MARCH/APRIL 2007

Our cover
‘The Return of the prodigal’ a wood sculpture by Philip Cooper.

Philip lives in Woodend, Victoria, with a studio in the garage of his home. He lives there with his wife Louise and their three young children, Hannah, Ben and Noah. It’s there, in the everyday, that Philip’s inspiration begins. ‘It’s about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary’, he says, describing where he finds life. ‘A child comes up and gives you a hug. It’s those unanticipated surprise moments that just disarm you.’ Such moments find their way into his work: he gives expression to his insight and then sees how it relates to others.

Key elements in Philip’s art are community, relationship and dialogue. The internal conversation he has as an artist works itself out in the drawings that are preparatory to his sculpture. For inspiration, he draws continually on biblical themes and ideas with religious meaning. The working of art is, for him, a spiritual activity that recalls being on retreat. ‘You trust the journey you’re making’, he says, ‘because of the time you’ve spent and the connections you’ve made. You can’t explain it to anyone, but it’s a trust that’s affirmed.’

He believes that good art has a profoundly religious purpose: it’s not that it gets people to see things the way the artist does, but that it prompts people to clarify their images. ‘It’s asking them to be creative with the way they deal with and see themselves, and to imagine the way they can be.’ He sees that art leads to a dialogue, a conversation of the person with their imagination.

Many of Philip’s figures have a distinctive ruggedness and strength, they are figures of the earth. ‘The images I play with ask “what does it mean to be grounded?” so often I’ll make hands too big or feet too big. They’re quite obviously touching the ground or reaching out to touch.’ This care for an incarnated spirituality doubtlessly owes much to the years Philip spent as a member of L’Arche in Australia and in France.

For more on Philip Cooper and his art, see Australian Catholics, Summer 2007.

In this issue

Soul Matters — Chris Gleeson SJ

Hands on. The story of Dr Kevin Fagan and his healing hands prompts images of the hands of Jesus as he was taken through his passion and resurrection.

Roadside rest — Michael McGirr

Strangers on the road. Some people seem very ready to criticise parents of young children when parents, who are faced with one of the most important jobs in the world, would be better served by encouragement and praise.

Lord — Sharon Jose

A reflection by Sharon Jose on our human need to acknowledge our failings and to move forward from them.

Teachers we remember

Readers tell of teachers who had a profound effect on their lives.

The power of people

Mercy sister Patricia Pak Poy was inspired by her experiences with Jesuit Refugee Services in Cambodia to campaign against landmines.

Family Matters — Teresa Pirola

Lenten steps at work. Evangelising in the workplace can be real and effective though non-intrusive.

Your Daily Prayer — March & April

A prayerful reflection on the scripture readings for every day of the month.

The Power of Story — Elizabeth Pike

Jesus’ baptism – a mystery of light. The five new ‘mysteries of light’ of the rosary seen in the light of Aboriginal myth and experience.

A Cloud of Witnesses — Edmund Campion

Milestones of Catholic history: Xavier Connor. This lawyer’s lectures at Newman College in the 1950s on politics and the church have a relevance today.

Bread for the Journey — Peter Steele SJ

Vigil night thoughts. The Easter Vigil looks forward to the great Event that is Easter, but also recalls the dark themes of the week leading up to it.

Our cover.

Meet artist and sculptor Philip Cooper.

Giving in an enriching way

Ignatian Volunteers Australia offers retired people the wonderful chance to use their skill and experience, albeit in small ways, to help others

The red rose —Justine Bedford

Justine tells a story of creation, beauty, giving, pain and love.

Adoration of the cross

Lent and Easter offers a time to join our suffering and joy with that of Jesus.

Faith & spirituality in review.

New books and other resources.