Meet the Artist: Dick Bowles

This is the next installment in our "Meet the Artist" article series.

Dick Bowles, long-time musician and former Worship Committee chair, has worked with wood a long time, but his skills had not included wood turning.  He rose to the challenge, and made four beautiful bases for us.  He found the process to be one that elicited many reflections, as you may remember hearing at Sunday mass or reading in the Epigram. He described some of the symbolism that came as he made his first base. 

"At the bottom of the base are several different shapes, morphing into other shapes, symbolizing our spiritual diversity, but all leading upward to the Cup.   The wood is ambrosia curly maple, native to area.  The colors and variation of the grain are actually caused by a parasite in the living wood, symbolizing our flaws." 

The symbolism continued as he made three additional cups, including one that seemed to have a "fatal" crack that was "healed" as it was formed into the base.   

Below is a picture of the chalices that Dick created.  Photos of his work process as well as photos of all the other Epiphany Eucharistic vessels are in our photo gallery.  Indeed, his uncle, co-founding pastor and artist Fr. Dick Fowler, would be pleased and proud of his nephew’s contributions!