An Interesting Installation

Over our travels, we have visited a number of churches and cathedrals all over Europe, even some in other foreign lands but we found a treasure right here in our back yard.  Last fall, Elaine Ruffalo, who does weekly presentations on art throughout Italy, did a presentation on artist, Angel Ramiro Sanchez and his work.  Sanchez was born in Venezuela and came to Florence in 1993 where he enrolled in the “Accademia di Belle Arti” and the “Florence Academy of Art” and has made a home for himself in Florence.  

The presentation included his work on a major installation happening about 8 miles from our house at Saint Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg VA entitled “Saints of the Americas in Worship Around the Altar”.  

Two members of the church, both with deep roots into the Italian art world, John and Michele Spike, were quite aware of Ramiro’s work and with their involvement and understanding of what the project might entail, recommended him to the pastor at the time Monsignor Timothy Keeney.  This is a massive project with the intention of creating 34 mosaics that will be installed in the circular nave of Saint Bede Catholic Church. Comprised of 34 separate panels (each 5 feet x 8 feet) but comprising one piece of art the installation was part of the original plan for the church.  

The Central theme, Saints of the Americas in Worship Around the Altar, gave some basis for the individuals that would be represented. With input from a group of parishioners, who were interested in the project, suggestions were made and general themes presented.   This masterpiece will eventually depict 116 Saints, Venerables, and Blesseds from across the Americas—spanning Canada to Argentina—alongside 50 additional Saints, weaving a rich tapestry of devotion and history.  Angel Ramiro Sanchez, who also serves as the Director of Advanced Painting at the Florence Academy of Art, is collaborating with master mosaicist Manrico Bertellotti from Barsanti Marble Bronze Mosaic in Pietrasanta Italy to bring this vision to life.  With both the artist and the mosaic craftsmen living in Italy, it makes coordination of the overall project quite a challenge.  

Panels 5 – Saints of the USA; St John Neumann, St Damien de Veuster of Molokai, St Marianne Cope , Panel 6 – Patron Saints of Students & A Servant of God: St Stanislaw Kostka, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.D. Francis J. Parater, St John Berchmans, Panel 7 – Venerables of the USA; Ven. Father Nelson Baker, Ven, Mother Mary Magdalen Bentivoglio, Ven. Cornelia Connelly, Ven. Bishop Frederic Baraga and Panel 8 – Ven. Mother Mary Angeline Teresa McCory, Ven. Henriette Delille, Ven. Bishop Alphonse Gallegos

The timeline from idea to installation is dependent on the funds raised by the Church and the mosaicist schedule. Once Ramiro has completed the painting reflecting the specific portion of the work, it then falls back to the parish to ensure funds are available for completion of the mosaic and installation.  Once funds have been confirmed, the artist makes a full-size cartoon that will be used by the mosaicists to create the work.  Once the cartoon has been delivered to the mosaicist, it takes about 2 months to complete each panel.

Once the panel has been completed, it is shipped to the Church in sections and the mosaicist are come from Italy to do the actual installation of the panel and get it placed along the wall in the Church.  Currently there are 8 panels remaining to be designed and fabricated.  It is anticipated the entire installation will be completed July of 2026.

Viewing the current installation is just amazing.  From a distance the panels look like paintings.  It is only as you get closer to them you realize there made of thousands of individually placed pieces of mosaic tile.

It is noteworthy that the orientation of the panels flows beginning with panel 1, to the right of the organ as you face it, and continuing through panel 34, left of the organ.

Also, as you look closely at the panels, you see that the background changes from dawn, to daylight, to dusk, to night, and back to dawn following the actual path of the sun with the orientation of the church.

Should you find. Yourself in the area, and have a desire to see this fantastic installation, check out the Church Website to see their opening times and other activities that might be happening.  At the welcome Center, in the church Commons, there is a brochure available that will help navigate the individuals depicted including a QR code you can scan to view the biographies and additional images and vides of the process.

It is well worth the time to discover this wonderful installation of work being done.