Sharing the Language of Iconography with Young People

The blessing of St. Patrick

In late February, second grade students from the Cathedral School visited our studio to see our original icon of St. Patrick, before his relocation to St. Patrick Catholic Church.

The students listened attentively to the meaning of color and symbolism of the icon. The students demonstrated their strong catechesis by asking insightful questions, such as if and how the icon would be blessed.

We were touched when one young man asked, “Is there a little bit of God in the relic?” This inspired a lively conversation about the meaning and power of relics and how every altar in the Catholic church has a relic embedded within.

Icon painted by a second grader at Cathedral School

This, however, was only the beginning of these students’ sacred art experience. After the visit, students painted their own icons after receiving guidance on how to paint from their art teacher. The final products reflect their learning! Students remembered to use the sacred colors of red and blue for Christ and Mary. Many placed red dots in the tear ducts of the icons they chose. These dots represent blood and symbolize the enlivening of the icon.

Our second teaching opportunity came in April, when Ania and Christine spent the day at Valley Catholic High School. The taught six freshman theology classes about the purposeful language of color and symbolism in iconography, as well as the underlying geometric structure. Students were amazed that we still teach one of the oldest painting techniques in the world and curious about how painting technique has evolved over time. They were also fascinated by the use of natural earth (ochre) as a pigment, and how a pigment color can be changed by heat.

Same earth ochre, but one is baked (left) and one is raw (right).  Burnt Sienna & Raw Sienna.

Classes like these help us ensure that young people have the visual literacy skills to fully appreciate icons and the wisdom they communicate to us. We are grateful to the Cathedral School and Valley Catholic for their invitations and the opportunity to preserve this sacred art form for many generations to come.

See below for more photos of the second graders’ work!  Great work future iconographers!