Blessed Sacrament welcomes artist Gracie Morbitzer for residency

The Parish Council of Blessed Sacrament Church in Buffalo is pleased to announce a three-day residency of Catholic artist and author Gracie Morbitzer, from Oct. 25-27.

Morbitzer, a 26 year old native of Columbus, Ohio, will present three different events over three days: A Gallery Show, an Iconography Workshop, and a Church on Fire II Lecture: “The Modern Saints.”

On Friday, Oct. 25, A Gallery Show: The Modern Saints will open at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1029 Delaware Ave., 7-9 p.m. The public is invited to attend this show of work by Morbitzer which will run in the church through Nov. 30. Guests are invited to view, contemplate, and learn about the saints as Morbitzer’s icons of historic, and sometimes ancient, saints are portrayed as contemporary people, allowing viewers to realize just how much they were like us and so, in turn, we can be saints like them. 

St. Peter’s tattoos, St. Augustine’s academic sweater, and St. Mary’s portrayal as so many very different women will help guests contemplate who these incredible saints really were, especially when traditional icons portray these people as all looking the same; aged and whitewashed. Biographies of each saint will also be displayed beneath each image.

A wine and cheese reception will follow. RSVPs are highly encouraged. Contact Michael Pitek by emailing michael@thepitekgroup.com or by calling 716-480-8313.

On Saturday, Oct. 26, Morbitzer will conduct an Iconography Workshop from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Hall at Blessed Sacrament Church. This workshop will cover the history, materials, process, symbolism and methods of traditional iconography. Then, using some new methods and materials, a “modern icon” will be crafted.

Morbitzer will be sharing examples of iconography and Christian art and history from around the world. Participants are asked to bring a repurposed material (such as a piece of old wood, cutting board, canvas or paper) to use as the canvas for the piece, as well as whatever medium (acrylic, tempera, watercolor: don’t bring oils) they’d like to work with. Some basic materials will be provided.

Seats are limited for this workshop. There is a $25 registration/materials charge. Payment can be made using this Venmo QR code. When you pay by Venmo, your notation should be ”Workshop.” Registration is required through Michael Pitek at michael@thepitekgroup.com or 716-480-8313. 

On Sunday, Oct. 27 at 11:45 am, Morbitzer will present the second Church on Fire II lecture: “The Modern Saints” in Blessed Sacrament Church. In her lecture, she will talk about the beginnings of “The Modern Saints,” how she transitioned to college, her experience as a resident advisor, and how her experiences with yard sales, social media, and the Covid-19 pandemic all influenced this project that began, really, by accident.

She will explain the choices behind her “contemporary” depictions of the saints, and how she sees this project as a mission to help make saints more relatable, discover some of their lost wisdom, begin to correct cultural erasure performed by the Church, and make art that can really change perspectives. She will touch on the practice of iconography, studies on religious art, and the importance of representation. There will be time for Q+A, and the presentation will be followed by a guided creative activity that furthers these ideas for each individual.

The public is invited to attend this free lecture. Registration is required and can be done online via the RSVP button. You can contact Michael Pitek at 716-480-8313 or Michael@thepitekgroup.com.

Born into a creative family, Gracie Morbitzer has always been drawn to the arts, storytelling, and crafting curated experiences. At the Columbus College of Art & Design, she spent four years in the Interior Architecture and Design program, studying museums, set design, and immersive experiences. “The Modern Saints” is a project that was born out of her transition from a Catholic education to CCAD. In the summer of 2021, she decided to leave her job to pursue full-time this project that had become a small business. 

In December of 2023, her first book, “The Modern Saints: Portraits and Reflections on the Saints,” was released. It is a collection of 52 of her icons, accompanied by reflections from contemporary authors on why the saints depicted are still relevant today. She also speaks all over the country and has been published in many articles and interviews about this work.

Church on Fire II: Stay With Us! is a series of lectures, concerts and educational sessions, spiritual services, social events and service programs designed to appeal to a wide variety of people as the Family of Downtown Parishes opens its doors to people of all faiths and builds community.