Dr. Aaron Rosen reflects on an artwork that holds deep personal meaning for him, in a conversation with MOCRA Director David Brinker. This is an Audio Extra to Episode 25: Aaron Rosen. Visit the MOCRA Voices website to learn more about Aaron Rosen and to explore our other episodes.   Original release date: 3/6/2020 ..read more

The practice of making and venerating santos (painted or sculpted images of saints) originated in Spain and was carried to territories that fell under Spanish colonial rule. New Mexican santeros (makers of santos) developed distinctive approaches that diverged from the models they found in imported oil paintings, statues, and devotional prints. The Santero tradition flourished from the mid-eighteenth to late-nineteenth centuries before falling into a period of decline. Yet it recovered and thrives today, responding to the needs of both religious devotees and art aficionados. Artists Vicente Te ..read more

How do you know if you're an artist? Many people would reflexively say they are not, since they cannot draw or paint or sculpt. But in this two-part episode, we hear from several people who have a more expansive understanding of what makes an artist. Their focus isn't on what is produced, but on the act of art-making itself, and the cultivation of an artistic methodology. In Part 1, St. Louis-based artist, author, and educator Con Christeson interviews Federica Thiene. Thiene is an artist based in Italy and co-founder of artway of thinking, a non-profit organization with the aim of researching ..read more

When MOCRA opened in 1993, many people were skeptical about a museum focusing on expressions of religion and spirituality in contemporary art. Preconceptions were firmly lodged for those coming from the perspective of art and for those coming from the perspective of faith and spirituality. By the time Founding Director Fr. Terrence Dempsey, S.J., retired from the museum on June 30, 2019, however, MOCRA had convincingly established that the religious and spiritual dimensions continue to nourish vital and varied currents in contemporary art. MOCRA celebrated Fr. Dempsey on Nov. 10, 2019, in a pr ..read more

Thanks to her discerning eye and generous hospitality, Martha Schneider has built a reputation as one of the foremost gallerists specializing in contemporary Latin American photography. But 30 years ago, she had no inkling where her passion for art would lead her. She spoke with MOCRA Director Terrence Dempsey, SJ, about the origins of Schneider Gallery and how she came to represent world-renowned artists such as Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Luis González Palma, and Erika Diettes. They also talk about the highly successful collaborations between the gallery and MOCRA, including 2016's acclaime ..read more

How do you know if you're an artist? Many people would reflexively say they are not, since they cannot draw or paint or sculpt. But in this two-part episode, we hear from several people who have a more expansive understanding of what makes an artist. Their focus isn't on what is produced, but on the act of art-making itself, and the cultivation of an artistic methodology. In Part 1, St. Louis-based artist, author, and educator Con Christeson interviews Federica Thiene. Thiene is an artist based in Italy and co-founder of artway of thinking, a non-profit organization with the aim of researching ..read more

Jesuit priest Leo O’Donovan, S.J., has held some prominent roles, including over 20 years as the president of Georgetown University. But he has also kept up a lively engagement with the world of art and art exhibitions, a fact well known to readers of the periodicals America and Commonweal. O'Donovan spoke with MOCRA Director (and fellow Jesuit priest) Terrence Dempsey, S.J., about his wide-ranging career and his perspective on contemporary religious art. Be sure to listen to the Audio Extra, "Henry Ossawa Tanner."  Visit the MOCRA Voices website to learn more about Leo O'Donovan, SJ,&nbs ..read more

Leo O’Donovan, S.J., talks about the compelling contemporary resonances he discerns in a painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner, “The Flight into Egypt.” This is an Audio Extra to Episode 22: Leo O'Donovan, S.J. Visit the MOCRA Voices website to explore a Listening Guide to the interview.   Original release date: 12/22/2016 ..read more

Empathy is a term that surfaces in a variety of fields, including museums. MOCRA Assistant Director David Brinker sets out to explore two different angles on museums and empathy. In Part 1, he talks with museum educator Adam Nilsen about how empathy is understood and studied, as well as the ways it is being applied in museum settings. Part 2 features chaplain and pastoral care educator Cristina Stevens reflecting on the role art and empathy play in the training and practice of those who support the spiritual needs of healthcare patients. Listen to Part 1 of the conversation here ..read more

What impact can art have on those in training to become pastoral caregivers? Cristina Stevens shares reflections from three of her students about their experiences visiting MOCRA. This is an Audio Extra to Episode 21: Art, Empathy, And Healing. Visit the MOCRA Voices website to learn more about Cristina Stevens and to explore our other episodes.   Original release date: 8/30/2016 ..read more