William, his wife Ronja, and their boys recently moved from Des Moines, Iowa, to Camden, New Jersey, to open William’s gallery & studio and to expand their business: Thomas Lift, a socially conscious company creating inspired art, design – and soon clothing – as a brand of love and justice. Camden is a city riddled with crime and poverty; however, the Butler family desires to help bring restoration to its people. 

The Butlers were blessed to participate in Art for God’s Sake in 2011 and look forward to presenting a live-art experience in 2013.  The family has two websites: www.art11one.com and www.thomaslift.com.

Mayorchak's Iconography

Volodymyr Mayorchak was born in the city of Lviv, Ukraine in 1960. He graduated from Ivan Trush College of Arts and the Ivan Fedorov Academy of Arts.

From 1989 until 1994 he worked in Yugoslavian and France, restoring churches, painting icons, classical murals and museums using special techniques. He came to America in 1994. Since 1996 Volodymyr Mayorchak has founded two companies, “Old World Painting” and “UVM Luxury Paint”. He has the reputation of greatly exceeding his customer’s expectations.

Under his leadership, his artistic companies are achieving excellence in multiple areas of art, including restorations, interior design, painting huge exquisite murals on walls and ceilings, wood carvings, sculptures, gold leaf restorations and eased paintings.

He has effectively managed a diverse number of projects in a variety of venues. In addition to  many other commercial, institutional,  educational and residential private buildings, his  work can be seen at:

• The Michigan Opera Theatre, Main Lobby
• The Detroit Athletic Club
• The Ukrainian Heritage Room, Manoogian Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit
• Immaculate conception Church, Hamtramck
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Dearborn Heights
• St. George Church, New York City
• Ukrainian Museum in Bosnia, Yugoslavia
• The Italian Renaissance-inspired design in the book Cadillac Hotel, Detroit
• Little Rock Baptist Church, Detroit

Since 1984 Volodymyr  Mayorchak has had his paintings shown at art exhibits in Canada and the USA, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Latvia, Yugoslavia, and France. His paintings have also captivated corporate and private collectors.

Young's 5-foot fired clay crucifix

Suzanne M. Young was born in Detroit, Michigan. She began her education with a scholarship to the prestigious Pratt School of Art & Design in New York. She received a B.A. in Education from Mercy College and her Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Sculpture from Eastern Michigan University.

During her early years of creating sculpture, Young felt God calling her to give Him more honor and glory. Soon, creating secular art felt meaningless to Young, so she began sculpting religious art full time. As soon as Young responded to God’s call, her career skyrocketed; she now has artwork displayed in churches, hospitals, and schools throughout the country.

A few examples include:

• Stations of the Cross at St. Joan of Arc Church, Merrillville, IN
• Life-sized Mary at Pax Christi Catholic Church, Rochester, MN
• Risen Christ at a hospital chapel in Kenosha, WI
• Risen Christ at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Grosse Ile, MI
• Life-sized Crucified Christ at St. Andrew Church, Rochester, MI
• Life-sized St. Vincent de Paul at Providence Hospital, Farmington Hills, MI
• Healthcare Themes at Genesys Medical Center in Flint, MI
• Christ with the Elderly at Little Sisters of the Poor Home, Mobile, AL
• Life-sized Risen Christ at Our Lady of Providence Center, Plymouth, MI
• Last Supper at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Aurora, CO
• Life-sized Holy Family in the chapel of a Retirement Community of Religious Sisters, Blue Pointe, NY
• First Holy Communion sculpture at Our Lady of Victory Grade School, Northville, MI

You may visit Ms. Young’s website.

Crombie's 'Our Lady of Philermos' and 'Corpus of Christ' Icons

Kathleen Bordo Crombie is a nationally recognized contemporary basket artist with gallery representation and pieces in several private collections.  She has exhibited her work at the Sybaris Gallery, Craft Alliance, Appalachian Center for Craft, and the Works Gallery amongst others.  She taught contemporary basketry workshops at multiple national venues including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Center for Creative Studies, the Textile Arts Center, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the Telluride Basketry Symposium.  In 1994 she presented “In the Making: A Look at Contemporary Basketry” as a guest lecturer during the “Warped Notions: Traditional and Contemporary Basket Forms” exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Since 2005, and being influenced by Pope John Paul II’s “Letter to Artists”, Crombie’s artistic interest  moved from contemporary basketry to traditional iconography.  Having studied iconography with Peter Pearson at St. Michael Sacred Art Institute at Enders Island, CT, Dmitri Andrejev of the Prosopon School of Iconology at Conception Abbey at Conception, MO, and with Fr. Damian Higgins from Mount Tabor Monastery in California, she enjoys the flexibility of working with either acrylic or egg tempera paints.

The six-foot high cut-out icon of the “Corpus of Christ,” was originally created for the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Women’s Conference in 2006 and 2007.   It is currently installed for public veneration in the Eucharistic Chapel of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, MI.  “Our Lady of Philermos” icon was commissioned by the Order of Malta, American Association – Michigan Chapter and is displayed for public veneration at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, MI.  Other selected and commissioned icons in private collections include St. Gemma of Galgani, St. Patrick of Ireland, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. John the Evangelist.  A life-size icon of The Divine Mercy, commissioned by the Servants of Jesus of the Divine Mercy for the Divine Mercy Center in Eastpointe, MI will be solemnly blessed and installed for public veneration on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15, 2010.

Pope John Paul II views Schmalz's "The Holy Family" sculpture

Born in rural Ontario, Canada in 1969 and only 40 years later Timothy is by far one of the most prolific artists of our time.  Much like the past masters, his calling to the fine art of sculpture was a spiritual one. The best insight to how he feels about his vocation is his mission statement below:

“I am devoted to creating artwork that glorifies Christ.  The reason for this devotion, apart from my Christian beliefs, is that an artist needs an epic subject to create epic art.

“I describe my sculptures as being visual prayers.  When I create a three dimensional sculpture in bronze I am quite aware that it will last longer than myself.  I realize I am between two things that are much more durable than myself: Christianity and bronze metal.  It is between these that I have developed a subtle appreciation for what Saint Francis meant by “instrument”.

“It brings me happiness when my sculptures are installed outside; three dimensional bronze works of art are excellent advertisements for any Christian Church.  The best compliment these sculptures receive is to amaze and fascinate the most cynical youths of today.  If they think that the art is amazing, they will have to think that the message is as well; a ‘cool’ sculpture outside a church may make them think that, likewise, something ‘cool’ is to be found inside the church. My purpose is to give Christianity as much visual dignity as possible.  Christian sculptures are like visual sermons twenty-four hours a day.

“When visiting the great Cathedrals and museums of Europe, one is given many messages of the Christian faith through the great works of art.  However, one message these great masterpieces convey to us in modern times is that the church was all important and glorious….. once, approximately five hundred years ago.  Unfortunately, this creates the impression that the themes represented are antiquated and should be viewed in a museum.  However, when original artwork is created today and placed in living spaces, the statement expressed is: “the church is all important and glorious….today!”

“Saint Gregory the Great wrote that “art is for the illiterate”; the use of images was an extremely effective way to educate the general population.  Our contemporary culture is in the same state today, not because of illiteracy, but because people are too busy to read.  In this world of fast paced schedules and sound bites, Christian art creates “visual bites” that introduce needed spiritual truths in a universal language.

“Christian sculpture acts for many as a gateway into the Gospels and the viewer’s own spirituality.  After looking at an interesting piece of art the viewer is curious.  “Who is this man on a cross?  Why does he suffer?”  The more powerful the representation of the art, the more powerful the questions become.

“Creating art that has the power to convert.  Creating sculpture that deepens our spirituality.   Attaining these two goals describes my purpose as an artist.”   – Timothy P. Schmalz – Master Sculptor

Timothy has created many timeless masterpieces around the globe both Christian and Public.  A few of the most notable Christian pieces are as follows:

• The Mother Teresa Memorial at the Prem Dan House in Calcutta for Sr. M. Nirmala and Archbishop Henry D’Sousa,
• A sculpture of a 10ft Celtic Cross with the vision of Knock along with 4 other Life size Saints: (St. Brigid, St. Patrick, St. Kevin and St. Brendan) for the Our Lady of Knock shrine in Ireland,
• The Memorial of Pope John Paul II for Cardinal Glemp, Primate of Poland for the Basilica of Divine Providence, in Warsaw, Poland.
• A sculpture of St. Catherine of Sienna for the Dominican Cathedral\Museum grounds in Sienna Italy,
• Monumental scale sculpture of the Holy Family entitled: “A Quiet Moment” for the Franciscan Council of the Holy Land errected at the Millennium Center in Bethlehem, Isreal.
• The original bronze model size sculpture of the Holy Family entitled: “A Quiet Moment” personally given to Pope John Paul II and now a permanent part of the “Vatican Collection”.
• A Life size sculpture of Christ the Beggar on the steps of the oldest Hospital in the world: Santo Spirito on the banks of the Tiber River in Rome Italy.
• Life size bronze sculpture of St. Juan Diego located at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City to commemorate the canonization ceremony of St. Juan Diego celebrated by Pope John Paul II in July of 2002.
• The magnificent 23ft tall Crucifix entitled: “The Body of Christ” located at Ave Maria Oratory in Ave Maria, FL.

Timothy has also created well over 200 other original Christian sculptures located at Catholic Churches, Shrines and Institutions all across the United States, Canada & the world.  Small replicas of his work can be found in countless homes throughout North America, Europe and Australia.

Visit his website: www.sculpturebytps.com

Orlowski's mural for Pope John Paul II's visit to Hamtramck, MI

Artist/muralist Dennis Orlowski was born in Detroit on February 26th, 1944 to second-generation Polish parents.  At age 14, he began three years of training under Cleta Popovich, a church artist and Master Craftsman. He began formal painting as a teenager.  He then went on to New York City on an Art Scholarship to study at The Art Students’ League. After three years in Europe, courtesy of the U.S. Army, he returned to Detroit to study at the Center for Creative Studies.  Orlowski also spent a year in Mexico City, Mexico where he studied Fresco painting at the University of Mexico under a former assistant to Diego Rivera.  Orlowski holds a masters degree in painting from Wayne State University and his bachelor’s degree is in Art Education.

Orlowski painted a mural for Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to Hamtramck, MI in 1987.  It was decided that the mural would include the famous Madonna Czestochowa (Polish Madonna and child) and to add a unique touch, he included a painted frame with pictures of Hamtramck’s four Catholic churches in each corner.

He is currently retired from teaching art at Detroit Public Schools where he donated much of his time to students.  Orlowski is responsible for over 100 murals throughout Southeastern Michigan in a variety of public places ranging from schools and libraries to churches, as well as murals elsewhere, including Mexico and Germany.

Irene Jungwirth with her Angel Raphael

Irene was a prolific and self-taught artist, painting with hand-ground colors with egg tempera on Masonite or canvas. She was an outspoken woman, using imagination, religious beliefs, emotions, and everyday encounters with others to give meaning to her paintings.  Featured in many of her paintings, she was fascinated by the beauty of the human figure. Her paintings reflect her philosophies. Symbolism was used frequently, and many of her paintings were mystical or prophetic. “A person paints what they are, emotionally, temperamentally, physically and philosophically.”(IGJ).  She painted many religious paintings and designed stained glass windows for several churches in Lansing and East Lansing. Irene felt that “art should make you gasp”. Her art was in numerous invitational and juried shows around the country, is in the Detroit Institute of Arts, Kresge Art Museum, and many private collections. Husband Leonard Jungwirth made the frames for all of her paintings during his lifetime. Irene felt that art should be shared and appreciated by as many people as possible.

Irene Gayas Jungwirth was born in McKees Rocks, PA, and moved to Detroit with her Polish parents at an early age. Her father, in the Polish cavalry, had fled Poland ahead of the Cossacks. Her mother was a suffragette, who was jailed once. Orphaned by age 8, she and her sister were raised by the nuns at St. Vincent Orphanage, her brother at St. Francis Home for Boys. Her talent was recognized and she was sent to Cass Technical High School’s notable art program, where she studied Commercial art, jewelry making, music, costume and set design.

She turned down a scholarship to the prestigious Detroit Arts and Crafts School to attend Marygrove College, where she studied art and philosophy and graduated in 1935 with high honors and an art education certificate. She taught at Gesu Catholic School in Detroit, and taught classes in painting and puppet making to children at the Detroit Institute of Arts. She met Leonard Jungwirth through a mutual priest friend, and they were married in 1939. They moved to East Lansing in 1940, when Leonard accepted an assistant professorship in the new Art Dept at the then Michigan State College. She had two daughters, Alessandra and Andrea. She continued to paint and exhibit all her life. She was widowed in 1963, and died in Ann Arbor in 1992.

For further information, see the website or email Andrea Jungwirth Lams.

Kachadoorian's "Madonna and Child"

Zubel Kachadoorian started teaching painting while still a young teen. He graduated from Dearborn’s Saline and Fordson schools, never earned a college degree, but received two honorary degrees later in life. Mr. Kachadoorian taught at Wayne State University, Colorado Fine Arts Center, Chicago Art Institute School, Oxbow School of Painting in Saugatuck, the Roeper School, the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and Norton Gallery School in West Palm Beach; he was also art director of the Detroit Repertory Theater. He lived and studied throughout Europe for 10 years and belonged to the American Academy in Rome and the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters. While in Detroit, he studied under Carlos Lopez, Francois de Erdely and George Rich.

Kachadoorian received various distinctions in his lifetime, including: the Prix-de Rome Fellowship, the Pepsi-Cola Midwest Fellowship, the Richard and Linda Rosenthal Award, and the Creative Artists Grant in Sculpture and Painting from the Michigan Council for the Arts. His artwork has appeared in the Detroit Institute of Arts,  the Smithsonian Institution, Tate Gallery in London, Ball State University, the Kalamazoo Art Museum, the Besser Museum, the Battle Creek Art Center, Blue-Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, the University of Michigan, the Kresge Art Center in East Lansing, and in many other collections.

The art of Zubel Kachadoorian represents an international style developed by his travels, heritage, and passion for living.  Art and its history played a great role in everything he did. He often used gold and silver leaf in his religious work, which includes the altar painting and two side panels at St. John’s Armenian Church in Southfield.

Leonard Jungwirth working on Fr. Gabriel Richard statue

Leonard D. Jungwirth was first of all a creator of monuments.  He worked in stone, ceramic, metal, and wood, but wood was his favored medium. It was often said that he could “think in wood.”  The Minnesota granite 12-ton statue of Father Gabriel Richard, now in Gabriel Richard Park, has been near the bridge to Belle Isle since 1940. The famous 10-foot ceramic statue of The Spartan (Sparty) has graced the MSU campus since 1943.  He also completed numerous commissions for public buildings and churches in Detroit, East Lansing (St. John Student Chapel and St. Thomas Aquinas Church), and Detroit’s suburbs.

Leonard was a self-effacing husband, father of two daughters Alessandra and Andrea, a teacher, and a gentle man. He and Irene were in numerous shows and competitions and the Detroit Institute of Arts  has three of his sculptures.. His work was displayed at the New York Museum of Modern Art, The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and the 1939-40 World’s Fair in New York. His art is in private art collections, on the MSU campus, Kresge Art Museum, and around the Lansing area, including the facade of Lansing City Hall.

One of twelve children born to Austrian immigrants in Detroit, Leonard worked in his father Joachim’s (known as Dean of the Woodcarvers) carving shop,  graduated as an architectural engineer from University of Detroit in 1927, and studied ecclesiastical and civic monumental art at Munich’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts from 1929-33.  He returned to Detroit to work at Jungwirth and Sons, and from 1936 to 1940 as an artist and supervisor of WPA’s Federal Art Project for the Detroit area, creating many Detroit area landmarks.  He was introduced to Irene Gayas by a priest, who felt the two artists would have much in common, and they married in 1939. Leonard completed his Master’s Degree in Art at Wayne State University in 1940. He then moved to East Lansing to join the newly created Art Department at  Michigan State College as assistant professor in 1940 and remained there for 23 years. He was with his students watching their work cast into bronze, including his Christus, when he had his fatal heart attack August 21, 1963.

For further information, see the website or email Andrea Jungwirth Lams.

Kabrin's 6'x5' "Jesus and Child"

Carole Kabrin is an Emmy-award winning artist, a native of Detroit, now living in Dearborn, Michigan.  For over three and a half decades and continuing, Ms. Kabrin has covered famous trials and hearings for local as well as network television news as an artist reporter. The Supreme Court of the United States in Washington D.C. was Ms. Kabrin’s main assignmentfor over 12 years, on exclusive retainer, with ABC network news.

Ms. Kabrin’s clients include: ABC Network, CBS Network, NBC Network, CNN, FOX Network News, ESPN, The Nework News Service,The Associated Press, The Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, Monthly Detroit Magazine, as well as all of the local television news stations in the Detroit area, including WDIV-TV, WXYZ-TV, WJBK Fox 2, and an intership with Walt Disney Studios in Feature animation.  In addition, Ms. Kabrin’s work has appeared in several documentaries, most notably Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine”and a documentary on the Slutti trial with Court TV.

Over a dozen Kabrin originals, from trials and hearings spanning the past 35 years, are on view at the U.S. District Court House in Detroit.  In addition, Ms. Kabrin’s work is in two collections at the University of Michigan, one of which is adorning the walls of the student lounge atthe University of Michigan’s Law School.  Kabrin has been in multiple gallery shows in the community through the years including the “Horse Show” at the Robert Kidd Gallery in Birmingham, Michigan. Most recently, Ms. Kabrin had a one-woman show at the Birmingham Community House in Birmgham, Michigan,“artist of the month” of November 2010,  just following her showing in the juried Birmingham “Our Town” show. Yearly Ms. Kabrin participates in the Pioneer Building Annual Open House, which is a part of the Art Detroit tour.Ms. Kabrin’s work is in the collection of hundreds of attorneys and judges nationwide, including Supreme Court Justice David Souter, Judge Avern Cohn, Judge Bernard Friedman, Judge Nancy Edmunds, Judge Paul Borman, Mr. and Mrs. Micahel Dammon of Dammon Construction, businessman Manuel “Matty” Moroun of the Ambassador Bridge Company, former President Clinton in the Clinton Presidential Library, the Temple Israel collection.

Ms. Kabrin, in addition to being a courtroom artist for television news, is a freelance artist, portrait artist, and adjunct instructor, teaching Drawing the Human Figure and Creative Vis, at the College For Creative Studies, in Detroit, Michigan. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Fine Art from Wayne State University.