Matt Schickling, the Wire
Glencairn Museum hosts religious art and history exhibits year-round, but rarely can you see it all at once.
The Sacred Arts Festival, held April 26, is one of the two times per year visitors can take self-guided tours through the museum, viewing art made hundreds of years ago. They can also see some of that art in action.
“The differences really are in the demonstrators,” said Joralyn Glenn, outreach and public relations coordinator for the museum.
The festival is held each year, but the demonstrators are always changing. This year, the lineup includes demonstrations in glassblowing, blacksmithing, stone carving, mosaic making, sacred henna art and more.
Though some of these arts are not intrinsically religious, they were used historically to create religious pieces.
“Even if somebody isn’t specifically interested in religion, it’s a different lens to look at history,” Glenn said.
Stone carving, for example, has been implemented in the construction of religious structures and artifacts since those things existed, but it has both historical and modern-day implications.
Jens Langlotz will be demonstrating this art. He works at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral, where, like many aging buildings made of brownstone or limestone, restoration is needed regularly.
“A lot of the stuff that’s 100 years old now has to be restored,” he said. “You can go up and down the East Coast and there’s a lot of work.”
But that doesn’t mean there are many people qualified to do it.
Langlotz went through a traditional German apprenticeship program to learn his trade. He followed this up with a mastership program in Munich.
He places stone carving “at the center” of building.
“In this country, we have lost that,” Langlotz said. “Nobody can really do it onsite anymore and do it correctly.”
But historically, builders learned this trade thoroughly. Langlotz will be hosting a demonstration where children can try carving and he will show samples of tools and stone used in the process. He will also be carving something of his own for the demonstration and is willing to answer any questions visitors may have.
Another popular event each year has been the blacksmithing demonstration. Blacksmiths were integral in creating art for many different religions throughout history.
“It’s loud, it’s exciting. You’re looking at hot metal being shaped,” Glenn said.
People who have been to Glencairn before may have noticed the wealth of Medieval Christian art, and, while that is certainly a focus, organizers are hoping to give a more eclectic religious representation.
To that end, there will be a demonstration of the creation of a Tibetan Buddhist sand mandala taking place from April 22 to 25 each day from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The demonstration is front-and-center in the Great Hall.
The sand painting is an exercise in meditation. Intricate, three-dimensional designs are constructed from dyed particles placed carefully in a circular design.
The practice takes hours and is swept away almost immediately after completion. It’s an intense spiritual practice.
“It represents, to them, the transience of life,” Glenn said.
Also represented in the galleries are Middle Eastern, Native American and East Asian religions. Along with this, the Les Canards Chantants, an international vocal ensemble, will perform spiritual songs from 14th-century Catholic to colonial American standards during the dismantling ceremony of the sand mandala.
“Our mission is to teach about the history of religion all around the world,” Glenn said. “For people that want to see beautiful art, even if they don’t care about religion, this is an event they should come to.”
This event takes place at the Glencairn Museum, 1001 Cathedral Road in Bryn Athyn, on April 26 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Admission for the festival is $10 adults, $8 seniors and students (including college) with I.D., and free for Glencairn members and children 3 and under.
For more information, call 267–502–2600 or visit www.glencairnmuseum.org.
