Celebration of art

Two special exhibitions will highlight the 15th anniversary of the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art at St. Louis [Mo.] University. The interfaith museum, founded by director, curator and priest Terrence E. Dempsey, is located in a renovated chapel at the Jesuit university.

“Madonna and Child” by Frederick J. Brown (top) and “Friends in Deed” by Carolyn Jones are part of an anniversary exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art , St. Louis.

Displaying art from various faith traditions around the country and the world, MOCRA has presented 35 exhibits since its establishment. These have ranged from “Body and Soul: The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater” to “The Celluloid Bible,” dealing with scriptural themes in film.

Both anniversary events will include works selected from earlier shows.

The first of the two exhibits, “Pursuit of the Spirit,” runs through Dec. 14. The works focus on several themes, including Sacred Spaces, The Sublime, and Mother and Child.