"Live Jesus" Intarsia
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On December 15th, 2024, Holy Infant Catholic Church unveiled a breathtaking new intarsia art installation crafted by artist and parishioner Joe Carr. The intricate wooden artwork, titled Live Jesus, captures the spirit of the parish’s ministries and serves as a visual invitation to embody Christ’s teachings in daily life.
Carr, a skilled woodworker, found inspiration for the project through his wife, Karen, who is a member of the church’s arts and environment committee. “Karen led the design and execution of the Mary & Infant Jesus banners on the opposite wall of the narthex,” Carr explained. “She wanted to do something other than banners with a theme of showcasing some of the many ministries in the parish. That led to the question: how would we do that? What would that look like?
The concept of Live Jesus as a theme came from Fr. Robert, the church’s pastor. With the theme in place, Carr and his collaborators explored various artistic mediums, including photography, painting, and ceramic mosaics. However, it was a suggestion from a fellow woodworker who introduced Carr to intarsia, a medium that perfectly suited the project’s vision. -
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The Art of Intarsia
“Intarsia is an art form in which pieces of wood are cut into shapes to form an image,” Carr explained. “It differs from marquetry by using much thicker wood glued directly onto some substrate rather than being formed as a thin veneer. Its origins date back to ancient Egypt and northern Africa, and it later flourished in Renaissance Italy. Modern intarsia is quite thick and is usually sculpted to give a three-dimensional effect similar to bas relief.”
Carr’s installation is a testament to the beauty and complexity of intarsia. The piece comprises approximately 3,200 individual pieces of wood from 29 different species. Remarkably, no stains or paints were used; the vibrant colors are the natural hues of the woods, protected by a clear coating. Among the materials are two woods of special significance: oak from the church pews and pine from the supporting beams of the original church, which tragically burned down. “It was truly an honor working with those two woods,” Carr said. -
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A Collaborative Creation
Selecting the scenes depicted in the artwork was a collaborative effort involving Karen, Fr. Robert, parish staff, and members of the parish community. “With so many ministries, it was a tough task to narrow it down to only a few,” Carr shared. “In the end, we chose those that would be easy to recognize and relate to. I was fortunate to have a number of parishioners pose for various scenes, such as the group around Jesus and the Stephen ministers.”
The centerpiece of the installation is Jesus, standing among the figures as a constant reminder of His presence. A winding path begins in the local Durham community, leads viewers to the doors of the narthex, and culminates in the figures’ gestures to “go out and Live Jesus.”
A Message of Inspiration
Carr hopes the piece inspires all who see it. “I hope that the piece offers encouragement to Live Jesus in our daily lives,” he said. “In the work, Jesus stands in the midst of all the figures as a constant reminder that He is always present. Both Jesus and the kneeling woman are gesturing to go out and Live Jesus.”
The Live Jesus intarsia installation is more than just an artwork; it’s a profound statement of faith and community. -
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