Saint Michaels Mosaics

Saint Michael’s Mosaics

The three sacramental mosaics I designed for St. Michael’s demarcate three of the most significant sacred passages in the congregants’ lives.

Upon entering St. Michael’s Parish, the baptismal font and mosaic floor remind all parishioners of the moment they became a member of the family of God. At the front of the parish, right below the altar, is a mosaic image of St. Michael, the defender of the church. When a casket is placed on this spot at the end of one’s life, the wings of St. Michael become a metaphor for one’s journey and faith in the resurrection. The third mosaic, placed at the base of the altar, displays iconography associated with the Eucharist. This sacred spot also marks the place where couples stand in front of each other to recite their marriage vows.

Breath, wind, fire, and water are all elements of the sacraments. Their movement, energy, and color suggest a living presence, yet remain theologically accurate — precisely reflective of the Vatican II exhortation to

ressourcement

, or return to the sources, particularly Pseudo-Dionysius and Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Each mosaic was pieced together with individually cut glass smalti, created by Mosaika. This is excruciatingly precise and yet intuitive work. On a good day, one square foot will be completed. On a bad day, one or more previous days’ work is wiped away and begun anew.