Visions of faith
Local artist tells Gospel stories through stained glass, sculpture and painting
By Carolyn Hughes
Correspondent
Some prefer to see the world through “rose-colored glasses,” as an old saying goes.
Artist Ron Petrocelli sees all of life, including his Catholic faith, through the shimmering colors of stained glass.
Beginning when he was only 12 years old, Petrocelli, now a member of St. James the Less Parish, Jamesburg, has worked in different artistic media. He has created many furniture pieces and sculptures with various woods and stone, has dabbled in painting and most recently, has mastered the art of stained glass. He has shared that talent for the last four years by offering a free stained glass course in his home studio for his neighbors.
Circle of Christ
Petrocelli recently unveiled his largest stained glass piece titled “The Circle of Christ,” in time for Lent and the church’s celebration of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
The original design depicts the cross of Christ forming the center and support of the approximately three-foot-wide circular piece, around whose edges are scenes from the life of Christ.
The circle begins with the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, then Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan, Mary holding her lifeless son’s body at the foot of the cross and, finally, the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
Since his retirement 14 years ago from his position as vice president, Steamship Agency, New York City, the Jackson Heights, N.Y., native has created more than 500 pieces in stained glass.
It is therefore no surprise that, in the seven years he has lived in Jamesburg, he and his wife Natalia have transformed their home into a virtual gallery of his art work.
Their home illustrates just how many ways that media can beautify a residence, and how many practical ways it can be used. Petrocelli has created stained glass windows, “café curtains” in the kitchen and even a stained glass “valance” covering the light bar in the main bathroom. Lamp shades and vases glitter with shades of colored glass.
The walls are covered with the jewel-like pieces — some using iridescent glass, others included as part of pieces of furniture, yet others three-dimensional glass pieces that draw the eye instantly to their captivating lines and design, like his many free-standing figures of Don Quixote, a favorite theme in glass and wood, and Petrocelli’s stunning white stained glass violin.
An advertisement for God
Prominent among the stained glass that covers walls and windows are his religious works, with several of the recurring themes being the story of Adam and Eve, scenes of Mary and the child Jesus, and other scenes from Christ’s life and death. Three Marian scenes grace the walls of the main bedroom alone.
Petrocelli, who is self-taught, sees the world through stained-glass lenses. And his “vision” of subjects is clear and deliberately easy to identify.
“People should be able to look at (a piece) and know what it is,” he said, especially when the subjects are Biblical or religious.
“There is nothing better than art” to tell the Gospel story, he said. “It is an advertisement for God.”
“My designs are meant to explain the life of Christ to the everyday guy,” he said. “Everything I do is simple. It isn’t art if you have to explain what it is.”
Many pieces were inspired by paintings and other two-dimensional works of art, for which he must create a design that works in stained glass, not an easy task, he stated.
But the lion’s share of his works are unique and original, like the stained glass piece he created to memorialize a very special dog named Chopper who was displaced by Hurricane Katrina, and lived with the Petrocellis for a short time until he was flown home to New Orleans.
The piece incorporates the huge black Great Dane with news articles about the dog’s nearly miraculous return to his original owner, who happens to be Natalia’s cousin. In addition to local news coverage, Fox News covered the story in late January, interviewing the Petrocellis and featuring the stained glass piece.
Most of Petrocelli’s pieces are labors of love, given as gifts or made to order for friends. Petrocelli hopes to locate a place to permanently display his religious work and would like to donate “The Circle of Christ” to a church or chapel where it can be permanently installed.
For more information, contact news@catholicspirit.com.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law