Month: April 2023

Stories Behind the Stones

The Stones That Were Left Behind

In early 1988, Amy Brier, recently arrived to the Cathedral as a stone carver, set about creating a figure for one of the many carved finial stones for the south tower. Starting with a pencil sketch, then a clay model, the figure of an Old Testament rabbi started to emerge from the limestone block on Amy’s banker. This is the first of the stories behind the stones.

Thirty-five years later, the completed stone, a gablet apex finial, does not look down from a lofty niche above Amsterdam Avenue. Instead, it sits in a heap among numerous stones that never made it to their intended spots on the south tower when the uncompleted project ended in the early 1990s, hence these stories.

Abandoned Stones — This gablet apex finial stone of an Old Testament rabbi was carved by Amy Brier in1988. It sits amid a pile of blocks on April 2, 2023 that never were placed on the tower when operation ceased in the early 1990s. Image – Robert F. Rodriguez

The stones are stored primarily in two areas on the south side of the Cathedral. The majority of the stones are tucked alongside a brick wall and a buttress pier near the tranquil Biblical Garden. Another area is fenced off, sharing space with some discarded, unused or unwanted objects. Some of the stones are chipped from being carelessly moved or not properly stacked while others are developing a greenish patina on the edges from moisture. The images below were taken on April 2, 2023 by Robert F. Rodriguez.

Amy’s Stone in 2023

This is where Amy’s stone rests, among a pile of blocks and debris. Her carving of the rabbi includes details of a kippah or yarmulke for the head covering, tallit for the prayer shawl, and tefillin, the two leather boxes holding passages from the Torah and worn on the bicep and forehead. She recalls that her family did not like her interpretation of the rabbi’s face. They claim the rabbi has a large nose and felt it stereotyped Jews. (Amy is Jewish.)

Amy's Rabbi Carving — This gablet apex finial stone of an Old Testament rabbi was carved by Amy Brier in 1988. It sits amid a pile of blocks on April 2, 2023 that never were placed on the tower when operation ceased in the early 1990s. Image – Robert F. Rodriguez

Amy, now 63, teaches stone carving and sculpting among other disciplines as Chair of the Fine Arts department at Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, Indiana.

Amy Brier is seen in an October 2022 photo at the Bybee Stone Co., Ellettsville, Indiana. She is carving details in a panel for a renovation of the former Swine Barn, now Fall Creek Pavillon at the Indiana State Fair. There are four panels, 6’x6′. She modeled them in clay at half size, then they were scanned and the CNC machine roughed them out full size – Image courtesy Amy Brier

Why wasn’t this stone up on the South Tower?

Stephen Boyle speculates the reason for Amy’s stone not being set on the tower. He said that the carving was probably destined for the South or West elevations atop a gablet apex stone. Some of these stones were not carved in time and therefore not set in place. Amy’s finial carving (topmost stone) did not have the base on which it would rest.

When asked her feelings about her rabbi carving not being set on the tower, Amy reflected on her six years at the Cathedral. She credits the Stoneyard program with guiding her career path in stone work and teaching. “I never would have had that without the Cathedral,” she said.

Amy added, “Part of what I learned there was none of these (the stones) were mine. You finished it and it was done. The work was for a greater cause.”

She feels sad for all the stones on the ground and all the work that went into them. “I can’t cry over one piece,” she said, “if it’s down on the ground, maybe it’s better.”

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Our thanks to Photo Journalist Robert F. Rodriguez for this series of stories about the origin of the stones in the cutting and carving operations, who worked on the stone and where some of them have been waiting.

Divine Stone

The Boy, the Man and the Bird

Post author By Roger Murphy
Post date April 10, 2023

Some years ago, a story appeared in the New Yorker. It told of a boy, around nine at the time, who had not spoken a word. Some manner of developmental issue was assumed. His parents had taken to regularly playing a record for him. The recording was of bird songs followed by a narrator naming the bird and information about it. One day, walking in a wooded area, the boy stopped and pointed up in a tree and told his surprised dad the name of the bird who had just sung. This story inspired Chris Pellettieri to carve a narrative sculpture – The boy, the man and the bird.

Chris was an apprentice stone carver in the Cathedral stone yard working on the Southwest Tower. After that construction closed down he continued to carve stone and became an artist-in-residence at the Cathedral.

We caught up with Chris as he was finishing up a stone carving class on Governor’s Island. Students from Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School, located in Hell’s Kitchen, make up the class. The National Park Service is a partner with the school. It is a career and technical educational (CTE) school. Its goal is to prepare students for careers in fields like historic preservation, landscape management, archeology, masonry and carpentry. One of this class’ projects was a roman arch, carving the pieces from templates.

Chris told us the story of the origin of the red sandstone sculpture, about four feet tall and he spoke of his affinity for narrative carvings.

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Watch Chris Pellettieri’s recent lecture at Columbia titled Carving Architecture and Careers with The Pellettieri Stone Carving Academy here

Divine Stone

The John Angel Friezes in the Narthex

Post author By Roger Murphy
Post date April 1, 2023

As you enter the North Tower doors and step into the narthex, turn around and look up. There you will see the sculptural frieze above. John Angel sculpted it. The carver is not known, but a good chance it was the Ardolino’s. They did much of John Angel’s work in the 1930’s. This area is currently not available to the public. Thanks to Tom Fedorek, Senior Guide, for paving the way for photo journalist Robert F. Rodriguez to take these detailed images of the John Angel friezes in the narthex.

Many of these are historical figures from the crusades. Tom Fedorek has noted Godfrey de Bouillon, Richard I, “The Lionhearted”, leader of the Third Crusade who reconquered Jerusalem, and Peter the Hermit.

Inside the South Portal

The John Angel Friezes in the Narthex - Chaucers Pilgrims Frieze — Chaucer’s Pilgrims inside the South Portal – Image Robert F. Rodriguez

Just inside the south portal in the narthex is a second frieze sculpted by John Angel. Turn and look up. This one is drawn from pilgrims in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The installation date was 1931.

John Angel's Friezes in the Narthex — Pilgrims Frieze Left Side – Image Robert F. Rodriguez

Here again Tom Fedorek pointed out the Wife of Bath and some of the other pilgrims based on how Chaucer describes them in the Canterbury Tales. We have noted throughout Angel’s sculpture at the Cathedral that the historical and liturgical accuracy of his work is well informed.

Pilgrims Frieze, Right Side — Pilgrims Frieze from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Right Side – Image Robert F. Rodriguez

This intricate work truly adds to the fact that John Angel was a gifted sculptor. If we can ever attribute these works definitively to the carver or carvers we will add that to this blog post.

Center Image Chaucer's Pilgrims — Detail Center Image, Pilgrims from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. – Image Robert F. Rodriguez

The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian churches consisting of the entrance/vestibule . Traditionally, the narthex was a part of the church building but not considered part of the church proper.

The narthex is an enclosed space before arriving at the main worship place (the nave). Penitents and catechumens were not permitted to worship with other christians in the main worship space until they had completed orientation or reorientation to christian life. Today, this gathering place functions as an interface between the church and the world, a space for welcoming.

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Many thanks to the combined efforts of Tom Fedorek, Senior Guide, and Robert F. Rodriguez, Photo Journalist and photo chronicler of the Cathedral for showcasing the John Angel friezes in the narthex.