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These artists are profiled in greater depth in the Visual Preludes Resource Guide
Contemporary artists are poised to be of tremendous influence in communicating the work of the church in this century. These 17 artists listed here are a sampling of the hundreds of artists across North America who work at the intersections of fine art and faith.

Nancy Carow Photographer + Painter Oakridge, Tennessee		Featured Image > Symbols of the Church Painted wood, 2005 "Photography for me is a process of purposeful looking. It is a means of revisiting childhood pastimes .... I pick up my camera as if for the hunt, to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. "
Rachael Clearfield Painter Leicester, North Carolina more>		Featured Image > Listen Oil on canvas, 2001 "On the surface I am a woman, homemaker and wife of recording artist, Ron Clearfield. But inside, I am a creative spirit and my art has become a manifestation of my inner experience of God and Life."
Brie Dodson Painter Fairfax, Virginia more>		Featured Image > Sacred Ground OIl on canvas on panel, 2003 "Plein aire painting is refreshing and restorative. I have equipment well suited to painting under nearly any circumstance, and I take advantage of it. I never leave the house without a plein aire painting kit."
Lorna Effler Painter Ocala, Florida more>		Featured Image > Christ Child Oil on canvas "My paintings are “art with a purpose”: to spread the Gospel- to give revelation- to use as a witnessing tool- to make a faith statement- to encourage people that God’s promises are true."
Erin McGee Ferrell Painter Moorestown, New Jersey more>		Featured Image > New Spring (detail) Oil on canvas, 2005 "In the two and one half hour window on the streets I am with God; often losing myself in music of my CD player, many times entertaining local drunks, always on view to traffic, my paintings are born."
Dan Hardison Photographer Wilmington, North Carolina		Featured Image > Garden Gate Photograph, 2006 "The challenge of the artist who is also a believer is to create work that also expresses our relationship to God and his work."
C. Robin Janning Painter Livonia, Michigan		Featured Image > Unhindered Light Painting, 2005 "Almost every idea I have ever had about anything has become more clear to me in and by the act of creating art. It has changed the nature of my seeking from one of turmoil to calm. "
Jesse P. Mark Painter Lexington, Kentucky more>		Featured Image > Psalm 96:12 'All the Trees of the Forest SIng for Joy" (detail) Oil on Canvas, 1999 "These images are from a series of eleven paintings entitled “Landscape of the Psalms”, presented to the Cathedral for the children’s classrooms."
Mary Melikian Painter New York, New York		Featured Image > Rock, River and Tree Painting, 1993 "In my early work, I was interested in expressing beauty, but when I became more mature, I wanted to express truth. Actually, the two can exist together."
Nancy Mills Artist Thomasville, Georgia		Featured Image > Hawl! Why Make it So Complicated? Mixed media, 2005 "Mixed in with our national pride and multiple creedal statements, the Church as an institution seems a heavy burden for Christ to keep lifted up. "
John Moody Painter New York, New York		Featured Image > Night Grasses Painting, 2003 "Creativity and growth, which is at the heart of nature, has informed my vocation as an artist and as a priest. Art, perception, and nature help to form the language of my relationship to God."
Jan Neal Digital Painter Opelika, Alabama more>		Featured Image > Candlemas Digital painting, 2007 "I think that imaging the traditions of our church and teaching the language of symbol is important for growth and vitality, and it needs to be encouraged."
Margaret Adams Parker Sculptor Alexandria, Virginia		Featured Image > Reconciliation "The art that I make today is very different from the art I was trained to make. I have moved from painting spare images ... to making prints and sculptures which focus on the human (and often the biblical) story. This transformation in my work ... parallels my spiritual journey ."
Suzanne Schleck Iconographer Toms River, New Jersey more>		Featured Image > Icon of the Virgin of Tenderness Gilded frame, gold leaf and tempera on panel, 2003. Collection of Rev. Elizabeth Geitz "By definition, painting an icon is an encounter with the Spirit of God, often as manifested in the lives of his saints.
Laura Fisher Smith Painter and Iconographer Phoenix, Arizona		Featured Image > ...And she wrapped him in swaddling clothes , 2004 "Jesus is with us now – as he always has been – in the lives of the poor, the marginalized, the suffering. Whenever I am tempted to look away and walk past, I know it is a signal to look."
Barbi Tinder Photographer Stoneham, Maine		Featured Image > Lakeshore Photograph, 2005 "I see the outdoors as God's artwork and place of everyday worship. I simply try to capture it through the eye of my lens."
Anne Wetzel Photographer Mt. Desert, Maine		Featured Image > Moon Over Somes Pond Photograh, 2006 "These images reflect the life around me. It is these small scenes that really feed my soul and make me feel the gentleness of the life. Stopping and observing, I can see all the wonderful details that make up this world."

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