artists for 2022-2023

Contemporary artists offer you their creative interpretations of the gospel in images that evoke the Christian seasons or illuminate the scripture texts of the current lectionary year.

ADVENT

Denise Gracias, Joseph’s Dream

Denise is a self-taught artist based in Toronto, Canada. She is inspired by the Bible and likes to bring life to the stories, highlighting what she finds significant. She is also inspired by the majesty and intricacies of creation.

CHRISTMAS

Mary Jane Miller, Mary of Tenderness

Mary Jane has been a self-taught Byzantine-style iconographer for three decades. Her sacred art is contemporary, uses a proficient command of egg tempera, and is extraordinarily rich in style. Her art has been exhibited in museums and churches in both the US and Mexico, where she now lives.

EPIPHANY

William Butler, Encounter

William is an established artist from Camden, New Jersey, US. His paintings are luminous and layered, embedded with themes of inspiration and hope. His art is in numerous private collections, as well as many corporate, non-profit, health, governmental, and academic institutions.

LENT

Michelle Vandyk, It Is Well With My Soul

Michelle is passionate about light, shadows, colours, and the relationships between God and God’s creation. Her mixed-media art reflects her belief that life is layered, textured, and meaningful. She works as an artist, teacher, and art therapist in Chilliwack, BC, Canada.

HOLY WEEK

DeAnne L. Parks, Struggle

DeAnne is a visual artist and writer conveying messages of joy, hope, and community. Her work is in private and corporate collections and has been widely published. DeAnne lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, US with her husband, two dogs, and too many banjos.

EASTER

Kathy Ammon, Light by Which to See

Kathy is a North American contemporary figurative painter, revealing the sacred in human relationships. Her work has been exhibited and collected since 1988. She lives in North Carolina, US.

SEASON AFTER PENTECOST

Corrine Vonaesch, Pentecost (detail)

Corrine was born in Switzerland; her career as a painter began in 1990. The Bible is an important source of inspiration for her. She has painted two series: the Gospel of John in 21 paintings and the seven days of Creation, along with many other paintings of these themes.

Lalo Garcia, Farmer of Hope

Lalo, born in Mexico, has spent over 45 years immersed in the art world. His work strives to develop a new expression for sacred spaces that represents ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity by way of a contemporary style that honors the traditions of our ancestors as well as representing our own time and place. This image is also featured on the cover of this year’s calendar.

Nicola Twa, How Rich a Tapestry

Nicola studied art and design at the University of Alberta. She recently moved back to Canada after teaching overseas for seven years, and currently lives in Vancouver. Much of the inspiration for her work comes from her international experiences, and encounters with systems of order and pattern in the everyday.

Virginia Hayes, Water from the Rock

Virginia became an enthusiastic photographer when her children were born. They were her favourite subjects, and a most enjoyable way to hone her skills! Her current passions include nature photography and abstract images. Virginia’s photos have won awards and appeared in publications in Canada and the US.

Aaron Miller, Broken for You

Aaron is the congregational minister at University Hill Congregation in Vancouver, BC, and the United Church of Canada campus minister for the University of British Columbia. He and his family live on the traditional and unceded territory of the Musqueam people.

Submissions of Artwork

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