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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  Art changed this artist and encouraged him to share his gifts

by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published August 15, 2008

Swanson

Detroit — John August Swanson didn't set out to become an artist; instead, in a way, art found him.

Although he tried other jobs early in life, none seemed compatible to him. "I wanted to dedicate my life to something — but it didn't seem like I fit into anything," he said.

Now his work is in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, the Vatican Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. Cards of his artwork benefit the National Association for Hispanic Elderly and non-profit housing organization El Pueblo Community Development Corporation.

"The River" by John August Swanson "The River" depicts the many ways life is supported and renewed by fresh water — including Christ's baptism.

Before formally studying art, Swanson hadn't known a lot about it and its history — but visiting churches in the Los Angeles area, he knew he was often moved by the artwork there.

"It delighted me to see it," he said. "It helped me as a person to be able to pray, and also to see something beautiful."

While refining his talent under artist Corita Kent, Swanson focused on political issues — "I wanted to be in the middle of it," he said — but found he was being drawn to picture stories. He would create a piece focused on urban life, and his next piece might have been a Bible story, he said. And he didn't start a piece with a spiritual goal in mind, but just wanted to do the best work he could.

"You put everything that you had into it — then it does become sacred," he said.

Swanson, 70, said if he hadn't come into art later in life, in his 30s, and hadn't been around other cultures and justice issues, he wouldn't have been able to pull from that for his current work. "All of that was necessary to get to this point," he said. "It's taken a whole lifetime."

Swanson shared how he found his calling as part of the opening presentation for the recent pastoral ministry conference, Sharing Faith — Sharing Work: Hopes, Strategies and Pastoral Applications for Ministers, held at the Retreat Center at St. John's, Plymouth Township, earlier this month. His work, a mix of religious and secular, is influenced by medieval miniatures, iconography and Latin American folk art, among other styles. Swanson gave a presentation on "My Journey as an Artist," which detailed how art changed him and encouraged him to share his gifts at the conference.

"Procession" by John August Swanson John August Swanson's "Procession" is an intricate mosaic depicting literal processions and processions of heart.

His piece "The Procession," which is on display at the Vatican Museum and is what he called "the grand work of (his) life" in his notes on the piece, is essentially a mosaic of 89 images that reflect different kinds of processions. "The journey or procession takes us out of our ordinary lives to experience a transcendental or universal connection," he said in his artist's reflection on the piece. "The outward walk reflects an inner journey."

And although the piece is complex, the ideas converge in the middle with a central picture. "This picture gives us a connection, setting us apart from the extraneous happenings and distractions that surround our lives," he said. "… It becomes a metaphor for our own experiences."

Swanson's newest piece, the popular "Power to the People," is especially relevant to southeast Michigan, as it tells the story of an unemployed man looking for work who joins forces with other people. The group at the end of his picture story, marching together, is representative of people working together for human rights and justice, he said.

"Power to the People" by John August Swanson John August Swanson's "Power to the People" tells the story of an unemployed man uniting with others for change.

Swanson said he believes that if you have a gift, you should share it with other people — and that's what he's doing through his artwork, he said.

Swanson attends Mother of Good Counsel Parish in Los Angeles, where he lives, and when he's not creating art he wants to be involved helping people who are out of work, have experienced discrimination, or have felt other hardships. He's also inviolved in the Catholic Worker Movement plays the violin.

"Story of the Prodigal Son" by John August Swanson | The Michigan Catholic "Story of the Prodigal Son" illustrates in colorful detail the story of how a son squandered his riches, then begged for and received his father's forgiveness.

"At 70, you see a lot of workers suffer," he said. "One wants to be effective and do something."

Prints for sale are available at Swanson's Web site. Posters of "Power to the People" are available through the Office for Pastoral Ministries; call (313) 237-5954.