CONTENTS
Page One:
- Dino Muradian: A Project Unfolding
Page Two:
- Dino Muradian: Varied Themes
- Book Review: Step-by-Step Pyrography Projects:
For the Solid
Point Machine by Norma Gregory
- Sue Walters Newsletter--Smokin'!
Page Three:
- From Spain: FFERDEZO
- Tom Schulz Update on Alaska
- Remembering September 11th
|
The Annunciation |
While living in California, Dumitru (Dino) Muradian was working on an important commission to do a series of works for a Romanian Orthodox church in the Bay Area near San Francisco. When he decided to return to his native Romania, he continued the project there using DHL express mail to send back his work as he completed it.
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Iconostasis--Beginnings |
The commission for the church project calls for a large number of
pyrographed images to adorn the church interior including and especially
an iconostasis, which is like a wooden wall or screen.
Dino began by building the iconostasis structure itself.
A close call. In the picture above, the structure is well
underway but still in an early stage. The picture shows the room where
Dino built the sections. He recalled a particular day when he got quite
a scare: "I was almost killed once when one of them fell to the
ground, and the 'wind' it created caused another one to start falling.
It fell very close to me and scratched my right shoulder pretty
badly."
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Iconostasis--Figure of Christ |
The iconostasis is no doubt the most characteristic feature of an
Orthodox church. A typical iconostasis is a wall or screen of wood,
dividing the sanctuary from the body or nave of the church with rows (or
tiers) of icons displayed on it.
The icons are the images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist
(also known as John the Forerunner) and many other apostles, saints, and
prophets of the Orthodox religion, as well as the important feasts and
mysteries of that religion. The number of these images depends mainly
on how elaborate the iconostasis is. Some Russian Orthodox iconostases
may have five tiers, for example. The tradition of the iconostasis
dates from about the sixteenth century [1].
Historically, the Orthodox churches represent not a doctrinal but a
political separation from the Latin church and the authority of the Pope
in Rome. Once the last attempt at reconciliation between the two
ecclesiastical powers failed (Council of Florence, 1438), perhaps as a
means of creating distinctions, each took on its own traditions
different from the other's. After that, whereas in Western European
(Latin) churches ornamentation of the sanctuary was focused on the wall,
the redodos, behind the altar, in Eastern European
(Orthodox) churches, it was the iconostasis--the barrier
or partition dividing the altar and sanctuary from the rest of the
church--that became ever more elaborate and grand [2].
References:
1. The
Iconostasis
2. The
Iconostasis
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Iconostasis--In Place |
Over time a protocol developed for iconostases, indicating where the
most essential icons must be placed. Some of these iconostases are very
elaborate and can be immense. However, it seems the only truly
essential icons are one of Jesus Christ to the right of the Royal Doors
that constitute the central panel and another of the Madonna and Child
to the left of the Royal Doors. Besides the central Royal Doors are two
more doors called Deacon's Doors (one on the right of the Royal Doors
beyond the icon of Christ and another on the left, beyond the icon of
the Madonna and Child).
There is usually a cross at the top of the central panel, which
constitutes the Royal Doors. The Annunciation and the Last Supper are
two other themes of traditional importance often used in the central
panel, just as they are in Dino's where the Last Supper is right
underneath the central cross at the top, and the Annunciation (shown in
detail at the opening of this segment) is on the lower portion of the
central section. Because the central panel actually opens as the Royal
Doors, there is a decorative divider running vertically through the
pyrograph of the Annunciation, which was done in two panels.
|
Iconostasis--Madonna and Child |
Dino consulted a book describing the rules of Romanian Orthodox
iconography. He found a prescribed order for icons on an iconostasis,
as well as other details of this complicated process.
From there he proceeded to build "every section of the seven that
form the iconostasis." He writes, "I mounted everything on
it, I painted it, I finished every square inch of it. "
|
|
Dino Muradian Detailing the
Iconostasis | A Church Service
|
There are six large pyro-icons on this wooden wall standing 9 ft. tall
(2.9 m) that is Dino's iconostasis. Above these six large icons are
rows of three smaller ones. On top of the smaller pyro-icons is another
large one but in a 'semi-circle' shape. In addition to the pyro-icons
on the iconostasis itself, there are quite a few large pyrographic works
on the walls of the church.
Wood used. The pyro-icons are all made of Birch, 1/2-inch thick,
plywood. The iconostasis itself is also made of Birch.
|
St. John the Forerunner Baptizing
Jesus |
The figures depicted on an iconostasis have a protocol, as was discussed
previously; however, the style of the art work has not heretofore been
touched on. In a traditional iconostasis, the medieval or Byzantine
style (such as the figures of Christ and the Madonna
and Child) is the most typical for icons, which are also often
covered in metals and gems, revealing only the painted faces and hands.
Perhaps because the client church is modern and
"Romanian-American" Orthodox, it was decided (surely not
without controversy, as in all these sorts of stylistic, and more
importantly--traditional--issues) that many of the images be early
Renaissance and Renaissance paintings from the Catholic tradition.
Dino's job was to choose images that would satisfy the tastes and
traditions of as many of the faithful as possible. Wherever appropriate
he modified details of the original images to accommodate the Orthodox
religious traditions and artistic sensibilities.
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The Three Central Panels |
As this article goes to publication, three small works are left to complete. An additional contract that is anticipated would mean doing the twelve Apostles in the rounded niches at the top of the iconostasis panels.
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Dino Muradian's Iconostasis Nearing
Completion
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View more of Dino Muradian's works on his beautiful new website www.geocities.com/dinumuradian
and as always in the E-Museum of
Pyrographic Art.
|
The Entrance of Jesus into
Jerusalem |
Now that the end of this big project is in sight, I asked for his
comments about this church project, his future plans for his art work,
or if he plans a return to the United States.
Dino is realizing how much he has enjoyed this project. He is thinking
of possibilities of commissions he would truly like as an artist and he
is thinking big. His first thought is how much he would like to work
for the Vatican, or do some more biblical scenes for different Churches
or art collectors.
"Working for this Romanian Church," Dino says, "I took
it like a big honor and pleasure--I'm Romanian, don't forget."
"Yes, if a big project comes up, I'll be back in the States [or
presumably the Vatican!], but, you know, this planet is so very small, I
can do my work even from the Moon, as long as I have a FedEx or DHL...
and internet."
And then at the end he puts his own (very characteristic) little happy
face: [:o)
(If that didn't make sense, see his self portrait at the end of the next
segment on page two....)
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2002, Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez, all rights reserved.
