João D. Filipe painterrticles
About artist
( Published in ASRA newsletter, July 1996
by Jack Sarhage*)
When asked, "what Bible passage is your greatest inspiration when it comes to art, " Joao Filipe replied with "in everything may God receive the Glory, " from Peter 4:11.
I knew there would be times that I wished we could publish photographs in full color. This is one of those times. The photos published here do not due them justice.
Joao was born in Portugal. he studied law at the Universidade de Lisboa and then began do sacred art in 1982. He studied art with Master painters of Portugal, Spain, and Italy. This was in part due to his belief and agreement with Thomas Merton that "Christian art should be an oasis of beauty and spiritual truth in a world of ugliness, falsehood, and sin."
Joao's art is truly an "oasis of beauty and spiritual truth" in the many churches and private collections in the area. He uses the "classical technique of egg-tempera and gold leafing on gessoed hardwood of discarded antique church pews for his painting of Icons.
Joao came to the United States in 1991, sent by His holiness John Paul the Second as a lay missionary family. His family include his wife Ana, and six children, Joana, Madalena, Mariana, Monica, Thomas and Sophia, just 3 months old as this is written. His home is in Newark, NJ as is his studio at St. Casimir Polish Rectory.
In addition to being a member of our group [ The American Society of Religious Artists ] he is a member of the Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes, Lisbon, Portugal since 1976.
Joao calls us to "focus our efforts in what can unite us, that is, Jesus Christ, our only model." His efforts, will not only unite us but unite and bring beauty to that "world of ugliness, falsehood,and sin."
His art is an inspiration not only to those viewing it in churches it hangs but, to those artists creating our own beauty to share. Sharing is not always easy especially with non-Christians. But Joao believes the way to deal with them and fellow Christians as well is found in Matthew 7:2, "the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given." Good advice!
*Jack Sarhage, is a Christian Methodist artist, founder of ASRA, The American Society of Religious Artists, Collinsville, IL.