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| Contemplative Garden |
Interlaced with the land, creation and history, are inspirations for creativity in the arts and crafts. The manuscripts of the past, whether on parchment or artifacts, are witness to this marriage of the natural and supernatural, creator and creation, in the life of the monastic craftsman and in all artists. In his Letter to Artists, Pope John Paul II writes that "God called man into existence, committing to him the craftsman's task," Artists, "more conscious of their gift, are led all the more to see themselves and the whole of creation with eyes able to contemplate and give thanks, and to raise to God a hymn of praise." He continues, "as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece."
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| Mother Agnes Cleaning Chemise |
Mother Agnes Shaw is our Master Bookbinder and has a complete studio for bookbinding and some restoration. She has studied and collaborated with museums and bookbinders both in Europe and the Unites States of America enlarging her expertise as well as teaching many new students. She wrote the first volume The books of the Abbazia di San Vincenzo in Their History and is presently doing research tracking the medieval manuscripts that were written by the monks of San Vincenzo.
Other crafts done at the Abbey are Beadwork and Wire Jewelry, using a variety off-loom techniques with Delica beads, gem stones, Swarovsky crystals and wire (copper, silver and12K gold). Margaret Meister of Amphora Designs has been an inspiring master for many years. Other beadwork masters who have been of major influence are Diane Fitzgerald, Marcia De Coster and Carol Wilcox. Mother Philip has begun some designing of her own inspired by the finds from the abbey’s archaeology excavations.
In ceramics as well, Mother Philip has been inspired by pottery in the Samnite tombs (VI century B.C.) to make terra sigillata pottery fired in a sawdust kiln. More recently has hand built slab vases for the basilica that were designed by Stephen Hazel, artist-in-residence, from +=Studio Blu+= in Seattle, WA. Stephen and his wife Kathleen Rabel, also artist-in-residence, have held workshops in wood-cuts, printmaking, oriental paper making and aquarelle for local artists and guests which have been exhibited in our visitors' center and presented to His Holiness Pope John Paul II in response to his Letter to Artists,. Mother Philip has also learned the rudiments of making the bobbin lace (tombolo) which had been brought by nuns from Aragon, Spain in the 16th century.
Basket making has been introduced during the last several years through one of our lay oblates from West Virginia through workshops in the autumn. Kathleen Perando has taught us to make egg, market and herb, a Williamsburg and Amy baskets as well as wine and olive oil gift baskets. As we advance in these skills we are thinking more of local materials for designing a San Vincenzo basket.
Rev. Mother Miriam has begun making candles, recycling candles from the local churches, for home use and gifts and harvests our abundant lavender crop for making sachets.
Music is an integral part of our prayer through the Gregorian chant, but also our mission to foster traditional culture in the region through hosting piano and choral competitions, collaborating with the conservatory in Campobasso and the Rocchetta Pro Loco. Concerts are performed by chamber orchestras and folk music groups and a number of local artists and craftsmen have exhibited their work in the Sala Schuster at the basilica or the visitors’ center.