Saint Vincent monk's artistry honored in career retrospective

The Rev. Vincent de Paul Crosby said he was surprised and pleased at the large turnout for the opening of his career retrospective exhibit, “Clothed in Glory,” in the Verostko Center for the Arts at Saint Vincent College.

“I didn’t know if only a few people would come,” he said.

He needn’t have been surprised, as the gallery was filled Feb. 2 with well-wishers honoring Crosby’s work of more than a half-century creating vestments, wall hangings, sculptures, digital works and designs for renovations of sacred spaces at Saint Vincent and across North America and Europe.

Saint Vincent Archabbey Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel related a story of author Robert Louis Stevenson, as a child, watching a man light the gas lamps in his native Edinburgh.

Bartel said Stevenson called the lamplighter “a man poking holes in the darkness.” Similarly, he said, with each of Crosby’s works, “the transcendent becomes more visible.”

Bartel also revealed that his first job as a novice at Saint Vincent was cutting fabric for 100 stoles that Crosby was making.

“I slipped, so he’s nervous about what I’m going to say,” Bartel said. “Father Vincent, I’ve been waiting 40 years to tell you it was the scissors’ fault.”

Bartel’s remarks were bracketed by selections by the Saint Vincent College Singers, under the direction of Thomas Octave.

“Clothed in Glory” continues through March 25. For gallery information, email verostkocenter@stvincent.edu or visit verostkocenter.org.

Seen at the reception: Verostko Center curator/ director Andrew Julo, Brother Norman Hipps, Elaine Bennett, Bibiana Boerio, Michael Tusay, Joe Bellack, Ann Holmes, George Leiner, Kristina Davies, Joni DelSordo, Fran Gigliotti, Bill and Joyce Miller, Michelle Miller-Kotula and Don and Barb Madl.