Icons are painted as windows into Heaven, and therefore strive to portray the Heavenly and irrational events, rather than predictable reality. Women Iconographers like myself might find it exhilarating to depict examples of remarkable characters from the bible and the events they participated in. They are people who love: heroes of the faith who are remembered and whose earthly lives are.
Therefore it is natural that, depicting them in a stylized “spiritual” way helps with meditation. Icon images are considered to be instructive and stimulate contemplation of the event.
Mary Magdalene, the most devoted of the disciples, visited the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid. She sees the stone rolled away and the body gone. Shocked, she runs to get Peter and John to see this. No one can explain what has happened. Peter and John, not knowing what to do, leave Mary alone at the sepulchre. Grief-stricken, she turns away from the tomb to see a man. She thinks he is the gardener…he calls to her, “Mary.”
Oh! Can you imagine the feeling! Painting the image reveals the message Jesus taught his disciples! There is no life or substance in matter…life is Spirit, inseparable from God, immortal and eternal.
Portrait Icons
Saints painted by contemporary Women Iconographers depict old images with a new perceptive. How are these recognizable women connected? Women have been guides and examples in their communities and families. These are three examples of people who pass their wisdom from generation to generation Saying “I Am That”.
Women Iconographers highlight new thought and bring balance to our spiritual life and work. Unfortunately, women mystics have not always been recognized for their insights and teaching in the churches. A new generation of Women Iconographers will contribute through their teaching iconography and their new images being created today.
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