Atmosphere of Faith
“It is my hope and prayer that the Spirit will be in our buildings so that all who come to learn, to teach, to work, or to visit will be edified and protected. We want our buildings to be places of refuge and peace. To facilitate this feeling, we recently added new artwork in the Life Sciences Building. I invite you to take some time to reflect on these paintings. I hope that your day will be brightened, your productivity increased, and your faith strengthened.”
—Dean James Porter
JEHOVAH CREATES THE EARTH
“On the wall behind the north stairs on level two is Jehovah Creates the Earth by Walter Rane. It is a great reminder that you are part of that creation. This earth was organized to bring to pass God’s work and His glory—which is your immortality and eternal life.”
—James Porter
Colossians 1:16–17
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Walter Rane was born and raised in Southern California. He received his BFA from Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. There he found the traditional approach to drawing and painting that he desired. That discipline, combined with an emphasis on the human figure, remains central to his art today. In the late 1990’s Rane was invited by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to paint scriptural themes. This opportunity sparked his childhood interest of creating religious paintings in a classical fashion. These subjects continue to be an important part of his work, along with still lifes, landscapes, cityscapes, and scenes of contemporary life. No matter what the subject, he approaches his work with passion and with gratitude for the ability to express himself through the visual arts.
Art description-
This picture of Christ creating the earth captures the grandeur of the raw creation process, which Rane heightens by using vibrant colors and sharp contrasts. Christ’s white robe is striking against the blackness of space, and His dynamic pose, with His hands stretched out forcefully, illustrates that Christ was actively involved in the creation process (reparteegallery.com).
DEAR TO THE HEART OF THE SHEPHERD
“In the atrium on level two hangs Simon Dewey’s painting, Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd. It depicts Jesus sitting on an outcropping, watching over a flock of sheep as they graze near a lake. He is gently cradling a tiny lamb as it sits in His lap. I hope it reminds you that you are one of His sheep and that He is ever watching over you.”
—James Porter
Simon Dewey has quietly sought to celebrate the life and mission of Jesus Christ. His artistic journey began in London, England, as a freelance illustrator. In 1997 he entered the world of fine art with the release of He Lives .
Since then, Dewey has become known for his exquisitely detailed and delicate portraits capturing moments from the tender to the magnificent. Many marvel at the masterful way he portrays the love and compassion in the face of the Savior and the devotion in the eyes of the believers. Dewey lives in Alberta, Canada, where he continues to explore new perspectives to inspire and bear witness of eternal principles.
Artist statement-
This beautiful green pasture reminds me of the countryside I loved to roam as a boy growing up in England. The path in this painting represents our journey through life, and Christ is on the path watching over us. He is the Savior of all who will accept Him, but most importantly He is the Savior for us individually. In this painting the Savior is caring for the individual lamb while also watching over the entire flock. The healing, comfort, and peace that only He can offer is a gift that is given individually in our lives. More than anything, I want people looking at this image to feel the love and peace that comes from knowing that our Savior is there, watching over us
COME, FOLLOW ME
“Three paintings by Jorge Cocco Santangelo hang in the atrium on level four. The one on the east side is called Come, Follow Me. It depicts the Savior’s outreached hand as he calls the fishermen to come and be his disciples. He has extended the same invitation to us. He has promised that if we take upon us His yoke, we will find rest unto our souls.”
—James Porter
Matthew 4:18
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Jorge Cocco Santangelo is a self-taught artist who was born in Argentina in 1936. He grew up with a pencil in hand and a love to create. In 1976 he moved to Spain, where he continued to display his art in exhibits and museums while observing the work of the masters. In 1983 Cocco moved to Mexico. There, the history and culture of ancient America shaped his work. Today, Cocco paints religious art in sacrocubism, a new style of art he created with ties to the post-cubist art movement. His style appeals to the spiritual intellect by synthesizing objects into simple, geometric shapes that allow observers to center their attention on the essential and most holy. He maintains studios in both Argentina and America.
THE PRODIGAL SON & THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Two other paintings by Jorge Cocco Santangelo hang side by side on the west hall of the fourth-floor atrium.
“The Prodigal Son reminds us that no matter what, He loves us, and we always have a place in His arms if we come unto Him.”
—James Porter
Luke 15:11–32
“The Good Samaritan depicts the parable told by Jesus when He was asked: “And who is my neighbor?” This beautiful parable teaches us that a neighbor is someone who goes the extra mile to help one in need; it also teaches us about caring for others who are not just like ourselves. It is instructive that the passerby who stopped to help the beaten man was a Samaritan. At the time of Christ, Jews and Samaritans were bitter opponents. Jesus’s parable teaches us that to be true neighbors, we need to look beyond our differences and instead, remember that all are children of a loving Heavenly Father.”
—James Porter
Luke 10:30–36
THE HAND OF GOD
“A fourth painting on the east side of the fourth-floor atrium is The Hand of God, by Yongsung Kim. It depicts Jesus reaching his hand down into the water, perhaps to rescue Peter when his faith faltered. Or, perhaps, it is to rescue us when we feel like we are drowning in life’s trials or that our faith is faltering.”
—James Porter
Matthew 14:28–31
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Yongsung Kim spent his youth in the beautiful countryside of Korea, which is rich with the emotion that he hopes is captured in his paintings. He spent much of his time growing up drawing. After he became an adult, he began to worry about the path his life would lead, so he prayed. Through the inspiration he gained while painting, he decided he would live a life devoted to bringing glory to God. Even though he didn’t formally study painting, he felt he had been blessed with natural talent and aesthetic taste, and he began a life as a Christian artist.
Art description- When Yongsung Kim first envisioned The Hand of God, he was thinking of beautiful colors and a new perspective of Jesus Christ. He realized this is what Peter would have seen when his faith faltered as he attempted to walk on the water, and it is what he saw when he called out, “Lord, save me!” The Hand of God depicts Jesus Christ reaching into the water for Peter. Through this painting, Yongsung Kim gives each of us hope, comfort, and peace. When we fail in some way on our path to be like Jesus Christ, He is always there for us with His outstretched hands. We just need to reach up and grab His hand, the very hand of God (havenlight.com).