Canning Liturgical Arts - Design & Detail

“Beauty awakens the soul to act.”

DANTE ALEGHIERI

LITURGICAL ARTS

Saint Cecilia Church, Boston, MA

Knowledge, Integrity, and Detail Canning Liturgical Arts was founded, and remains rooted in, ecclesiastical design and decoration.

We have a long history with the restoration of historic churches, as well as the design of new churches and chapels that seek a traditional interior.

In addition to painted decoration, we design and paint murals, apply freehand artwork, provide faux finishes, and metallic leaf gilding. We design, fabricate, and install ornamental and flat plaster elements, as well as liturgical furnishings such as Stations of the Cross, Altars, Baldacchinos, etc.

We deliver a singular understanding of religious iconography and the historically significant symbols, designs, and decoration that express the meaning of faith.

Commissioned Artwork & Murals

Decorative & Faux Finishes

Marble Cleaning & Restoration

From research to visual expression, we clearly communicate design intent to clergy and parishioners alike.

Canning Liturgical Arts takes pride in establishing a solid strategy to work within budgets and schedule constraints.

Clients express appreciation for the passion we demonstrate, and the time we spend on research, in the months leading up to a project.

Our in-house designers work with the latest technologies as well as traditional methods of watercolor renderings and in situ mockups for our clients.

Mockup samples make an emotional connection to the faithful and can inspire parishioners and others to commit financially to the project.

P LAN N I NG & DES IGN Saint Mary’s Church, Norwalk, CT | (Left Top) Before,

(Left Bottom) Watercolor rendering by Duncan Stroik Architecture.

(Above) After.

Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich, CT | Twenty-two commissioned murals depicting the life of Christ were created to replace historic murals that were lost decades before. The murals were designed to appropriately fit and enhance the architecture of this Gothic style Cathedral.

Murals provide the faithful with a visual element designed to awaken their souls.

The three types of murals most often found in churches represent different restoration challenges. A fresco is painted while the plaster is still wet; a fresco secco is painted on dry plaster; and marouflage refers to paint applied to canvas and adhered to a surface.

In addition to creating commissioned artwork, Canning Liturgical Arts’ professional conservators restore all three types of murals.

This includes the preliminary conditions study and treatment plan, as well as archival research. We can then clean and repair the work, including the removal of discolored varnishes, consolidation of loose paint, inpainting areas of loss, and application of appropriate artwork protective coatings.

MU RALS & FI NE ART Saint Mary Church, Willimantic, CT | A fire left the mural blackened. Layers of smoke, soot, and grime were removed to reveal the Baptism of Christ. A trompe l’oeil moulding was created beneath the painting to tie the mural into the architecture.

We are the recognized expert for complex historic restoration projects.

For historic integrity, we conduct a thorough analysis of all architectural finishes, especially paint. This helps our team of experts determine the historic colors, patterns, and decorative techniques originally used, so that the finished project is authentic.

Canning Liturgical Arts is an industry-recognized expert in the field of historic finish analysis and we are widely sought after for our interpretations of finishes and treatments.

Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich, CT | (Top) Historic photograph.

(Bottom Left) Before Restoration. (Bottom Right) Exposures of original decoration.

H IS TORIC ANALYSIS Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich, CT | The original decoration was reinstated with exposures and historic photographs. New murals in the Nave and faux stained glass in the Sanctuary replaced the lost artwork.

Providing unmatched passion for historic restoration accuracy using traditional materials and methods.

In addition to conservation and restoration, we provide design services for new decorative painting in traditional styles.

Our expertise in traditional paints used for conservation and restoration includes: oil, acrylic, encaustic, distemper, and casein paints.

Decorative finishes include: Conservation of Decorative Finishes In-painting Stenciling Glazing Faux Bois Faux Marbres Trompe l’oeil Architectural gilding

Most Holy Trinity, Pomfret, CT

Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, MA

DECORAT IVE F I NI SH ES

Skilled in ornamental and flat surface plaster production, repair, and installation.

Canning Liturgical Arts is staffed with experts in casting, fabrication, and carving of plaster replacement pieces, as well as new design elements, either on-site or in our studio.

We are experienced with traditional lime and hydraulic lime plasters, two and three-coat plaster systems, the development of support systems for plaster ceilings, and acoustical plaster.

In historic churches, salvaging as much of the historic fabric is an important aspect of a project. Using plaster reattachment systems and adhesives, the costly process of demolition and replacement is avoided.

Saint Mary’s Church, Willimantic, CT | (Top Left) Fire had destroyed much of the interior of the church. (Top Right) Using adhesives and reattachment systems, plaster ceilings and decorative elements were salvaged as much as possible and only replicated where necessary. (Above) After restoration.

P LAST ER SYST EMS

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, LaCrosse, WI | Designed by Duncan Stroik

Architecture. The baldacchino was inspired by the baldacchino in the Basilica Paple di Santa Maria Maggiore. The canopy is comprised of entirely cast plaster ornaments that were faux marbled, to represent different marbles, gilded, and glazed

(Left) Side shrines were created using plaster elements finished to blend with genuine marble. (Right) Plaster elements, such as the crown encircling the Nave and Sanctuary, were cast in pieces and hand-tooled in to appear monolithic.

Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich, CT Frames for the Stations of the Cross were designed to match the baldacchino and Gothic architecture. Frames were custom designed and fabricated out of plaster, then painted and gilded to be sympathetic to the Gothic architecture and baldacchino.

Before

After

We design and fabricate custom furnishings that are appropriate to the liturgy and architecture.

Canning Liturgical Arts fabricates custom furnishings that are meaningful and are respectful to the interior architecture and decoration.

We provide you with renderings, sketches, and models and work with you and your committee to design the most appropriate furnishings for your interior.

From baldacchinos and reredoses to Stations of the Cross and altars, appropriately design furnishings compliment the interior to create a unified space.

to match the historic finishes. The choir loft was faux finished and woodgrained to simulate quarter sawn oak and the surrounding new and historic woodwork. New murals were designed of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Vang and incorporated into the cry room.

F URNISH I NGS

Saint Patrick’s Church, Lowell, MA | A cry room was designed and built beneath the organ loft

Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist, Stamford, CT | (Left) Before, (Middle) Watercolor Rendering depicting color scheme and ideas, (Right) After decoration and trompe l’oeil finishes were executed.

We work side by side with priests, committees, and parishioners to help them reach their goals.

We have successfully assisted and guided priests and restoration committees through capital campaign drives to achieve their goals. We will meet with key individual and corporate donors, present to entire churches and committees, and prepare custom documents, flyers, posters and PowerPoint presentations to share with others.

We have found that visuals are the most powerful catalyst for fundraising, such as water color renderings and in situ mockups. Through these, we can develop plans, budgets, and realistic goals.

F U NDRAISI NG The Shrine of Saint Anne, Waterbury, CT | The restoration project was completed in phases, beginning with the Sanctuary, while actively fundraising to complete the remainder of the church.

Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich, CT | Twenty-two murals depicting the life of Christ were commissioned for the Cathedral. The murals were executed in our studio on canvas.

SERVICES Historic Structures Reports Historic Paint Studies Fundraising & Consulting Restoration Consultation Plaster Assessment & Surveys Ornamental & Flat Plaster Plaster Consolidation Acoustical Plaster Decorative Painting Scagliola & Faux Marbres Stone Cleaning & Restoration Woodwork Restoration Fine Art Conservation Commissioned Artwork

Saint Mary’s Chapel, Boston College | Stone cleaning tests were performed on the walls of the chapel to determine the most effective conservation procedure.

Thank You Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Canning Liturgical Arts and the services we offer.

We can assist you with project programming, mockups, pilot projects, and phased work to help you achieve your objectives to making your church as unique, beautiful, and as sacred as you envision.

Our firm has been collaborating with clergy, church committees and contractors, from modest neighborhood churches to monumental cathedrals, for over forty years.

We have worked extensively in historic churches seeking to restore their original interiors, as well as modern churches seeking ecclesiastical design and artwork specific to their parish or Patron Saint. In either aspect, Canning Liturgical Arts always delivers quality results, on time and on budget.

We invite you to visit our website or contact us today for additional information.

CanningLiturgicalArts.com | 203-272-9868 | info@canningliturgicalarts.com

CanningLiturgicalArts.com 203-272-9868 | info@canningliturgicalarts.com 150 Commerce Court, Cheshire, CT 06410