San Antonio Altar Exhibit Promotes Religious Conversation

SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS
By Abe Levy

Gary O. Smith (left), Rudi Harst and Harst's wife, Zet Baer (not pictured), are behind an exhibit of hand-made altars to raise funds for its religious community, Celebration Circle.

TEXAS---Underlying this Sunday's debut of a month-long exhibit of 55 altars is a belief that artistic expression plays a key role in religious dialogue and understanding. Each artist began with the same material: raw, pine boxes, resulting in works ranging from deeply spiritual to the whimsical and satirical. Among them are depictions of the Virgin Mary, Buddha, a Hindu god and the goddess Venus. Coordinated by the 22-year-old interfaith congregation Celebration Circle, the show serves as a platform for conversation, said Rudi Harst, the group's spiritual director. “The exhibit, “One People, Many Paths: The Sacred Art of Altars,” is in its 10th year. [link]