Art and archives

Br. Timothy has been visiting our Camaldolese Brothers in Big Sur, CA, these past two weeks.

Our postulant Samuel and Br. Edwin were on retreat at the New Skete monks' monastery in Cambridge, NY. Samuel was taking his pre-clothing (as a novice) retreat and Br. Edwin was taking his pre-profession retreat. After Edwin's return to St Benedict's Priory in Hermanus, South Africa, he will make his initial profession of the Benedictine vow. Samuel will be clothed as a novice in West Park in early February. Thanks be to God for these two brothers.

Prior to their retreat both Samuel and Edwin were part of a guided visit to our Order of the Holy Cross archives. The archives are lodged in climate controlled rooms on the basement floor of our main guest house. Our volunteer, Beth Beaudin was on hand to orient our Brothers to the treasure trove of information available in our archives.

Visiting the OHC archives. From top left, clockwise: Samuel Kennedy (bottom right) takes a selfie of the archives visitors (Bros. Anthony and Robert Leo, our archivist, Beth Beaudin, Br. Robert James, intern Clay Wackerman, Bros. Edwin and John); Beth explaining how the archives are organized; a memento of Br. A.G. Stevens's work in Liberia.

On monday, four of us took advantage of a family membership to the Dia Center, Beacon, which was given to us by a friend. Located in a former Nabisco box-printing factory, near the train station, Dia Beacon presents Dia's collection of art from the 1960's to the present as well as special exhibitions. The building is flooded with natural light in large open spaces ideal for presenting the art on display. The permanent collection is always worth re-visiting and the temporary exhibitions extend the contemporary art experience. Several of us are particularly fond of the walk-in monumental steel sculptures of Richard Serra; they can feel like intimate chapels.

Dia Beacon. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Bernard, John and Aidan, with intern Clay; Br. Aidan and Clay with a Louise Bourgeois sculpture; Clay admiring Michael Heizer's North, East, South, West; Br. Aidan in front of Andy Warhol's series of paintings of light and shadow in his studio (2 pictures).

There will be return visits to Dia Beacon this year to take advantage of our gift membership.