Gallery Guide

MBH Exhibit

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Morgan Bott-Hansmann, age 7-1/2, took pencil to paper Sunday morning, September 23, and began sketching.  The result: a series depicting much of the artwork currently found in the Chapel of Christ the King.

One might ask, "why was Bott-Hansmann sketching on a Sunday morning?"  The more cynical suggest that Chaplain Riegel's sermon that day was a tad on the dull side.  The more generous suggest that good Lutheran worship at the Campus Chapel evoked religious affections which found expression through an artistic muse.  Being a tradition fond of the arts as a theophany of Hidden Divine, we choose to embrace the latter interpretation.

Long awaited, the Morgan Bott-Hansmann Cybergallery finally opens!  Our first exhibit...

Green Pulpit Hanging.
Tree of Life and Triangle.  While the triangle, a traditional symbol for the Holy Trinity, at first appears to be nothing more than a background and frame for the Tree of Life, the combination of the two draws us into the life-giving mystery of the Holy Trinity.  The creation is brought into being and sustained by the superabundant love which the three persons of the Trinity have for each other.  This love, however, is not limited to the creative and sustaining economies of the Trinity.  It is redemptive as well.  This redemptive love which flows from the Trinity finds its ultimate consummation in the perfecting love of the Trinity.  Here, the Tree of Life symbol reveals its own three-fold, or shall we say "Trinitarian," significance.  It is found in the Garden of Eden, representing creative love.  It is found on Golgotha, the Cross of Christ, representing redemptive love.  It is found in the New Jerusalem, representing perfecting love.

Chi-Rho and Butterfly.
The old and new are brought together in this artistic fusion.  The Chi-Rho (the "P" with the cross bar) is a monogram of the first two letters of the Greek word "Christos" (Christ).  It has remained a common and believed symbol in orthodox Christianity in both the Eastern and Western churches.  The butterfly is of much more recent use in Christian art--this critic is not aware of any use prior to the 1960s, but, should someone have evidence of earlier use, please let us know.  The butterfly is often associated with the themes of resurrection or new life because of the metamorphosis which the insect undergoes.  In antiquity, the phoenix was the more common symbol.

Lutheran Campus Center Banner (detail).
Bott-Hansmann isolates the four quadrant symbols in the Lutheran Campus Center Banner.  The mortar board represents academic pursuit, the chief work of the university.  By incorporating this symbol in the banner, we are reminded that the setting and mission field of this ministry is an academic community.  We are also reminded that pursuits which appear to be purely secular and academic are still part of God's wisdom.  Natural law is held up as useful and not antithetical the Christian faith.  The computer represents technological innovation; certainly, the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU is finding it a more and more useful tool.  An open Bible with the phrase "The Lord One God" alludes to Deuteronomy 6 and reminds us that God is the unitary source of all truth and wisdom and that we are called to love him with our whole being.  Lastly, the Chi-Rho and crown, a variation on the In hoc signo vinces, reminds us that Christ is King, the true sovereign of all creation.

Grape Vine and Book of Life.
The grape vine is a common motif in eucharistic (pertaining to Holy Communion) symbology.  It also reminds us of Christ words, "I am the vine, you are the branches."  The superimposition of the open book with alpha and omega reminds us of Christ's words, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last."  The combination of the two becomes a statement about the true life which is found engrafted in Christ.

Cross and Benzene Rings.
One of three banners in the Chapel which clearly juxtaposes the hard sciences and Christian faith.  In this piece of art, the two are not in conflict; they are united and harmonious.

Chaplain Riegel Vested.
Bott-Hansmann reveals her generous spirit in this work, for she depicts Riegel with more hair on the top of his head than is really there.  Note the beard.
 

Sun and Rainbow (detail of Shalom).
Bott-Hansmann renders the sun and rainbow of the Shalom banner. Shalom, often translated as "peace," is nearly untranslatable.  It connotes the supreme peace of peace with God which entails the peace of all creation, wholeness, health, prosperity, fulfillment, reconciliation, and much more.  The rainbow is a fitting motif as it alludes to the covenant God made with Noah following the deluge.

Thanks for visiting.  We hope you enjoyed this exhibit.  Since we haven't figured out how to serve cyberwine and cybercheese, we leave that to your own ingenuity.  Come back again, and, if you would like to notified of future exhibit openings or would like to leave any comments, please e-mail us.