Art Retreats & Gatherings
Essentials of Iconography: Writing the icon of King David
With Marek Czarnecki
May 18 - 23, 2025
King David was the greatest king of Israel, author of the psalms, father of Solomon and noble ancestor of Our Lord. This powerful 15th century Russian prototype was originally part of the prophet’s tier of an icon screen and is kept in Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery. This is one of the best and highest examples of […]
Spiritual Journaling: Open the Heart with Sacred Art
With Sarah Cortez
May 25 - 30, 2025
Enders Island
Join us at this five-day retreat and writing class to learn an approach to spiritual journaling centered on the contemplation of sacred art. Inspired by the time-honored practices of Ignatian spirituality, we will build bridges through our own writing to the Holy Trinity and the saints.
Panel Preparation and Gesso making for Egg Tempera and Icon Painters
With Marek Czarnecki
July 12, 2025
Enders Island
Egg tempera must be painted onto a stiff, inflexible panel, coated with an absorbent primer called “gesso”. In a one-day workshop, iconographer and instructor Marek Czarnecki will teach students the process of making true artists’ gesso with rabbit skin glue, chalk and marble dust.
Essentials of Iconography: Writing the icon of Archangel Michael
With Marek Czarnecki
September 28 - October 3, 2025
Mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, St Michael the Archangel is the patron saint of our Sacred Arts Institute. One of the most depicted saints in Orthodox icons and western religious art, his popularity attests to his powerful intercession and protection against all forms of evil. This workshop’s prototype is a fourteenth century […]