| OLIVET-COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Corner of 22nd Street & Mt. Vernon Streets - (Near the Philadelphia Museum of Art) Let's celebrate Jesus the King! |
| Artists-in-Residence Program |
Introducing the Artists in Residence...
For those who would consider themselves both serious visual artists and disciples of Jesus Christ, the
contemporary intersection of those identities has often been marked by ambiguity, confusion and
disillusionment. A number of factors influence this tension, including an overall lack of aesthetic sensitivity
and wisdom in the Evangelical church, the late development of a practical ‘theology of art’ among
evangelicals, and the undiscerning adoption of the modernist, romantic notion of the artist as solitary, extra-
moral genius. For many, this tension leads to a perceived disconnection between making serious works of
art and following Jesus. Faced with the apparent schism, many talented artists view detachment from the
Body of Christ as the only avenue to serious artistic pursuits. This should not be so.
The artists in residence at Olivet Covenant Presbyterian Church comprise a small, eccumenical group of
artists who work side by side, share ideas, engage in honest criticism, and discuss current issues in the arts-
, while encouraging the creative process in a deliberate effort to connect the artistic endeavor with Christian
discipleship. The artists seek to form a mutually beneficial and sustaining community, with the goal of artistic
excellence and cultural redemption, in obedience to a common calling to follow Jesus Christ. While
remaining visually, conceptually, politically and denominationally diverse, the artists in residence are unified
in "being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and in purpose. (Phillipians 2:2)"
For those who would consider themselves both serious visual artists and disciples of Jesus Christ, the
contemporary intersection of those identities has often been marked by ambiguity, confusion and
disillusionment. A number of factors influence this tension, including an overall lack of aesthetic sensitivity
and wisdom in the Evangelical church, the late development of a practical ‘theology of art’ among
evangelicals, and the undiscerning adoption of the modernist, romantic notion of the artist as solitary, extra-
moral genius. For many, this tension leads to a perceived disconnection between making serious works of
art and following Jesus. Faced with the apparent schism, many talented artists view detachment from the
Body of Christ as the only avenue to serious artistic pursuits. This should not be so.
The artists in residence at Olivet Covenant Presbyterian Church comprise a small, eccumenical group of
artists who work side by side, share ideas, engage in honest criticism, and discuss current issues in the arts-
, while encouraging the creative process in a deliberate effort to connect the artistic endeavor with Christian
discipleship. The artists seek to form a mutually beneficial and sustaining community, with the goal of artistic
excellence and cultural redemption, in obedience to a common calling to follow Jesus Christ. While
remaining visually, conceptually, politically and denominationally diverse, the artists in residence are unified
in "being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and in purpose. (Phillipians 2:2)"
| Yvonne Valenza |
| I graduated from Kutztown University in 2006 with a BFA and concentrated in the area of Printmaking. My work is an outpouring of my faith, and commonly has themes of human relationships: relationships to and with God, relationship with others, and relationship to self. The most prominent way that this is expressed is through imagery of Freedom vs. Bondage – psychologically or spiritually – and much of my work is inspired by Biblical principles In addition to being an artist, I am also doing college ministry among Philadelphia art students. |
| Keith Crowley |
| Keith Crowley is a painter, and has been a resident artist at Olivet since 2004. In that time, the majority of the work produced has been driven by the relationships between land, time, and place. The foremost concern in this work is color. Keith, his wife Brooke, and his son Lucas live in Northwood. |
Mark Dixon
Mark Dixon is a painter. He currently teaches art and film at Lakeside School
located in Horsham, PA. He studied art at the University of Delaware and received
his B.F.A. in painting in 2001. The subjects of Mark's work have mainly consisted of
common everyday objects and portraits of his friends. He is currently exploring
themes involving youth, old age,
religion, humor and pop culture.
Mark currently resides in Glenside, PA with his wife Kelly.
located in Horsham, PA. He studied art at the University of Delaware and received
his B.F.A. in painting in 2001. The subjects of Mark's work have mainly consisted of
common everyday objects and portraits of his friends. He is currently exploring
themes involving youth, old age,
religion, humor and pop culture.
Mark currently resides in Glenside, PA with his wife Kelly.
Matthew Graham Sepielli
Matt graduated from Tyler School of Art with a BFA in Painting and Drawing in 2002.
During the next few years he made several bodies of work executed in different
media, from installation and oil painting to digital prints and video.
His current work is focused in oil painting and oil painted things (3D objects, etc…)
The work is heavily influenced by art history and its constant state of revival.
From 2002-2006 Matt ran an online gallery that focused on video based art. He's
also been an active teacher during the past five years with the Mural Arts Program
and Temple University.
Matt & his wife Krista are members of Tenth Presbyterian Church and live just a few
blocks North in the Brewerytown section of Philadelphia with thier dog Sophie.
During the next few years he made several bodies of work executed in different
media, from installation and oil painting to digital prints and video.
His current work is focused in oil painting and oil painted things (3D objects, etc…)
The work is heavily influenced by art history and its constant state of revival.
From 2002-2006 Matt ran an online gallery that focused on video based art. He's
also been an active teacher during the past five years with the Mural Arts Program
and Temple University.
Matt & his wife Krista are members of Tenth Presbyterian Church and live just a few
blocks North in the Brewerytown section of Philadelphia with thier dog Sophie.
| Paul Timothy Gierschick II |
Tim has been a member of the Church Studios since they began, and has since
then been working primarily in painting and drawing, often on found surfaces.
His work is focused primarily on shape, line and color relationships; adding and
subtracting in a constant and meandering conversation with surfaces, objects,
symbols and ideas, to produce an enjoyable work which continues that
conversation with the world, helping those who encounter it to see newly.
In 2000, Tim received a BA in Fine Arts from Messiah College in central PA,
focusing on Printmaking. Nowadays, Tim finds inspiration from folk-art, nature,
theology and philosophy, and literature.
He and his wife Vicki just recently bought and moved into a house in the
Frankford section of Philadelphia.
then been working primarily in painting and drawing, often on found surfaces.
His work is focused primarily on shape, line and color relationships; adding and
subtracting in a constant and meandering conversation with surfaces, objects,
symbols and ideas, to produce an enjoyable work which continues that
conversation with the world, helping those who encounter it to see newly.
In 2000, Tim received a BA in Fine Arts from Messiah College in central PA,
focusing on Printmaking. Nowadays, Tim finds inspiration from folk-art, nature,
theology and philosophy, and literature.
He and his wife Vicki just recently bought and moved into a house in the
Frankford section of Philadelphia.
Brendan Kinslow
Brendan currently works for a precision glass company in Oreland, PA where a
combination of fusing and glassblowing is used to make delicate glass
instruments. When Brendan is not working he divides his free time between
writing and playing music, and making art. His focus is on sculpture in the non-
traditional sense, concentrating on different subject matter, and using a range of
materials (fusing metal with glass for example). The work is always changing but
the focus is always faith-based, searching for a deeper understanding of God’s
creation.
combination of fusing and glassblowing is used to make delicate glass
instruments. When Brendan is not working he divides his free time between
writing and playing music, and making art. His focus is on sculpture in the non-
traditional sense, concentrating on different subject matter, and using a range of
materials (fusing metal with glass for example). The work is always changing but
the focus is always faith-based, searching for a deeper understanding of God’s
creation.
Ben Volta
For the past 2 years I have worked in school-artist residencies with the
Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership.
As an artist-educator I have specialized in exploration and conceptualizing the art
idea, and how each student may learn to incorporate his or her unique vision in
relation to the idea. The classroom becomes a stage where students create
unique multiples, which are then merged into a collective vision. The process of
clustering and/or framing a fractured group of unique individual parts is the
underlying thread passing though my work with young artists. Collective forms are
arranged, stacked, and drawn together, and then orchestrated architecturally to
build an artwork relevant within a specific context.
I am also an active member of the collective Tim Rollins and K.O.S. in New York
City. I am a graduate of The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the
University of Pennsylvania, where I studied visual arts, art history and art theory.
Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership.
As an artist-educator I have specialized in exploration and conceptualizing the art
idea, and how each student may learn to incorporate his or her unique vision in
relation to the idea. The classroom becomes a stage where students create
unique multiples, which are then merged into a collective vision. The process of
clustering and/or framing a fractured group of unique individual parts is the
underlying thread passing though my work with young artists. Collective forms are
arranged, stacked, and drawn together, and then orchestrated architecturally to
build an artwork relevant within a specific context.
I am also an active member of the collective Tim Rollins and K.O.S. in New York
City. I am a graduate of The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the
University of Pennsylvania, where I studied visual arts, art history and art theory.
| Caroline Santa |
| Caroline Santa primarily works with gouache on paper. She creates animal-type figures from her own social and emotional experiences, as well as from photographs of political, sporting, and cultural events from fairly recent world history-specifically the 1980's to the present. Caroline graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with her M.F.A. in 2007. Caroline's art work has been selected to be featured in the 2008 edition of Studio Visit Magazine. This magazine will be sent to a thousand galleries in the US and Art sponsors. Caroline lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Leo. |
Tegan Brozyna
Tegan M. Brozyna graduated from Messiah College in 2007 with a degree
in Studio Art and a concentration in Two-Dimensional Studies. Among
other things, Tegan works as a freelance illustrator as well as a
writer with Prism, a publication of Evangelicals for Social Action.
Although, she identifies herself as a painter, she is also passionate
about textiles, color and design. Her work reflects a love of God’s
creation and beauty as well as an interest in history, culture and
spirituality. Tegan resides in the Mount Airy section of
Philadelphia.
in Studio Art and a concentration in Two-Dimensional Studies. Among
other things, Tegan works as a freelance illustrator as well as a
writer with Prism, a publication of Evangelicals for Social Action.
Although, she identifies herself as a painter, she is also passionate
about textiles, color and design. Her work reflects a love of God’s
creation and beauty as well as an interest in history, culture and
spirituality. Tegan resides in the Mount Airy section of
Philadelphia.
| Spaces are granted on an invitation basis. Unfortunately, there are currently no vacancies but inquiries and other questions can be sent to thechurchstudios@gmail.com. Thank you! |