Artist Statement: I began thinking about the beautiful cross vestments painted on various principal people in the early church. These portraits were usually of the patriarchs of the church like St Basil, St Nicolas, and others. All of them were men. I began a series of inventing images with unnamed women elevated to the same status. I was intrigued by how they looked with women's heads and found myself slightly uncomfortable with the idea, much less the image. Her portrayal could be emphasizing her love of learning and respect in the church community as a teacher, preacher, reader, patron/leader, priest, or bishop. By the time I had finished a few, I was quite satisfied with the concept that we should have been named and honored for attributes that both genders possess. “The bishop must be beyond reproach. He must not have more than one wife. He must be temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, and a good teacher. He must not be a heavy drinker, or violent, but must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not in love with money. He must be good at managing his household, with his children being subject to him with all godliness.” ( Timothy 1: 3: 2-4)
In Silence and Wisdom, two priestly bishops stand beside one another. Tradition Iconography would have named these two bishops St Nicolas, Sr Basil, St Gregory, or other named spiritual leader. I was fascinated with garment design and its significance. I renamed them “Silence and Wisdom” imagining the world needs more of those two attributes. While painting, I was struck by the many saintly bishops who teach dressed like this in the cannons of traditional iconography. I began to ask if women uphold the many attributes bishops possess and what would they look like.
Female Priest is an unnamed female priestess standing on the cracked and vulnerable ground. It is the ground that I stand on as an artist and faithful Christian. Christian Women were not called to the priesthood in the catholic or orthodox church but just recently in the Anglican Church. As I began designing the image I could not help but ask, what are the attributes of bishops? I think of them as pillars of the church that lead, protect, heal, teach, prophesy, and administer the sacrament in service. I found these top eight qualities describe on the internet: transparent, honest, humble, holy, collaborative, servant, leader, and willing to make tough choices.
Christian Woman Bishop is another unnamed female priestess standing on a fisherman’s net. The net catches life and is symbolic of what surrounds us. She is the " fisher of women.” She is a prophet and priestess holding the book of sacred text and a monstrance with the spirit of Christ within. I found myself almost uncomfortable with the direction the series was taking. I was aware of how much my upbringing prevented me from embracing what this image could mean for me as a woman. I know many women who are prophets and priestess acting in their daily life as professionals, mothers, contemplatives, teachers, and mystical thinkers.
Unnamed Christian Women Bishop holds and book and says, “to trust and be conscious leads us to be children of Light." The garment of crosses has changed to the six-petaled rose, a motif used in the Mary Magdala stone in Magda, Jerusalem, and the rose chapel in Scotland. The series is solidifying the priestly feminine that is beginning to emerge. There is a small jar of ink on the stool beside her where she writes and contemplates the word of God, the teachings of Christ, and what it means to love without limit, prejudice, or bias.
She Teaches also shows a book being held, being wise, educated and a teacher. Dressed as a bishop priest she is recognized in their attire. Policemen, judges, firemen, and doctors all have vestments that distinguish them for us to identify. We can know who they are by what they wear on the outside because clothing is used to denote what one possesses on the inside.
Bio: Mary Jane Miller is a Byzantine-style iconographer living in Mexico. Born in N.Y 1954. Her collections are contemporary, with a proficient command of egg tempera for three decades. The work is extraordinary exhibited in museums and churches in the United States and Mexico. Published books: In Light of Women, Life in Christ, Iconography Revealed, Meditation and iconography, Embossing Metal, and The Mary Collection. She teaches 5-day workshops.
Classic Iconography www.sanmiguelicons.com
Workshops offered www.sacrediconretreat.com
Books for Purchase
|
