A conversation with iconographer Baker Galloway on finding his artistic voice, the line from figurative art to iconography, and introducing viewer to saint.
Baker, I think from all our conversations that we share the same vision on this, but just to clarify in your interview, I want to ask; When we say things like, "we are looking for an image of Christ or a face capacious enough for us in all our struggles and shame", or "we are asking this icon to hold all of our burden"... it is not so much that we can paint a face of Christ that somehow captures or encapsulates His capacity, or His love, within the painted surface. Rather, we are searching for a way of depicting Him that invites the viewer's gaze towards towards Christ Himself, who truly has that capacity. We are looking for an image that calls our noetic gaze toward Christ, which hopefully does not suggest anything false or negative about Christ, and hopefully does not block anything true and good.
Dear Seraphim, thank you for your beautiful question. I don’t fully know the limits of the medium of iconography - whether the task in describing our Savior’s countenance is laden with expressive potential, and what the ministering ramifications will be of that responsibility - or whether we must be simple and do our best to avoid throwing stumbling blocks in the viewers’ path. I really enjoyed my conversation with John, so maybe the three of us can schedule a call to engage the topic more relationally. I would prefer that over trying to plumb the mystery on my own in this comments section.
Perhaps John can also tell us then more what he had in mind about the ‘danger’ of Christ appearing less than universal in narrative icons. That was a fascinating remark I’d like to hear more on.
Baker, I think from all our conversations that we share the same vision on this, but just to clarify in your interview, I want to ask; When we say things like, "we are looking for an image of Christ or a face capacious enough for us in all our struggles and shame", or "we are asking this icon to hold all of our burden"... it is not so much that we can paint a face of Christ that somehow captures or encapsulates His capacity, or His love, within the painted surface. Rather, we are searching for a way of depicting Him that invites the viewer's gaze towards towards Christ Himself, who truly has that capacity. We are looking for an image that calls our noetic gaze toward Christ, which hopefully does not suggest anything false or negative about Christ, and hopefully does not block anything true and good.
Dear Seraphim, thank you for your beautiful question. I don’t fully know the limits of the medium of iconography - whether the task in describing our Savior’s countenance is laden with expressive potential, and what the ministering ramifications will be of that responsibility - or whether we must be simple and do our best to avoid throwing stumbling blocks in the viewers’ path. I really enjoyed my conversation with John, so maybe the three of us can schedule a call to engage the topic more relationally. I would prefer that over trying to plumb the mystery on my own in this comments section.
Perhaps John can also tell us then more what he had in mind about the ‘danger’ of Christ appearing less than universal in narrative icons. That was a fascinating remark I’d like to hear more on.
I loved reading every bit of this interview! Thanks Baker and John!
I’m glad you enjoyed it - it was great to connect with Baker on these topics, and I’d love to do the same with you!