Cover Story:
NATIVITY SCENE INSPIRES DESIGNER
His working studio overflows with precious fabrics. Some are remnants of clerical garb just completed; others are findings from antique garments. In addition to being a designer and fabricator of fine liturgical vestments, Father Richard Cannuli, O.S.A , also creates costumes for his hand crafted Nativity figures from a large collection of fabrics, some antique, some contemporary, from all over the world.
From the pieces of fabrics that are left over in cutting religious garments, Cannuli creates historic costumes for his creche. He feels that art, sculpture, and fashions go hand in hand. His figurines are dressed in luxurious silks or coarse homespun. He has crammed textiles and small scale accessories into his suitcases while on his overseas travels and brought them home. He is always searching for fresh ideas to enhance his 15 feet display.
Historic detail is seen in his creche. "I love to read about life in ancient times-how people lived and what they wore. For Mary, he has fashioned a long shoulder to ankle tunic in a wool homespun. "In Biblical times, clothing for most was without pigment. Dyes for textiles were expensive, and only the wealthy had clothing of color," he explained. "It is true," he added, "that artists have sometimes made Mary's inner garment blue, which symbolizes humanity, and used red for her outer one which symbolizes divinity. After all, the Nativity tells of the Incarnation, of God becoming man ."
Talking about his shepherds, Cannuli explained that the shepherds were of the lowest social class, and sometimes were even thieves. They wore whatever they could get hold of, so he dressed them also in a natural homespun.
"Now the arriving magi have a special place," he said. He dressed them reflecting different places of origin. "Maybe there were three, maybe more, maybe fewer."
The one from Arabia is dressed in multicolored silk pants and tunic, with a decorated camel beside him. A splendidly outfitted elephant holds a royal personage in shimmering silk brocades embroidered with metallic thread. Other elephants are loaded with a tent, water jugs, pots and pans. Another royal visitor is surrounded with his retinue. What started Cannuli's interest in the Nativity scene was his visit to the New York Metropolitan Museum one Christmas time. He was struck by the beauty of the Angel Tree and the extraordinary collection of 18th century Neapolitan baroque creche figures. "I knew right then that I wanted to create something like that to display," he said.
As an art student in the 1970s, Cannuli went to Italy and saw antique Neapolitan creche pieces in the markets, but could not afford them. Since then, he has been to Italy almost every year to teach studio art in a University summer program. And always, he searches for figures to purchase. "Now that I have some funds, the antique ones
are too expensive or in very poor condition," he lamented. Not discouraged, Cannuli has had other ideas. "About 16 years ago, I decided to make my own figures, not for public display, but for my own enjoyment." He started with angels, and then moved to other personages. Some are made from molded French porcelain, some are made from a resin poured into molds made from carved wooden figures. All are painstakingly polychromed.
What inspires Cannuli is "the creativity of interpreting the Christmas scene. It's like doing a painting of that miraculous night that I want to share with others."
Rev.Richard G. Cannuli, OS.A., Associate Professor of Studio Art, Director and Curator of the Villanova University Art Gallery, Villanova, Pennsylvania, and a certified liturgical design consultant, will display his figures at the convention.
Creche Herald
Editor/publisher: Rita B. Bocher
Contributing editor: Mary B. Herzel
Communications: Frank B. Herzel
Office : 117 Crosshill Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096-351 I U.S.A. Web page: www.op.net/-bocassoc/ E-mail: crecher@op net Creche Herald solely is responsible for content of newsletter
Dear Readers,
With Labor Day behind us and the cool autumn weather at our heels, the outdoor party fare of summer gives way to thoughts of the comfort foods of winter and Christmas. You might want to try this unusual recipe adapted from Rizzo's Malabar Inn, Crabtree, Pennsylvania, operated by the family of one of our readers, Rizzi De Fabo.
Rizzo's Holiday Pasta
1 lb. thin spaghetti, cooked
Crumb Mixture
1 dozen small buns, dried and crumbled chopped parsley (about 1/4 cup) fresh garlic chopped (2 or 3 cloves)
2 cups raisins
2/3 cup chopped walnuts salt and pepper to taste Olive oil for browning
Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the rest of the ingredients, browning until all are warm and glistening. Layer the cooked spaghetti and bread crumb mixture and serve immediately. Garnish with more parsley if you like.
As you have detected, the recipe offers you, the cook, room for creativity without intruding on the valuable time dedicated to your creches.
Rita B. Bocher, Publisher
CRECHEEVENTSCELEBRATETHESEASON CANADA
Toronto. YWCA of Greater Toronto International Boutique. Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. West. Nov. 23: l-6p.m.; Nov. 24: IOa.m.-4 p.m. Free.
UNITED ST ATES
Colorado
Salida. First Lutheran Church, 9th annual Creche and Music Festival, 1237 F Street. Dec. 2. Contact Elinor Baese, 11388 Hwy 50, Howard, CO 81233. Email: eljim@ris.net; Tel: 719-942-3505
Florida
Ormond Beach. Grace Lutheran Church. Season starts with an Advent Singing concert first Sunday of December. Second Sunday is Creche Sunday. Congregation members bring in a figure from their home creche for a special blessing. Also includes a creche exhibit and suggestions on beautifying a home Nativity. Angel Sunday just before Christmas offers a blessing for angel and tree-toppers.
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jl. oocmbcr ;o - 1ll mmbcr g, 2001
1 la.m. - 6p.m.daily
Experience the holiday gemiitlichkeit of a traditional European Christmas market, reminiscent of the centuries-old German Christkindlesmarkt. Authentic gifts, toys, ornaments and food specialties from more than 60 international vendors.
Tented on the grounds of The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Call 800.876.3399 or see www.osthoff.com for information.
Admission $3.
CRECHE HUNTING IN QUEBEC CITY by Eileen Canty
First in an on-going series of sharing in the search.
(Note: All prices reflect Canadian dollars at time of visit.)
While surfing the net, I read that the first creche in North America was made in 1640 by the Ursuline nuns in Quebec at the request of a Jesuit missionary. The nuns used candle wax, molds from France, and real hair. As an alumna and former faculty member of the College of New Rochelle, founded by the Ursulines, I was intrigued. Creches would be a wonderful reason to visit Quebec City.
Creche sources identified through pre-trip research delivered on their promise. In addition to traditional Nativities, the Boutique de Noel (418-692-2457) had two small carved scenes by a local artist, R. Audet. One was of an Inuit Holy Family and igloo, the other a Native American Holy Family with a tepee. Each was $45. Claude Berry (418-692-2628) had a wonderful selection of Italian creches (prices up to the thousands) as well as Santons quebecois, a collection of hand sculpted creche figures and townspeople, including Ursulines. Figures cost $20 to $30. Another Old Quebec shop, Artisans BasCanada (418-692-2109) had a clay set with an igloo and Inuit Holy Family for $100.
The Ursuline Museum dido 't have wax creche figures, but the Nativity was depicted on a magnificent 18 th century altar frontal embroidered with threads of gold, silver, and silk. Our Ursuline guide suggested we look in the gift shop at the Cathedral Notre Dame de Quebec. There, a wax Baby Jesus sleeping in a manger cost $120. A stained glass Nativity set complete with stable was $17 5.
Outside of the city, we traveled about an hour east to St. Jean Port Joli, the capital of Quebec woodcarving. Fifteen carvers created a magnificent parish creche in 1987, with the unique feature of a pregnant Mary for use during Advent. Unfortunately, we dido 't see the creche as we were there in April, and it is displayed only in the summer and at Christmas. Among the shops we visited was Magie de Noel, a store owned by one carver. It included a charming creche for $55. He also provided pictures of church creche pieces and directions to other workshops.
At least three generations of Borgaults have been known in St. Jean Port Joli for their artistry. Jacques (418-5986511) carved the church's Holy Family, including the pregnant Mary. A 12" set of Joseph and the pregnant Mary can be ordered for $475 and a 24" set for $1750. A linden creche by Andre, a nephew, was available at Jacques' workshop for $225. There were simple three-dimensional sculpted Nativity puzzles at Atelier Myriam (418-5983219) for $26. Les Enfants du Soleil, a shop across from the church, has items from five continents, including some paper creches from the Czech Republic.
Eileen Canty, Marion, Massachusetts, is a frequent traveler on creche buying expeditions. She can be reached at emcanty@aol.com.
MEET MORE HEADLINERS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CRECHE CONVENTION
In this Fall 2001 issue, Creche Herald again offers articles by and about presenters atthe Friends of the Creche Convention November 8-10, 2001. In addition, below you will find sketches of those not already mentioned.
Johann G. Roten, S.M., Director of the Marian Library/Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, Ohio, will deliver the keynote presentation. Father Roten was formerly director of the Ecole Normale des Instituteurs in Sion (Valais), Switzerland, and assistant professor for social philosophy at the University of Fribourg. He has published in the areas of theological anthropology, Christo logy and Marian studies. A frequent international speaker and writer, Father Roten is a member of the Pontifical Marian Academy.
In 1994, Father Roten started collecting creches to document the manifold cultural religious expressions of the Incarnation. Today, the Marian Library has more than 900 examples of great cultural and geographic diversity. Objects of ongoing study, the creches are used in special and year-round exhibits to express the meaning and beauty of the Christmas event.
Dorothy McGonagle, Sudbury, Massachusetts, who will discuss the Neapolitan presepio at the convention, started as an antique doll collector and dealer. Over the course of 30 years she achieved international recognition as an author, consultant, and appraiser. She early became aware of antique Italian presepio figures that crossed her path at auctions and at the booths of other dealers. After a trip to the museums and churches of Naples, Italy, in the early 1990s, she became totally "hooked." Since then she has collected about thirty 18 th century Neapolitan figures, and has studied the artists who created the miniature masterpieces, often using the presepio of her good friend, June Kibbe (see Creche Herald, Spring 2001).
McGonagle has spoken frequently on the artists and history of this dazzling art form. She also has written numerous articles about the Neapolitan presepio, most recently doing the cover story for the magazine Doll News.
Kate Kooker, Akron, Pennsylvania, has been the Information Director at Ten Thousand Villages for the past six years In that role, she has coordinated an annual learning tour for store managers to visit the artisans who make the handicrafts marketed by the non-profit organization. Those travels have taken her to India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. She has lived in Switzerland and traveled extensively in Europe , the United States and Canada. One of the joys of her job, she says, is the " d iscovery oflocal handicrafts, including unique Christmas ornaments and creches " A treasured personal Nativity is one of silver filigree made by an artisan in the Philippines Kooker serves on the Board of Directors for Bridge of
Hope, a mentoring program that supports and guides homeless women and children toward self sufficiency. Her presentation will be on ethnic creches.
Susan Weber, Santa Fe, New Mexico, owns a Christmas shop housed in an old adobe room of an historic house. She started her business, Susan's Christmas Shop, in 1978 , after some years of crafting Christmas ornaments and selling them at Arts and Crafts fairs. A Nativity she made during that time is now part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian. In gathering Nativities for her shop, Weber has come to know many New Mexican artists . Some are Pueblo Indians, some are "Spanish," the preferred local term for those from families in New Mexico for generations, and others are "Anglo," denoting everyone else. She has worked with those artists in designing Nativities for her shop.
Weber claims she acquired her joy in Christmas through her years of growing up in an Army family of ten children that traveled frequently. Most recently, she has been a lecturer on New Mexican Christmases at Elderhostel programs. At the convention, Weber will be discussing the Southwestern United States creche.
Betsy, the owner of the company, will, as a personal service , maintain a list of the figures you purchase Enables you or your friends to add to your collection without duplication After purchasing your starter set, the next occasion requires only a telephone call or e-mail to add more figures santons de France
127 River Road woolwlch, ME 04579
Tel: 207-443-2345 santon@gwi.net
JAZZ NATIVITY THRILLS AUDIENCES
It all began in the summer of 1985. The late John Garcia Gensel, the "Jazz Pastor" of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in New York City, suggested Anne Phillips, composer and jazz musician, as the writer of a Christmas benefit to be held at the church. That was the birth of Bending Towards the Light, a Jazz Nativity.
"Nothing like this had been done," said Phillips. "I put some traditional carols into a jazz setting and wrote some new music. It was my opportunity to set scripture to music.
"Matthew, Luke, Bach, Hayden had told the Christmas story. Now it is expressed in the medium of jazz. In a grotto in Bethlehem, a light shines in the darkness. The light serves as a symbol of truth, love, and hope-hope that even in a dark season, we may begin to see the world bending toward the light. The light is Christ."
Performers of the show have included such jazz greats as Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck, and Tito Puente. "Jazz is the spiritual expression oflove and celebration," explained Phillips, "and the joy and love in the show spread out to the audience."
Community or church groups can share in the production of A Jazz Nativity. The score and script are available from G. Schermer, Rental and Performance Department, PO Box 572, 445 Bellvale Road, New York, NY, I 0918. Choral arrangement of the song, "Bending Towards the Light," is available from Shawnee Press, Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327. Tel: 570-476-0550, www .shawneepress.com
Anne Phillips will be bringing a concert version of her show to the Friends ofthe Creche convention in November.
UNUSUAL NATIVITY FROM INDONESIA
The island of Bali in Indonesia conjures visions of the romantic south Pacific. Now, Yakkum Institute, a Christian sponsored program, is sponsoring job opportunities for talented young men and women who are physically disabled. These young people are creating unique objects that reflect their culture and beautiful indigenous woods.
One of their newest and most sought after products is a hand carved wood Nativity with figures about six to nine inches tall. The set comes with a handsome wooden box that can be used for storage. Currently, the Nativity is listed on the following eBay shop site. (http://www.ebaystores.com/balishop).
These hand made products are sold through GN INTERNATIONAL, 98859 Olena Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701. Email: gni@hawaiirr.com~ Website: http://gnihawaii.net or gni@hawaii.rr.com
United Nations Association GLOBAL GIFTS
Plan to attend the exciting annual Fall Nativity show at this unique folkart shop just ahalf hour from central Los Angeles Meet collectors who display their own creches and share fascinating adventures . Free.
One-of-a-kind Nativities from places as diverse as Panama, Vietnam, Venezuela, Russia, and Africa. See a rare Huichol Indian creche coated in tiny beads from Central America. Entirely volunteer staffed, the shop sends alarge share of profits to UNICEF projects worldwide.
529 W. 7" Street San Pedro, CA 90731
STOP
IN OR CUL
310-548-1762
FINDING CRECHES IN A HOLY PLACE
by
Judith Davis
After leaving the International Nativity Convention in Pamplona, Spain, last Fall, we headed north across the Pyrenees, then west to Lourdes, France. We were interested in seeing this holy site, where, starting in February 1858, the Virgin Mary made several appearances to the young shepherd girl, Bernadette Soubirous.
Imagine our surprise when, in a walk about town, we saw a sign that said Musee Nativite. We followed the arrow, and discovered the museum at 21 Quai Saint Jean.
The visit to the museum begins with a series of 14 dioramas, starting with the Annunciation. Scenes of Christ's early life then unfold, concluding with life in Nazareth, as "the Child grew to maturity."
On the upper floor, one finds a re-creation of life in Biblical Palestine at the time of the census, the palaces of Pontius Pilate and Herod, craftsmen and merchants, and at the end, the stable of Bethlehem.
Another giant scene is of everyday life in the Pyrenees towards the end of the 19th century. Villagers ply their trades; then, between the baker's house and the carpenter's shop, towards the end of the tour, one finds a Nativity.
Musee Nativite. Open 9-12 and I :30- 7 year round with extended hours during July and August. (21, Quai Saint Jean, 65100 Lourdes, France. Phone: 62-94- 71-00).
Judith Davis, El Cerrito, California, travels frequently, often finding Nativity surprises.
AMISH COUNTRY BECKONS CONVENTIONEERS
Lancaster, in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and the site of the Friends of the Creche convention November 8-10, 2001, is like no other place.
Probably the first thing to know is that the Pennsylvania Dutch are not from Holland. Lancaster County was settled in the early 1700s mainly by Swiss Mennonites, Rhineland Germans, Scots, Welsh, English Quakers and French Huguenots. Large migrations were drawn by William Penn's promise of religious freedom and good land to farm.
Somewhere back in time, settlers who spoke Deutsch (German) were mistaken for Dutch, as the words sound similar in English.
Today, many of the Pennsylvania Dutch, including about 18,000 Amish, still speak to one another in a dialect of German, still dress in distinctive Plain clothing, and still live lives of simplicity and humility centered in the family and rooted in their expression of Christian faith.
You'll find the Amish don't want their pictures taken. Why? Many believe that photographs in which they can be recognized violate the Biblical commandment, "Thou shalt not make unto thyself a graven image."
If you meander through the back roads and start counting, you'll see 28 covered bridges, the second highest number in America (Parke County, Indiana, has 32). The longest covered bridge in the world, built here in 1814,
crossed the Susquehanna River for a distance of over a mile. Ice and high water destroyed the structure in 1832.
Lancaster city has the distinction of having once been the capital of the United States. On September 27, 1777, the Continental Congress met there when it had to flee the British, thus making Lancaster the capital for one day.
A tour of Amish country is available on Thursday morning, November 8, at 9 a.m. before the Convention begins. Cost is $3S, including lunch.
A day trip to Philadelphia on Sunday, November 11, costs $45. Lunch on your own.
Add to registration fee, or if already registered, send to: FOTC, 117 Crosshill Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096. Seats are limited.
MAJOR GIFTS DONATED TO FOTC
Artist Jil Gurule has contributed a stunning hand crafted Nativity to the Friends of the Creche convention In addition, America's most prestigious collectible companies, including Goebel (M.I. Hummel), Lenox, Lladr6, and Roman (Fontanini) also have donated funds and exquisite examples of their products
All gifts, along with member donated items, will be auctioned during the convention festivities.
