Welcome


The Center for Sacred Art is an independent arts organization based in Seattle since 1997. We develop, produce, and present quality programming and content that illumines and celebrates the intersection of contemporary spirituality and the sacred arts. Our activities include educational events, public programs, research, and publications that are grounded in a historical understanding of sacred art.

Would you like the Center for Sacred Art to give a program or presentation for your organization?  Contact us at 206-781-8544 or at info@centerforsacredart.org for more details.  

This site is also the source for information about Peregrine Medieval Vocal Ensemble.  Click here for more about Peregrine, their performances, and their CDs--which are available through CD Baby.

 

What's Happening

Thomas Merton and the Contemplative Arts

Saturday, April 5, 2008
9:45am - 3:30pm
Priory Spirituality Center in Lacey, WA

A workshop led by Victoria Scarlett and Joseph Anderson exploring Merton's relationship with traditional sacred art forms (monastic chant and icons), as well as his own creations in poetry, photography, drawing, and brush painting.  We'll look at  how his art reflects his spirituality, contemplative vision, and aesthetic sensitivity.  Advance registration through the Priory Spirituality Center is required.  Call 360-438-2595.



Gestures of Compassion: Embodied Prayer in Buddhist and Christian Art
Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

5:00pm - 6:30 pm
Seeds of Compassion Conference
Seattle Center
, Northwest Rooms - Fidalgo Room 

A workshop led by Victoria Scarlett exploring how we can reclaim archetypes of compassion as we seek to live a more compassionate life, and how sacred imagery can be drawn upon for the spiritual practices of visualizations and embodied prayer. This multifaith workshop, through an exploration of sacred art, will present gestures of compassion that can be understood and practiced by all age groups.  We will look a various beautiful fine art representations of Guanyin (the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion) and the Virgin Mary, and will explore how their imagery--specifically their gestures and postures--reveal various aspects of compassion.   Workshop participants will have the opportunity to experience these embodied prayer practices themselves during the workshop session.  We will draw directly from these models of compassion and non-verbally explore their gestures, engaging the heart and the senses, integrating and harmonizing body and soul in a deeper connection to compassion.  Aspects of compassion explored will include:  generosity, skillful means, humility, interconnection, relationship, empathy, grace, and selfless love.  Admittance is free, and on a first-come first-served basis the afternoon of the presentation.  The doors open at 4:30 pm.  



Spring 2008 Day of Chant
Saturday, April 26th, 2008

8:30am - 6pm
Rosary Heights in Edmonds, WA

A day of retreat and chanting the divine office in a beautiful tranquil setting on Puget Sound, led by Joseph Anderson. Some chant experience helpful but not required. We will chant Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, and Vespers, with free time in between for silent reflection and enjoying the woodland beauties of the campus. Advance registration through the Center for Sacred Art is required.

Day of Chant registration form
Day of Chant flier
Day of Chant schedule


The Art and Beauty of Mary's Garden

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
Rosary Heights in Edmonds, WA

A workshop led by Victoria Scarlett, exploring the world of Mary's garden--a sacred space of spiritual integration, illumination, and mystical marriage. We'll learn about the enclosed garden's metaphoric, symbolic, and spiritual dimensions, and see how it was represented in beautiful late medieval and renaissance art. Scripture, poetry, music, and prayer will be our guides as we uncover the development of the sacred garden. You'll be introduced to the individual plants and flowers that represent Mary's virtues, along with the symbolism of the mystic rose, rose garden, and rosary. The day will include a look at medieval garden design as well as contemporary Mary gardens. There will be practical suggestions on how to plant and nurture a contemplative Mary garden of your own. Please bring a flower for the altar in honor of the Virgin Mary.  Register through Rosary Heights by calling 206-542-3740.

Mary's Garden flier (PDF file)


Summer 2008 Gregorian Chant Retreat - The Mary Series: Annunciation

Friday July 18th - Sunday July 20th, 2008
St. Andrew's Retreat Center in Union, WA (on Hood Canal) 

A weekend retreat led by Joseph Anderson that recreates the chanted experience of monastic time. We gather in a beautiful private woodland chapel to sing the monastic Divine Office (eleven services in all). From Vespers and Compline on Friday evening to Sext (noon prayer) on Sunday we immerse ourselves in prayer, contemplation, and sacred time. In between our chanted prayers there are teaching sessions where you learn new chants and explore their deeper spiritual meanings in a welcoming multifaith context. You'll also have opportunities for silent reflection and walks in nature. Previous chant or singing experience is helpful but not necessary. Each retreat includes both chant focused on a particular topic, along with related art images for meditation and discussion. This winter we will be reflecting on music and images related to the Annunciation. Advance registration through the Center for Sacred Art is required.


Download Acrobat Reader here (for viewing and printing PDF files).
For more information, call the Center for Sacred Art at 206-781-8544.


Chanting the Psalms

Friday - Sunday, September 19-21st, 2008
Grunewald Guild campus, near Leavenworth, WA  

A weekend residential retreat exploring chanting the Psalms in a variety of translations and ways--from Western-style Gregorian chant and Eastern Orthodox chant, to Protestant metrical settings, to Taize-style chants. We will also explore improvised melodies and chant styles influenced by global chant traditions.  Singing experience is helpful but by no means necessary. As part of the weekend you'll have the opportunity to explore Psalm texts through simple but creative mandala calligraphy projects. Enjoy the beautiful campus of the Grunewald Guild, dedicated to art and faith for over 25 years. It's located amidst sweet smelling ponderosa pine next to the Wenatchee River, 14 miles north of Leavenworth, WA. Register through the Grunewald Guild.



St. Francis of Assisi

Saturday, October 4, 2008
St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle, WA

Scheduled for St. Francis' feast day: an art talk by Victoria Scarlett exploring the evolving image of St. Francis of Assisi. Gregorian chant and devotional music honoring the saint, sung by the Cathedral's Artists-in-Residence, the Peregrine Medieval Vocal Ensemble, will also be a part of the program.  More details to follow!



Fall Day of Chant

Saturday, October 25, 2008
Rosary Heights in Edmonds, WA (just north of Seattle)

A non-residential day retreat chanting the Hours of Prayer, led by Joseph Anderson. Immerse yourself in singing the hours as they were practiced by medieval monastics, enjoy the tranquility of Rosary Heights, and meet fellow chanters! After a short orientation to the music, the day will consist of five periods of sung prayer (in Latin and English) and plenty of free time for resting, reading, quiet conversation, walks, meditative art projects, and an opportunity to learn a bit more about chant. Advance registration is required. Register through the Center for Sacred Art.



Entering Sacred Time: Books of Hours and Monastic Chant

3 Monday evenings in Advent: December 1st, 8th, and 15th
St. Andrew's Parish, Seattle, WA

A series of classes exploring how monastics and laity of  the past have observed the divine "hours"--the eight traditional periods of prayer from Matins before daybreak--to the end of day with Vespers and Compline.  You'll learn how to sing a Vespers service using Gregorian Chant, and you'll see slides of beautiful late medieval illuminated Books of Hours (personalized illustrated prayerbooks that enabled devout lay people to observe the divine office and mimic monastic prayer).  Register through St. Andrew's Parish.