New podcast, explores race and religion Antonio Canova: A rare glimpse into the process of creative genius

The terracotta sculpture “Immaculate Virgin” (c. 1818-1822) by Antonio Canova. The piece is part of “Canova: Sketching in Clay,” an exhibit featured at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., from June 11 through October 9, 2023, and at the Art Institute of Chicago from Nov. 19, 2023 to March 18, 2024.

OSV News photo/Luigi Spina, courtesy National Gallery of Art

By Jem Sullivan, OSV News

The neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova is best known for his ethereal marble pieces that evoke the beauty of the idealized human form. A devout Catholic, Canova (1757-1822) began his artistic career at a young age under the guidance of his grandfather, a stonemason and sculptor. Gifted with exceptional creativity and technical skills, Antonio quickly became the most celebrated European artist of his time.

“Canova: Sketching in Clay,” a unique exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, offers visitors an extraordinary glimpse into Canova’s creative process of sketching models in clay for plaster molds, from which marble sculptures were then painstakingly chiseled. The exhibition is the first in over 50 years to highlight the sculptor’s terracottas (fired clay) sketches, many of which come from the Museo Gypsotheca Antonio Canova in Possagno, his hometown in northern Italy, and other European collections.

In our age of mass-produced objects, these masterworks in clay offer a rare visual connection to the human touch of an artist’s creative hand: One sees Canova’s rugged fingerprints in the clay.

Divided into three thematic sections – myths and legends, faith and monuments, and portraits, the viewer is led on a journey that spans Canova’s origins in Possagno and his major commissions in Rome, to the evocative clay models he created at the end of his life. While many of his celebrated marble sculptures depict Greek and Roman mythological figures, he created many pieces with religious themes, including imposing papal monuments to Pope Clement XIII in St. Peter’s Basilica, and Pope Clement XIV in Rome’s minor Basilica Church of Santi Apostoli, shown in this exhibit as a lifesized photo.

From over 30 sculptures on display, two religious themed terracottas stand out in their subtle, evocative power. The Penitent Magdalen is an intense piece of religious sculpture. Completed

A new podcast made available to listeners on Juneteenth promises to investigate the dynamics of race and religion in the United States through the lens of the Black Catholic Church. “The Ark and the Dove” podcast, released

June 19, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, is for “anyone who wants to engage in conversations about the racial divide and desires deeper reconciliation,” Edward Herrera, one of the hosts, told Our Sunday Visitor, a weekly newspaper. “We think Catholics will be more naturally drawn to the project,” he said, “but we have tried to craft it in such a way that Catholics can share it with friends and neighbors to begin a conversation.” Listeners can tune in to the trailer and the four episodes that range from 35 to 55 minutes on Apple podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google podcasts and Amazon Music.

OSV News photo/Ark + the Dove in 1791, Canova’s sketch bears the imprint of his hands, with rough lines of rapid movement visible in the clay. The sculptor elevates the humble medium into a spiritually charged image of Mary Magdalene, whose feast is celebrated July 22.

Another religious clay sketch with historical significance is the Immaculate Virgin. Canova sculpts Mary of Nazareth as a young woman who exudes an otherworldly quality. Her slight figure is enveloped in a veil of many folds, dropping from the crown of her head to the sculpture base. Mary gently inclines her head to the right, drawing our eye to her beautiful, contemplative face in profile.

This terracotta sketch was completed between 1818 and 1822, only three decades before the Catholic Church formally defined the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, in 1854. Then-Pope Pius IX expressed the belief that the Virgin Mary was – from the first moment of her conception – by an unprecedented grace and privilege of God, preserved from the effects of original sin.

Visitors are treated to numerous iconic works that invite one to marvel at the artistic process from clay to marble under the creative genius of Canova’s hand. In a companion video, visitors can watch a contemporary artist, in imitation of Canova, at work in the process called “pointing” that transfers an artist’s vision from a sketch in clay to plaster to marble.

A rare visual treat, this impressive exhibition is on view in the West Building of the National Gallery of Art, from June 11 through October 9, 2023, and at the Art Institute of Chicago from November 19, 2023, through March 18, 2024.

Jem Sullivan holds a doctorate in religious education and is an associate professor of Catechetics in the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She has served as a docent at the National Gallery.

Diocesan Events

Summer Family Rosary, 7 p.m. on Zoom. Sponsored by the Office of Family Life. R.S.V.P. to Cristina D’Averso-Collins, director, at cdaverso@diometuchen.org.

Celebrating Life! A Day for Grandparents & Seniors (55+) on the Feast Day of Saints Joachim & Anne, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway. The day will include breakfast, fellowship, a guest speaker on “His mercy is from age to age…” and Mass. The event is free but registration is required. Call 732-562-1543 or visit: https://www.diometuchen.org/ humanlifeanddignity.

Diocesan Informative Day for Black Catholics. 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center. In preparation for the National Black Catholic Congress XIII (NBCC) which is scheduled for July 20-23, the Diocese held a Day of Reflection in an effort to obtain insights and wisdom from Black Catholics in the Diocese. The day was a success. There are at least six representatives of the Diocese attending the NBCC. On August 12th they will share their experiences and information obtained at the congress and, hopefully, motivate each of us to work and promote the pastoral plan at both the diocesan and parish level. Call 732-562-1543 or visit www.diometuchen.org/2023nbc to register.

Retrouvaille Weekend, sponsored by the Office of Family Life, Diocese of Metuchen. Retrouvaille is a lifeline to help couples heal and renew their marriages. Six follow-up sessions are held after the weekend experience (no group discussions). All inquiries are confidential. For further information, contact Rich Colasuonno 732-236-0671 or Annette Colasuonno 732-672-0748 or email 3024@ helpourmarriage.org.

Children’s Choir Summer Camp hosted by the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi’s Office of Sacred Music, in conjunction with the Diocesan Office of Liturgical Music, on the Cathedral’s campus Metuchen. All rising 3rd through 8th graders from any parish in the diocese are invited to participate. Participating Choristers will learn the basics of Music Theory, Gregorian Chant, do fun composerbased projects, and will sing for daily 12:10 Mass at the Cathedral. The week will end with a festive Ice Cream Party.

Diocesan Programs

Eucharistic Adorers Wanted

Now that the pandemic is over, Bishop Checchio would like to offer Eucharistic adoration at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Monday through Friday, from 9:00-11:45 a.m. As St. Pope John Paul II noted. “The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic adoration.” Anyone who is interested in signing up should contact Angela Marshall at amarshall@ diometuchen.org

Catechism in a Year for Women This virtual Women’s Group will meet each week on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. on Zoom for discussion of Fr. Mike Schmitz’s “Catechism in a Year” podcast which began on January 8. For details, contact Cristina at cdaverso@ diometuchen.org

“The Chosen” Study Series

All young adult engaged and married couples are invited to join in a virtual study series based on the hit series, “The Chosen.” A different episode will be discussed each meeting and virtual watch parties will be planned sporadically. Meetings take place every other Monday evening at 7 p.m. on Zoom. For details or to join, please contact Cristina D’Averso-Collins at cdaverso@diometuchen.org.

Blue Rosary Guild

The Office of Family Life is pleased to announce the creation of the Blue Rosary Guild. The purpose of the Guild is for community members of all ages to make pocket Rosaries for law enforcement officers, providing them with support and spiritual strength and promoting devotion to the Rosary among all the faithful.

All materials and instructions will be provided and a Zoom virtual tutorial will also be scheduled. Anyone interested should contact Cristina D’Averso-Collins, Director of the Office of Family Life at cdaverso@ diometuchen.org.

Abortion Healing for Men This Base camp is an open-forum, weekly discussion group for men who have been impacted by abortion. It meets Tuesdays at 12 noon EST. The group is led by Greg Mayo, Men’s Abortion Healing Strategist for Support After Abortion. No registration is needed.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen is Looking for Summer Volunteers!

To meet the increased needs of the community, Catholic Charities Food Pantry and Thrift Store, located in Phillipsburg, needs volunteers for the following:

Food Pantry Open M-F, 10am-3:30pm

- Unpack donated and purchased food

- Sort & stack food on our pantry shelves

- Prepare grocery bags for our clients

- Break down empty boxes & carry to trash bins

- Provide basic case management services and have an awareness of local resources or be willing to learn

Thrift Store Open M-TH, 11am-4pm

- Sort & put donated items on the shelves

- Price items donated to the store

- Help customers with any questions about items purchased.

If interested, please call Maria Hunter at 732-7381315 or email mhunter@ccdom.org; Contact: Tiffany Workman at tworkman@diometuchen.org or call 732243-4581

SELLING YOUR HOME?

Willing to buy your home or townhouse in as-is condition. Quick 30 day cash closing. I’m a Licensed realtor in the State of NJ. Eugene “George” Pantozzi 908-392-2677 (call or text) georgepantozzi@hotmail.com

WINDOW & DOOR SCREEN REPAIRS

Installation of Fiberglass screens for your doors and windows. Pick-up and drop off services available. George & Sons: (908) 392-2677

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - BUSINESS MANAGER

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks a Business Manager to develop, implement, and oversee business strategies for the award-winning paper. The ideal candidate will be expected to establish production and quality control standards, develop budget and cost controls, and obtain data regarding the circulation, production and delivery specifications of the paper. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.

Advertising Sales Representative

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks an Advertising Sales Representative to assist with the sale of advertising space. The ideal candidate will be responsible for initiating, developing, and closing sales of print media advertising in The Catholic Spirit by creating and building effective client relationships with area businesses and organizations. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - GRAPHIC DESIGNER

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks a Graphic Designer to assist with the layout and design of its publication. The ideal candidate will have Adobe InDesign and Photoshop experience in a PC environment, be familiar with all aspects of electronic publishing, be well-organized and reliable, and have a proven track record of meeting deadlines. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.

Give The Gift Of Life

One of our Diocesan parishioners is in urgent need of a kidney transplant. If you, or anyone you know have, “O” blood type you may be able to save a life! The procedure would be performed at St. Barnabas in Livingston with no cost to the donor. All general questions can be answered by the “Living Donor Institute” at rwjbh.org/ldi. If you think you can be an angel on earth, please email KidneydonorNL@gmail.com God bless you!

Around The Diocese

Wine Tasting & Pairing

Aug. 10, 7 p.m. – Hope Through Education will host “The Vineyards of Italy” at Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Gladstone. For more information visit: www.hope througheducationusa.org. An independent organization, Hope Through Education provides disadvantaged children in central N.J. with scholarships to attend academically excellent, values-based schools. Scholarships are based on need without regard to gender, race, religion or ethnic background.