Renovated Newman Center's Sacred Art Plan Unveils Radiant Apse Mural Mosaic

Pope John Paul II, in his Letter to Artists, called attention to the need for artists’ work to help “affirm that true beauty which, as a glimmer of the Spirit of God, will transfigure matter, opening the human soul to the sense of the eternal.”

It is our privilege to have dedicated our lives to communicating God’s presence and message to his followers through the design of liturgical spaces, art, and patrimony. These sacred pieces help us transcend the plane between this world and the next, conveying God’s enduring message of love.

The process of developing a piece of custom art that is right for each parish and speaks to his people is a complex one. It involves many steps and an array of talented designers, artists, and artisans who use years of training and high-quality materials to ensure the vision of the church is realized properly. 

We recently featured our completed sacred art program at St. Paul’s Newman Center in Fargo, ND. The Catholic campus ministry at North Dakota State serves Christian students, welcoming and preparing them for future vocations and to lead virtuous Catholic lives.

Liturgical Designer Rolf Rohn, along with the parish team, conceptualized the imagery for the new church, and his artists developed and implemented it under his direction. The focal point of the plan, a stunning apse oil painting, features God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Rood surrounded by adoring angels. But the masterpiece of this custom art is a brilliant smalti mosaic at the bottom of the mural. 

Beams of light fall from the heavens and part to reveal a sunset Eucharistic scene with the Twelve Apostles. Under Gothic arches that echo the lines of the chapel's architecture, a brilliant gold chalice—a symbol of communion—radiates light on either side to the apostles, who bear witness to God as they recall the Last Supper. Inscribed above the communion cup is the Latin acronym for Jesus, Savior of mankind. Under each apostle is his name. 

Once Rolf and his artists completed early apse mural designs (which included small black and white sketches and colored paintings) and they were approved, the art was rendered into a graphic design with precise measurements.

Rolf worked closed with renowned Italian mosaic artisans to ensure they enlarged the design into an appropriately proportioned full-size sketch in their Pietrasanta studio. The image also had to fit specific measurements in the eventual space and with the previously executed upper mural. The artisans used special paper that served as the initial backing for the mosaic, which was fabricated in reverse. 

They hand cut small pieces of tesserae into various shapes and sizes, using a palette of neutral, gold, and dusky hues that were chosen earlier by Rolf and the parish team. These small stones were then assembled to bring the image to life. Careful placement of subtle variations of color helped create depth and texture, forming realistic dimension of the arches and the figures’ complexions, hair, and flowing garments. Gold pieces were strategically positioned to appear as if shimmering outward from the Eucharist while the apostles' halos reflect the glow of the evening sky. 

Rolf oversaw the installation of this last piece of art, carefully orchestrating the many complex aspects required to adhere it securely to the sanctuary wall without damage. When the artist's cartoon was finally lifted away, it revealed the correct image. 

To tie this holy environment together both aesthetically and spiritually, custom central aisle flooring features mosaic Christian virtues: faith, hope, and love. Under the altar, an inlaid commandment from Corinthians encourages us to remember Jesus in our daily lives. Words from Romans 6:4 surround the baptismal font, reminding those who receive this sacrament that they are entering into the body of Christ, the Catholic Church: "We were indeed buried with him, through baptism into death, so that by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life."  

This entire process took almost three years. It was worth the wait to have enduring pieces of faith that will bear witness to the preparation of students for their futures as both professionals and Catholics. Watch the dedication mass and see the completed environment here.