Diocesan Artist-in-Residence

We’re delighted to welcome the Reverend Regan O’Callaghan to the Diocese of Niagara as our diocesan Artist in Residence for September 2014! During September, Regan will be working with the people of our diocese to explore connections between art, faith and spirituality -- and how we make use of those connections in our lives. Click here to view Regan O'Callaghan's itinerary for the month of September.

Presented jointly by the Life Changing Worship petal team and the Journeys in Faith working group, his time will help us think about how to enrich our worship through art, and to build stronger bridges to the artistry alive both in parishes and the communities they serve. You can meet Regan during SuperCrawl at our Cathedral in the afternoon and evening of September 12th.

Born in New Zealand, Regan is both a priest in the Church of England and a working artist. He leads art projects and workshops for parishes, schools, and other groups, inviting others to use the processes of art to connect with their faith. His own art practice focuses on icon writing, combining contemporary themes with the traditional techniques of creating icons. Much of his work draws inspiration from nature, our interaction with our surroundings, and his Maori and Irish heritage.
 
Over the course of the residency, Regan will travel the diocese and offer talks, workshops and classes.  He’ll preach at St. George’s, Guelph; at Church of the Transfiguration, St. Catharines; and the Church of the Resurrection, Hamilton.
 
He’ll be offering three sections of a class on writing icons, open both to artists and people who wouldn’t claim artistic gifts for themselves. The first class runs the week of September 15th, in Guelph. During the week of September 22nd, you can participate in classes either in the afternoon or in the evening in Hamilton. 
 
We’re particularly excited about a special morning session on September 27th at the Cathedral. The first part of the morning will be a facilitated interview with Regan about art and faith and how the two have intertwined to shape his life, followed by a Q&A session. After a coffee break, Regan will be offering a talk about how to incorporate art into our worshipping lives. 
 
We hope that you’ll find the Artist in Residence program an exciting opportunity, and encourage you to be part of it!