Dear Friends,

" Could Humanity enjoy today such a great artistic patrimony if the Christian community had not encouraged and supported the creativity of numerous artists, proposing to them as model and inspiration the beauty of Christ, splendour of the Father?"

Pope John Paul II. Address to Pontifical Academies. Nov. 2004.

For some time now I have wanted to send you this letter to give you some very special news and thoughts on what I have been doing this past year or so and to ask for your

continued prayers and support for the projects, plans, hopes and dreams I have regarding my art for the future. Many of you no doubt share my belief that Sacred Art is a  powerful means of communicating the faith to people regardless of age, intellect or wealth. Part of this letter is dedicated to  appealing to that sense many have in the hope it may inspire some much needed practical help in support of Sacred Art. Many of you I’m sure will understand where I am coming from with this appeal, so please bear with me.

So many interesting developments have been happening regarding my work and the Art of Divine Mercy that I felt it perhaps a good idea to share this with all my friends. After all many of you have been so generous in your support and encouragement to me over the years and I’m sure would appreciate this update on what has been going on. I continue to receive very encouraging emails from many people who either have visited the web site or met me, my brother Allan and Rose Balayan in Hawaii at various conferences over the past year or two. I try to answer every email and correspondence personally as best I can, however, due to my absent-mindedness, and many other activities, there are some no doubt I don’t get back to. Please accept my apologies. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their encouragement and interest over the years. 

It is now approaching a year since we released the Art of Divine Mercy DVD, the presentation of all my artwork from the early 1990s up to 2005. Produced in collaboration with my brother Allan who also looks after the web site, it has been well received at various conferences and parish retreats in the U.S., Australia and here in the U.K. There may be further developments and opportunities for more exposure for the DVD in the months ahead and I ask you to pray for the continued success of the DVD. It has proven to be a really effective tool for evangelising, and a novel way to present an exhibition of art that brings something new and unusual to conferences. On every occasion it has moved audiences and groups with the combination of imagery and a powerful music score by John Debney from “The Passion of the Christ”

We recently obtained and extended licence to use this beautiful music score from Mel Gibson’s landmark film for a further ten years on the DVD as it seems a perfect accompaniment to the art work. At present we are in discussion with EWTN, (the global Catholic Television network founded by Mother Angelica) to air the DVD in the coming months ahead. I ask that you keep this intention in your prayers. The exposure it would receive from an EWTN broadcast has great potential so fingers crossed that will become a reality.

In January of this year, some of  you may have read the feature on myself and paintings on Divine Mercy on the web site www.thedivinemercy.org. This came as a surprise and blessing to have been featured on the web site of the Marians based in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, who, as many of you know, are the official custodians of the message of Divine Mercy. The feature article was followed by some very kind comments that were very humbling and gratifying. I would love to offer my sincere heartfelt thanks to all those who posted comments. To read the article click here

Something else I would like to draw your attention to is the May/June edition of the St. Austin Review, or the “Star” magazine as it is known. A preview of the magazine can be viewed at the web site www.staustinreview.com.  In their own words, Star magazine is a lively bi-monthly journal dedicated to a Catholic exploration of culture, literature, and ideas. I have been honoured to be featured in an article by Jef Murray. "Why a Catholic journal of culture? and what is culture anyway? Star proposes answers to those questions and picks up where the great work of Dawson, Sheed and Chesterton Left off.

From Gregorian Chant to Gustav Mahler, from Gothic architecture to the Sistine Chapel, from Pascal to Pasteur, from Aquinas to Marshall McLuhan, from Dante to Shakespeare, Catholic culture has created and recreated the world we live in. Star is led by editor Joseph Pearce (author of Literary Converts and biographies of Tolkien and Chesterton), in partnership with Sapientia Press of Ave Maria University, and supported by a magnificent gathering of Catholic theologians, historians, philosophers, poets, artists, and journalists. In this dark age, for the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire fifteen hundred years ago, we are facing total disintegration. Having successfully fought off the threat of Nazism and Communism, we now find our values and the structures of our civilization crumbling all around us under the sustained attack of the new barbarians. What is particularly deadly about this assault is that this time the barbarians aren't knocking at the gates, they are within them- and in increasingly globalized cultural conditions, more than the West is at risk.

Star was founded as a raised standard and rallying cry to meet these challenges; and, as in the global convulsions that shook the twentieth century, they have gathered friends and allies from the four corners of the world to fight for the preservation of Christian Civilisation."   

My 2005 painting commemorating the year of the Eucharist called “ The Perfect Sacrifice” features on the cover of the magazine, illustrating the liturgical theme of the issue. The magazine will also carry a special feature article on my work. I have read the article and I can tell you it is an amazing piece written by artist/writer in residence, Jef Murray. (the interview can also be viewed on my own website (www.art-of-divinemercy.co.uk/fenestraecoeli.htm)  The article really gets to the heart of all that I’ve been striving to achieve in my art from the earliest days. I won’t spoil anything by divulging any details here, but rather would strongly urge that you obtain a copy of this wonderful publication, and read for yourself Jef’s very insightful article on yours truly.

For me to be included among such august company in the world of the great artists and creative minds of the past and present is no small thing. I hope and pray it compliments and contributes towards what is an already outstanding publication and has a good response from its readership. Thank you again Jef, for this amazing article and opportunity for my work to reach even more people.

Original Tommy Canning Art Work For Sale.

Yes, it is true. Now for the first time, I will have a page on the web site highlighting the sale of original art work. Do you believe that Sacred Art is an important and indispensable part of the Church’s mission of evangelisation? Do you have the conviction that by supporting works of Sacred Art either by commissioning original works or purchasing their art that you help contribute towards a renewal of our Catholic heritage and culture,  thus becoming active in your part in artists' attempts to impact culture in a positive Christocentric way? ? Well this is your chance to do just that.

With this in mind, I have asked Padre Pio for his help and have chosen the painting of St Pio of Pietrelcina titled “You Are A Priest Forever” as the first original work of art that is

being offered for sale. Painted in 1999 using acrylic on a canvas panel, it depicts the great mystic and stigmatist  Padre Pio, at the moment of the consecration as he elevates the Chalice of Our Lord’s precious blood at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This painting was also used as the cover art on the CD by the talented singer/songwriter and dear friend, Annie Karto, with her award winning song dedicated to the Priesthood “You Are A Priest Forever”. It has proved to be a very popular print as a gift to Priests on the anniversary of their ordinations or newly ordained priests too. Many of these prints, I learned from correspondence, also hang on the walls of houses of religious formation and seminaries in the United States.

The painting incorporates what Padre Pio often saw and experienced at every Mass, the Mother of Priests, The Blessed Virgin Mary looking as Padre Pio offered the Mass. In this image she is depicted holding the infant Jesus who is holding up the Priests’ Stole, a symbol and garment given to each priest on his ordination.

As I mentioned it is a very popular picture, so much so that it is now completely out of print. I hope to make it available again as a print but this is, as always the case for my limited resources, a matter of when funds are available. Please pray for that intention.

I purposely did not put a price on the painting sale for several reasons. One reason being that I am praying to Padre Pio that he will intercede for me and send some generous soul or group who would see it as a worthy piece of art to adorn their home, their Church, or as a special gift to a priest on the anniversary of his ordination. So in that sense it has a double benefit, one, that it serves to reawaken an appreciation and interest in Sacred Art and culture among laity and two, it provides some much needed funds for artists such as myself who desires greatly to use my talents and pursue working in Sacred Art as a vocation. The sale of art will go a little towards helping me continue. It is always a hard thing for me as an artist to part with an original work of art, it comes after a long time of prayer and thought on the matter, especially as for me a lot of heart and soul goes into every painting. It becomes a very involved process and I often form a very paternal attitude towards each painting. As if it was my own child. So for a painting such as this that has been part of my spiritual journey as well as artistic it is hard to put an exact price on. There is a bit of nostalgia as well as each painting has its own story and place in my heart. Some things are not easily defined by a monetary value. So I am hoping that it will move and inspire someone to be very generous and it goes to a place where it will give God honour and Glory. This is my hope and prayer for the painting. I will have the painting in a frame of my choice but if it is sold the buyer is not obliged to keep it in the existing frame. Please email me if you have any enquiries regarding the painting. I will be adding to this work for sale other original pieces of art in time also.

The Divine Mercy artwork of Tommy Canning also is featured in a new dynamic presentation on the message and devotion to Divine Mercy as revealed to St. Faustina By Dave and Joan Maroney of Mother of Mercy Messengers,(MOMM).Their web site is:

 http://www.thedivinemercy.org/momm/

Dave and Joan for some years now have dedicated their lives to touring all over the U.S. and abroad with a beautiful multi media presentation of  Divine Mercy and earlier this year requested permission to use the art I have produced on Divine Mercy in a new version of their show. One of My paintings of St. Faustina adorns the cover of the DVD they have produced and I recommend not only the DVD but also consider inviting them to your parish or conference to do this presentation. It is an experience that has thrilled audiences from coast to coast of the U.S. and has become a regular feature at conferences

annually. I am pleased to be included in their new improved version and hope the inclusion of the art will further inspire more people to know about the message of Divine Mercy.

Future Projects.

One of my most ambitious projects and accomplishments, as well as one of the most satisfying for me personally in a variety of ways was the 8 foot by 5 foot canvas “Creatio ex Nihilo”.  This painting was commissioned way back in 2000 and completed and installed in 2002 in The House of Sanctification located in San Sebastian de Garabandal in northern Spain. It was as much physically demanding as it was mentally and spiritually as anything I had done before or since.

The final result was worth all the effort as it has an overwhelming effect on those first few souls who saw it on arrival in Spain and those who have been there to see it in the flesh since. It took me almost two years to complete it from conception to installation. After that, I immediately hoped that I would be able to do more works on this scale. But for one reason or another, it was never possible, much to my disappointment. It is a costly project for sure, as we artists have to live and it is very unfortunate for artists of Sacred Art like myself that there are not exactly a large queue of clients willing to invest in such talent and subject matter to adorn God’s House, be it in a Church or retreat house. The creation project was one of those rare exceptions where someone did see the value of such art.  The urge to do more works on a large scale still remains and nags at me constantly, my imagination teeming with ideas of all kind for other projects that would create an experience to behold. So with that being said, it is my hope and plan to begin work on some of these ideas in the near future.  What I eventually produce is something I’m still discerning right now, also what purpose it would serve on a practical level. It is possible that it could be as part of an exhibition of Sacred Art. I don’t know to what extent there are individuals or groups who would be prepared to fund or invest in such a project but I hope to start work on a painting for this purpose regardless. I will regularly update its status on the web site so visitors can see its progression from beginning to end.  Who knows maybe by that time somebody may see it as a worthwhile investment and contribute towards the cost of producing it. This would be an ideal situation for the project, that individuals see the project as an investment that would support an artist in his vocation and also obtain a beautiful work of art that could be installed eventually in a Church or home and they are effectively commissioning the artist to paint the picture, or simply as a donation to help the artist in his work and support his dedication to Sacred Art by assisting him in this way.  I’m open to either option if this helps me to fund the project and continue to work. If someone out there would love to contribute to do something like this or know someone else who would be interested, then I’d love to hear form you. My experience and observations over the years unfortunately tell me that most likely I will fund the project myself as I go along and that is how I will proceed in the meantime.

“In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art.”

– Pope John Paul II –The Letter to Artists, 1999

Today we live in a cultural and spiritual climate that does not have much enthusiasm for luxuries like murals, statues and the like as the Church is no longer our spiritual home. Peoples’ hearts are elsewhere and the church becomes a place only seen for what it provides and serves in its function rather than be seen as the palace of the King of Kings. There is not much attachment to the Church and the need to adorn it’s interior with great works of art is seen as an expense that is unnecessary and wasteful, let alone commit to the obligation to build and maintain our spiritual home. It says a lot for our times when we seldom if at all see the construction of beautiful cathedrals and basilicas today that resemble and aspire to the same greatness of those glorious testimonies of the passion and devotion of our long deceased forefathers in the faith accomplished. More often than not in our times we are content with dreary antiseptic interiors or worse, post modern abominations, because it is all that is available. I have visited countless churches that consist of vague disorientating modern structures and designs with the predictable Scandinavian Design style pews arranged in the now predictable circle arrangement. No sign of any beautiful murals, statues, altarpieces and details that once made our churches stand out and be recognised as the House of Our God, the creator of the Cosmos. In a world without religious images, what sort of images are taking their place? We need only take a glance at our mass media to see that. In the past, in better times, the wealth of the rulers and nobles ensured the vitality of Sacred Art through their patronage. Building Churches, commissioning altarpieces and murals and donating sacred statuary. We do not have the same generosity and foresight from our present day ruling class. It does not happen. The response must come from the rank and file, from you and me. If we are to see a restoration of the Church and the faith, it will coincide with a return to Sacred Art and culture.


I have often scratched my head, and with great discouragement, wondered at the injustice of it all as I look on at the “art of our time” in the secular world and see millions of dollars of investment from art buyers and trustees going towards the work of contemporary artists to promote and finance their works, while artists like myself constantly struggle and mostly fail to attract even a fraction of that funding for art projects even within our own Catholic community, who ironically are more often the subject of the attack in a lot of contemporary art.. Rather than organise protests outside the Brooklyn Museum, which seems to help gain for it more publicity rather than public outrage against the Saatchi collection of British “shock art”, or the African artist Chris Ofili’s blasphemous dung encrusted Virgin Mary or shake our heads in disgust at the works of contemporary artists like Andres Serrano, Robert Mapplethorpe, Damien Hirst or Mike Kelley, perhaps it would be a more effective means to combat the enemies of religion and culture by generously supporting those struggling artists to create works of art that will proclaim the greatness and beauty of God’s truth and Mercy. In other words, “Don’t get mad, get even”. I recently was sent an insightful article to this effect that appeared in Crisis magazine. Written by Maureen Mullarkey it exposes the mindset that prevails in the art establishment of the secular culture today and I strongly recommend this as further reading on the subject. It’s called, “ Painting Money, the Ugly Business of Contemporary Art”. And then after reading that article, please pray that more people will see the need to be active in support of artists in the culture war that we are in. Perhaps you are one of those who can help, then please think about it, we need your help. If you would like to read the article, click HERE.
It has been my desire in all my work to evoke that sense of timelessness in the classical past while at the same time trying to integrate in as tasteful way as possible the best of modern techniques and contemporary design to create contemplative or dramatic imagery that moves people toward a greater love for the faith. Historically the visual image, be it a painting, a statue or a building, has always been a vital part of our Catholic heritage. It is my conviction that if there is to be a revival in the faith in our own times, to devotion to Our Lady and the saints. If our Churches are to reflect again as in the past, that Christ is indeed truly present in the Eucharist, then it will come as we also restore that visual part of Our Catholic heritage. This is my motivation for this project and I ask for your prayers that the means becomes possible for me to undertake it in the near future if possible.

Timescale.
I should mention too that obviously these kind of projects are very time consuming and for me a slow process. It can take as much as a year or more to paint one large-scale painting in between all my other activities.
My Future.
I have been producing works in Sacred Art for over a decade now, since my early 20s and have tried to serve Our Lord and the Church with the talents I have as best I can. Over the years there have been many struggles of one kind and another, a mixture of joys and sorrows, accomplishments and disappointments. The Lord has provided for me in one way or another, sometimes in simple ways, almost imperceptible, other times, dramatic. Other times I have to be patient and wait, like the present moment. I thank you all again, those near and far who have been a source of encouragement and support both spiritually and materially and ask for your prayers for all that may lie ahead in the future.

I will post updates as time goes by and hope that there will be good news to share with you.

 

Yours faithfully in Christ

Tommy Canning. June 2007