After the 9:30am mass on Sunday, May 16, Fr. Jim Blaettler, Director of Manresa Gallery, will give a twenty minute presentation on the etched door of the Manresa Gallery (10:45 am). The etching by artist Christian Karl Janssen features the writing of St. Ignatius during his time in Manresa, Spain where he received illuminations that eventually became the book of Spiritual Exercises used by the Jesuits.

“Cómo contemplar is layered glass etching for the Manresa Gallery entry door and transom. The work was approached as planar sculpture, and as such integrates time, text written by St. Ignatius, my brushwork, digital mastering, computer assisted manufacturing, industrial materials, and glass studio techniques. The intent was to realize a subtle work of beckoning whose voice speaks gently to open eyes.After research and meditation, I painted with gauche on vellum. The final layers of brushwork and text were composed digitally in collaboration with Fr. Blaettler and Lutz Haufschild. I operated computer software as we viewed a digital projection, and for 5 hours we talked and evolved the artwork. After the composition was complete, then the artwork was digitally mastered as multi-layered etching for both glass sides. The primary masks were cut by a computer controlled carbide bit, availing extensive detail and fine precision. I flew the stencils to Vancouver and worked with master artisans to texture and etch. Specific etchings articulate different components of the overall composition. Each glass side includes two stages of articulated mask and also hand-applied resists, which were progressively etched away with 100 grit aluminum oxide. Masking methods include computer cut stencil, specialty in-house techniques, and I painted resist directly on the glass with a custom 5 foot long brush. The glass was cleaned, shipped by truck from Canada, and professionally installed at St. Ignatius Church.” – Janssen

We hope to see you in the gallery for this exciting talk!