By David Myers

Southwest Kansas Register

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe honored the artists whose works grace its walls and alcoves at a special open house reception March 17.

Four of the 10 artists whose paintings, sculptures, or carvings are in the cathedral attended the event, along with several members of the community.

As the artists greeted guests and answered questions in the gathering area of the cathedral, small groups slowly processed around the outer walkway of the main worship area – called the "ambulatory" — stopping at alcoves to examine the artwork.

Artists who attended the event included Dodge City residents Dennis Burghart and Lowell Tasset, New Mexico resident Leslie McNamara, and Wichita craftsman, Cassian Heath.

While Heath created the maple and cherry wood framing and rosette carvings that surround McNamara’s 11 life-sized paintings of saints, it was his creation of a simple choir podium that struck a personal note.

"It’s a memorial to my father," the former Dodge City resident said. Heath’s father died of flu associated with Multiple Sclerosis at age 49 when his son was just 22 years old. "I attribute my interest in wood working to him. We would often do projects together."

Burghart’s and Tasset’s numerous works can be found throughout the cathedral, from Burghart’s "Reflective Virgin" sculpture, which is actually in a garden area outside the building, to Tasset’s 16-foot stainless steel cross atop the cathedral. Tasset also created the copper "grapevine" door handles at the main door to the cathedral, as well as the "wheat" door handles that lead to the main worship area.

Other works of interest include the main crucifix and stations of the cross by Colorado artist Huberto Maestas. On a hillside near his home town of San Luis, Colo., Maestas created a 15-piece, life-sized version of the stations of the cross, which lead to a chapel atop the hill. Those in the Dodge City cathedral are approximately 2.5x4 feet, and are done in bas relief, in which figures emerge three-dimensionally from a two-dimensional plane.

A life-sized Holy Family sculpture, made from linden wood by Chicago artist Jerzy Kenar, depicts a seated Joseph and Mary, with the Christ-child standing, one hand held by Mary, his other reaching out in invitation to anyone who wishes to grasp it.

Minneapolis, Minn. artist Janey Westin sculpted a block of Colorado yule marble into a life-sized version of the young St. Maria Goretti, who died at age 11 in 1902, after forgiving the man who had mortally wounded her during an attempted sexual assault. Viewers might note what has become known as the "church mouse," a tiny marble mouse that is part of the Goretti sculpture, sitting serenely in the small hollow of a tree stump, beside which St. Maria stands.

At a Mass earlier that day at the cathedral, Diocese of Dodge City Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore said that the artists "gather up the best that is within [them] and give it to the making of the work… . The artists take inspiration from the age-old story of God and man: they find new dimensions to their work in it."

Diocese of Dodge City Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore, and cathedral pastor, Father Ted Skalsky, invite anyone of any faith to feel free to stop by the cathedral, at 3231 N. 14th St., to view the artwork.