Our Lady of the Earth

Our Lady of the Earth
2003
28"x15"x8"
photograph taken by E. G. Schempf
mixed media, beadwork

Our Lady of the Earth
Patroness of world's highest mountain peaks
Feast Day 29 May

The Inka conquered the Andean people in the fourteenth century.

The Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and his army conquered the Inka Empire in 1532. This conquest brought Spanish priests and missionaries along with their faith and the image of Virgin Mary to Peru.

A group of native born artists in Cuzco rebelled against the Spanish guild system, establishing an independent art guild in 1688. This guild was known as the School of Cuzco. It was the first indigenous organization of artists in the New World. The Cuzco artists blended European traditions with local beliefs and imagery.

In paintings and sculptures, the image of the Virgin Mary took on the attributes of Pachamama, Earth Mother. Her outer garment became a triangular form representing a mountain.

The Andean people realized that veneration of the mountains and earth along with the maintenance of earth's landscape were essential to their existence.

On the other side of the planet the Buddhist Sherpas of Nepal also respect their landscape as being sacred. The mountains are the sacred abode of deities and the protectors.

In 1953 on the 29th of May, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand along with Tenzing Norgay, a local Sherpa, conquered the summit of Mt. Everest. "Well George, we knocked the bastard off!" were Hilary's words to a fellow teammate after descending. The British Queen Elizabeth II later knights Hillary. With the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mt. Everest, I decided that this interpretation of the Virgin Mary would be rendered in the Cuzco School style. She would quietly remind us to protect mother earth.

As transient stewards of this earth, its landscape and environment, we must constantly protect and venerate.

Nuestra Senora de los Dolores ( Our Lady of Sorrows)

Nuestra Senora de los Dolores
Our Lady of Sorrows
created in 2001
28"x15"x14"
photo taken by E. G. Schempf
mixed media, hand sewn and beaded leather figure

Nuestra Senora de los Dolores
Our Lady of Sorrows
Feast Day: 15 September

Our Lady of Sorrows represents the Blessed Virgin Mary mourning the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. She is usually shown with a dagger in her heart, symbolizing the piercing of her heart with sorrow. This image is based upon the Gospel verse: "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also," (Luke,ii,35). Sometimes she is depicted with seven swords piercing her breast denoting her seven sorrows. The first sorrow refers to the prophecy of Simeon. The other six sorrows refer to her suffering during Christ's life: the flight into Egypt, loss of the divine child in Jerusalem, meeting with her Son bearing the cross, the Crucifixion, receiving the body of her Son from the cross, and placing his body in the tomb. Other attributes traditionally associated with this depiction are the cross, nails, crown of thorns, lance, sponge, column, chalice, and washbasin. Our Lady is usually portrayed in a grieving attitude, head covered, usually with hands clasped and tears streaming down her face.

In my interpretation, the holy shroud is draped and the sacred heart is hung on the cross. Our Lady is holding the nails from the cross. Painted on the sides of the shrine are novenas in honor of the seven sorrows of Mary.

Archangel Gabriel

Archangel Gabriel
created in 2003
21"x13"x11"
photograph taken by E.G. Schempf
mixed media fabrics, leather and hand beading

Archangel Gabriel
Feast Day 29 September
Patron of telecommunications and postal workers, philatelists, diplomats, messengers, and ambassadors
invoked during childbirth

Gabriel is one of the two highest ranking angels in Judeo-Christian and Mohammedan religious lore. He is the archangel of annunciation, resurrection, mercy, vengeance, death, and revelation.

In the Old Testament, Gabriel interprets Daniel's visions, (Daniel 8: 15-27, 9: 20-27). Gabriel appears next in the New Testament to announce the birth of John the Baptist to Zachariah, (Luke 1: 11-20). Again within the book of Luke, (1: 26-38), he visits Mary in Nazarene which becomes the scene of the Annunciation.

It was Jibril (Gabriel) who dictated the Koran, sutra by sutra, unto Mohammed. In Jewish legend death and destruction to the sinful cities of Sodom and Gommorah were dealt by Gabriel. Court testimony of Joan of Arc states that Gabriel inspired her to take up arms in the name of the King of France. As a guardian angel along with St. Michael, he shares the duties of hindering demons from entering churches.

Gabriel is usually depicted as a winged, beardless youth with a nimbus. In the Annunciation scene he wears a long tunic. His attributes are a kerykeion ( messenger's staff), lily, a scroll with the greeting to Mary: Ave Maria, gratia plena ( Hail Mary, full of grace), and sometimes a unicorn.

I have chosen to depict Gabriel during the Annunciation scene. He stands at the right hand of Mary making the sign of Heaven and Earth with his left hand lowered toward earth and his right lifted towards heaven. This sign implies that he has descended from heaven for a brief visit and also calls on heaven and earth to witness what will transpire with Mary. Gabriel's eyes are also lifted towards heaven expressing his concern that the will of God shall be done.

He is clothed in a tunic, chlamys (mantle with clasp at the shoulder), and a diadem ( ornamental headband worn as a badge of royalty).

Annuncatio

Annuncatio
( Annunciation )
created in 2002
28"x14"x14"
photograph by E. G. Schempf
mixed media

Annuncatio
Feast day 25 March

The Annunciation has been celebrated since the sixth century. Pope Sergius I set the feast day exactly nine months prior to the nativity of Christ. An existing third-century image of the Annunciation within the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome appears to be the earliest depiction of the event. Biblical and Apocryphal information about Archangel Gabriel's visitation to the Virgin Mary can be found in St. Luke's Gospel, 1:26-38, and Protoevanguelium of James, 11,1-3.

I have chosen to depict the Virgin Mary's response, "Ecce Ancilla Domini," Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.

Having dropped her spinning yarn, the Virgin Mary reaches across with her right hand to touch her left shoulder in a sign of acceptance. She sets aside the assignment to weave a veil for the Ark of the Covenant out of purple and scarlet fabric. Her eyes are raised toward the white dove hovering below a blue disk which symbolizes the Holy Spirit in the heavenly realm.

I have clothed the Virgin Mary in a red maphorian (long veil worn over the head and shoulders). Red denotes sacrifice. Her gown is blue which represents essential humanity. On the front of the bodice of her gown is a beaded gold circle surrounding the letters IC XC, (the one who is) which alludes to God the Son is in her womb.

The lily has come to symbolize Mary's purity.

In Russia, people used to set birds free from cages on this feast day.

Saint Agatha of Catania

Saint Agatha of Catania
created in 2001
26"x12"x17"
photograph by E. G. Schempf
mixed media

Saint Agatha of Catania
Feast Day 5 February
Patroness of Malta, nurses, invoked against breast diseases, fires and volcanic eruptions
Reliquary photographs by Megan S. Wyeth

This noble Sicilian virgin spurned the advances of a Roman senator, Quintianus. Agatha endured many torturous trials as he tried, unsuccessfully, to destroy her virtue. At one point while she was imprisoned, Quintianus ordered Agatha's breasts to be cut off. St. Peter interceded, appearing in her prison cell to apply a "celestial ointment" which restored her breasts. Quintianus was not moved by the miraculous cure to her wounds. He ordered her rolled on burning coals, to which were added broken potsherds. Agatha expired.

It occurred to me that in today's world, Agatha would teach women how to honor their bodies, particularly their breasts. She would be a doll wearing a mask. On the back of her head would be part of a phrenology chart.

In the 19th century, phrenology, a study of the conformation of the skull, was a popular method of determining mental facilities and traits of character. A rather inexact science which somewhat parallels how our culture treats women's breasts.

I chose to depict Agatha's breasts as reliquaries. A reliquary is any vessel in which relics are sealed and kept. Between her breasts over the fourth chakra hangs a medal of St. Peter. On her tray lies a lesson book for women to read in hopes that it will encourage them to take responsibility for their own health.

San Cristobal y Elian Gonzalez

San Cristobal y Elian Gonzalez
created in 2000
20"x16"x12"
photograph by E. G. Shempf
mixed media and fiber, hand sewn and beaded

San Cristobal ( St. Christopher )
Patron of travelers, invoked against nightmares, peril from water, plague and tempests
Feast Day: 25 July
?third century

The only known fact about Christopher is that he was martyred in Asia Minor. A church in Bithynia, now northern Turkey, was dedicated to him in c.450. The rest is legend.

Offero, his birth name, was a man colossal in stature. He wished to serve the most powerful king in the world. A follower of Satan until a hermit wearing a crucifix, teaching Christianity, drew him away. Offero was assigned the task of living near a river and carrying people across. One stormy night a small child asked Offero to carry him on his shoulder across the raging waters. The child grew heavier and heavier as Offero reached the far shore. Upon arriving safely on the other side, the child revealed himself as Christ. He gave Offero the name Christopher ("Christophoros" in Greek means Christ bearer) and told him that he had just born the weight of the world on his shoulder. Christopher planted his staff by the side of the river where it instantly became a palm tree. He then set out to preach the gospel in Lycia, in Asia Minor. In Lycia, Christopher was arrested for refusing to sacrifice to Roman gods. After spending time in prison, he was condemned to death and beheaded. It is believed that anyone who sees an image of the saint will not die on that day. Christopher is usually depicted holding the Christ Child and often a staff and is sometimes depicted wading in water.

It occurred to me that it must have been Christopher that helped Elian Gonzalez cross the "river" to the shores of Florida.

Christopher is dressed in a Baroque manner and wears a silk Cuban cigar band around his waist. Elian is depicted with a square halo since he is alive. A cross is planted on the shore to memorialize Elian's mother, Elisabeth Brotons. The globe that I fashioned has only Florida and Cuba. The maps and text came from an 1890s encyclopedia. Although these words were written over one hundred years ago, oddly they sound quite current. May pins are located at the spots Christopher picked up Elian and placed him. In Christopher's left hand is a safe passage key.

San Francesco de Asis

San Francesco de Asis, 2002
18"x18"x13"
mixed media, leather doll with beaded face and nimbus, antique fabrics, lion is painted leather with dyed angora goat hair mane. Base is hammered aluminum.
Patron of Italy and New Mexico, ecologists, animals, reconciliation within the family
Feast Day: 4 October
Died 1226

Francesco was born in 1181 in Assisi, Umbria. He had dreams of becoming a troubadour or a knight but as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant he was expected to follow in his father's footsteps. While in his early twenties, Francesco took part in military expeditions. In an attack on Perugia, he was taken hostage and imprisoned for a year. Francesco returned to Assisi to recuperate from the first of many illnesses that were to plague him for his entire life. He had a calling to rebuild a derelict church of San Damiano in Assisi, to preach, and to minister to lepers. After wandering the countryside preaching with a few companions, Francesco made a pilgrimage to Rome. Pope Innocent III approved of his founding a brotherhood called Friars Minors.

In 1219 Francesco accompanied Crusaders to Egypt where he tried to convert the Sultan to Christianity. He retired from his leadership duties of the ever growing brotherhood of Franciscans to lead a life of secluded prayer. During a retreat in 1224 on Mount Alverno, a part of the Apennines, in preparation for the feast of St. Michael, Francesco received the five wounds of the Stigmata. These wounds never healed for the remaining two years of his life.

Francesco is wearing a well worn and patched habit, capuche, breeches, and a cord around his waist. He stands with his arms making the sign of regret.

In this interpretation, a lion is his companion. Traditionally lions are attributes for St. Jerome, Abbot Gerasimus, and the winged one for St. Mark. This lion memorialized Marjan, who died in a zoo in Kabul, Afghanistan earlier this year. ( 2002). I have named Francesco's lion, Ahimsa, the sanskrit word for nonviolence.

One lesson that I want to share from studying Francesco's life is of compassion, humility, courtesy, and reverence for all beings both animate and inanimate that inhabit Mother Earth. See no distinction between yourself and the natural world. All is equal beneath Father Sky. Have the courage to make it a life-long song

Remembrance Day

photo by E. G. Schempf
Our Lady of the Nations
23" x 13" x 18"
mixed media
2003
Feast Day 13 May
Invoked for world peace

This representation of Our Blessed Mother was inspired by an icon of the Theotokos which hangs in Diveyevo convent, Russia. I wanted my interpretation to appear as if Our Lady had stepped out from behind a pearl encrusted riza. She is standing on an historic map of Russia, the pivotal country for world peace according to the Fatima message of 1917.

A message became clear to me as I pondered the concept of PSYOP ( psychological operations ) and centcom leaflets. I held a few of these leaflets and thought about the information printed upon them. What images would Our Lady use on leaflets to shower down upon us? What would be her message? The answer was simply the dove of peace.

The Blessed Mother holds a rosary of nation flags emerging from the womb of a partial globe. A globe layered with historic maps of countries in which there is no peace due to the failings of human beings. Palestine. Somalia. Afghanistan. North Korea. Iraq. Cuba. This rosary of global meditations is currently unending.

What each of us as human beings on this planet must learn is to be understanding, to have compassion, to be respectful, to seek harmony, and to have patience. These qualities must be mutually held by all in order for any hope of lasting world peace.



This was the flag that hung in the window of Rhett's paternal grandparent's home whilst his grandfather, Andrew Johnson , served his country during World War I. My maternal grandfather, Andrew Etter served during WWI also. Both of you are being thought of on this day of remembrance.

St. Therese of Lisieux,

Charite
St. Therese de l'enfant Jesus et du visage saint
born 2 Jan 1873
died 7:20 pm. 30 Sept. 1897
feast day 1 Oct

2007 International Missionary Year
Sister Therese
armchair missionary
her mission
share lessons
of charity,
tolerance,
grace.

charity: to love, be kind, and show compassion to all people of the earth

tolerance: to be open-minded, broad-minded, to be sensitive, show no prejudice, to be understanding; to allow the existence of beliefs, practices, or habits different from ones' own, to not be a bigot

grace: mercy, forgiveness, leniency, compassion, good will, manners, thoughtfulness, tact

Each of us can
lead a more graceful life
day to day
on mother earth
by meditating
on the Little Way lessons
of Saint Therese
and becoming
a missionary

'My nature was such that fear made me recoil; with love not only did I advance, I actually flew.'
(pg. 174 Story of a Soul)

fly
charity
fly
St Therese has many lessons to teach us today. Fortunately there are many books about her life and her own words to read and reflect upon. I created my interpretation of her in 2007. My Muneco Santo, holy doll, stands 17 inches tall. All is hand stitched and beaded. Her body is leather with wire armature and her face is beaded with glass seed beads. I spent an entire month researching , reflecting, fabricating my interpretation and writing my words.

Little Way lessons are relevant for us today.