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White Stone Gallery to participate in exhibit ART + FAITH

White Stone Gallery was selected to assist in the multi-denominational exhibit, ART + FAITH, for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Madrid, Spain. Contemporary artists from around the world will be featured in this historical exhibit for World Youth Day. For the first time in Europe, contemporary artists from different countries are gathered together to exhibit art influenced by Christian faith. This exhibition is scheduled for August 9-26, 2011 at the prestigious Fundación Pons headquarters, it is said in the special press release from White Stone Gallery.

Pope Benedict has always encouraged the importance of art and faith: "We understand that there is an urgent need for a renewed dialogue between ethics and aesthetics, between beauty, truth and good, not only in Contemporary art but also in daily life."

White Stone Gallery, a leading gallery in contemporary Christian art, accepted the honor of writing an introduction for the ART + FAITH exhibit catalog as well as providing a selection of artwork for the show. Of the thirty-six artists from around the world to be featured, Maria Tarruella, curator for ART + FAITH, selected an impressive nine from the artists White Stone Gallery suggested: Makoto Fujimura, Sandra Bowden, Carol Bomer, Wayne Berger, Julie Quinn, Eugene Perry, John and Elli Milan, and Ruth Naomi Floyd, who is also participating in the exhibit's round table of international artists on the subject of faith and contemporary art.

"White Stone Gallery is the most important Christian gallery in the U.S.," Tarruella, who has experience with Sotheby's and the Guggenheim, said. "They helped us spot incredible artists andalways stressed that there must be both outstanding skill and sincere faith from the artist."

"We are thankful to White Stone Gallery for their consulting help in the curating of this historical and unique exhibition," the Department of Culture of the World Youth Day said in an official statement. "It is extremely hard from the distance between Madrid and the U.S. to evaluate not only the quality of the work of the artists, but also their involvement and commitment to their faith. Derek and Susan Hooks [owners of White Stone Gallery] are not only incredible professionals but it is also an immense relief to trust their choices blindfolded and know that they will be a great success at both an artistic and a spiritual level."

World Youth Day, which was created by Pope John Paul II, was first held in Buenos Aires in 1986. Since then, the event occurs in different cities around the world every four years. The late Pope John Paul II said, "When I wanted to start World Youth Day... I imagined a powerful momentin which the young people of the world could meet Christ, who is eternally young, and could learn from him how to be bearers of the Gospel to other young people." In 2011, World Youth Day, which is open to Catholics and other Christian denominations, will gather over a million youths to increase a global commitment to their faith.

White Stone Gallery represents artists who exemplify the best in contemporary fine art influenced by Christian faith, with styles ranging from contemporary paintings and sculpture to modern photography. The gallery, located in Philadelphia, is not only highly respected in the faith-inspired art world, they receive attention in the contemporary art scene as well.White Stone provides the caliber of artists who have drawn the attention of media including Art in America, ARTnews, the Associated Press, CNN, Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. The gallery rotates exhibits at their location, across the country and abroad. Represented works have been included in private and public collections, such as museums, corporations, churches and universities.

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TAGS: White Stone Gallery ART + FAITH exhibit Pope Benedict XVI Madrid Spain Philadelphia

[07/21/2011]

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