Creating Sacred Images -- Romanian Icons on Glass Workshop

We wish to spread the word about the Sacred Images:  Icons on Glass
workshop that is being held at St. Gregory's University in Shawnee from
Monday May 20 throughFriday May 24.  Rodica Focseneanu Cunningham,
M.F.A. and Christopher Cunningham, M.F.A. will be teaching Romanian
reverse-glass iconography tradition from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day in
Fine Arts Room 213.  Atthe end of the week, the icons can be dedicated
in a ceremony with of the priests from St. Gregory's Abbey. 

"Their work is stunning and memorable-it's a wonderful opportunity to
share this beautiful tradition," says SGU visual arts faculty member
Sheryl Cozad.  To see examples of their exquisite gilded reverse glass
iconography technique and to read more about the Cunninghams, go to
www.iconsbyrc.com

Their work was featured prominently in the recent "Nature in Prayer"
exhibition at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art.

The Cunninghams are a married couple who met at the University of New
Mexico, where they both obtained Master of Fine Arts degrees in
sculpture.  They both taught coursework at UNM before moving to
Oklahoma.  Rodica learned the reverse-glass iconography from her aunt
while growing up in Romania under a repressive Communist regime.  The
technique was kept secret until the dictatorship was overthrown in the
early 1990s.  Chrsitopher and Rodica have created icons out of their own
personal devotion for several years.  They began "writing" icons
(because they are communicating religious symbols, it is termed
"writing") for clients about a decade ago.  They now travel to several
iconography conferences each year to display their work.  They also have
taught the technique both at St. Gregory's University and at St.
George's Orthodox Church in Oklahoma City.  Christopher and Rodica
Cunningham are members of the Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church in
Oklahoma City, which has hosted an icon sale for the couple.
 
Those who wish to do so  may enroll for three credit hours of SGU visual
arts course credit at a reduced summer rate.  One can choose to take the
course for course credit-- $1056 tuition for three credit hours ($352
per credit hour) or audit for $335 instead of enrolling for course
credit.  (This course can be used for upper division required course
credit for an SGU Visual Arts major.)

There is a $50 materials fee for all participants.  Arrangements can be
made for participants to stay in the SGU dorms for a low rate of $10 per
day.  There is limited space at the abbey, with rooms available for a
$50 per night suggested donation.

Call (405) 878-5100, extension 5433 or 5434 to register.