The Art of Worship: The Vision and Craft of Contemporary Nova Scotia Artists

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Christian, Buddhist, and Native spiritual work share space in this
exhibition catalogue of liturgical objects held at the Mary E. Black
Gallery in Nova Scotia. The collection of arts and crafts, united by
their expression of some aspect of spiritualism, encompasses clay,
metal, glass, fibre, and wood. “Symbols help us make real that which
exists but is absent,” says Mary Schaefer, author of the book’s
introduction. The objects illustrated are just such symbols, objects
“capable of promoting worship, the reverence that human beings ...
direct to God.”

The works of 38 artists are featured, with several color photos and a
short essay on each one, highlighting their lifestyle and philosophy of
art while showcasing a few of their liturgical pieces.

The artists are from across Nova Scotia, with the majority in the
Halifax/Dartmouth area. Their inspiration is expressed in carved
whalebone, stained glass, woven willow branches, needlepoint, wood and
lacquer, stoneware, acrylic, iron, deer hide and sweet grass,
watercolor, silver, copper, enamel, porcelain, silk, embroidery,
crochet, even knitting. Styles are as varied as the materials used.

The Art of Worship is both a reminder of the exhibition for those who
have seen it and a stand-alone introduction to the quality and scope of
spiritual work being produced by the Nova Scotian artistic community
today. It will increase appreciation for handwork and generate enhanced
valuing of religious objects.