The Arts and Culture Committee is an intergenerational collective of parish members, who integrate visual arts, photography, installation exhibits, performance, poetry, theatre, film, and lectures into St. Ignatius’ programming.
The Arts and Culture Committee engages and develops a dialogue within the greater Baltimore community while deepening our faith.
As a lifelong Baltimorean and a parishioner of Saint Ignatius since 1999—apart from a decade spent in Taos, New Mexico, from 2006 to 2016—I feel connected to both communities. Living in Taos, which is known for its vibrant arts scene, I was able to immerse myself in a unique environment, meet artists, musicians, writers, and spiritual seekers, and experience the town’s diverse culture, which has been influenced by Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo traditions. During those years, I worked as a freelance copy editor and held various volunteer positions in the town. I enjoyed the local arts scene, participated in the Catholic life of the community by attending Mass at a local church, and spent time in the outdoors, hiking and camping in the area. I also developed an interest in photography, which I found helped me slow down and appreciate my surroundings—it seemed to suit my natural contemplative nature.
One of my most memorable experiences in New Mexico was the time I spent on retreat at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, a Benedictine monastery in Abiquiu, New Mexico. Accessible only via a winding 13-mile forest road alongside the Chama River, the monastery was praised by Thomas Merton as “the best monastic building in the country.” Designed by renowned Japanese-American architect George Nakashima, its buildings include a church, convento, cells, and a guesthouse, all powered by a solar energy system. At the monastery, retreatants share in the rhythm of Benedictine life through daily prayer services, with an optional work period each day. The atmosphere is rustic, with no cellphone service or Wi-Fi, which allows for a deep sense of silence and reflection.
In this online exhibit, I’m honored to share a selection of photographs I took at the monastery in 2012—and to invite the Saint Ignatius Catholic Community to experience the beauty of this place.