Photography, paintings, ceramics, paper crafts, oil pastels, and even legos grace the lobby of the CEC as the works of art be-speckle the shelves and frames where they are on display. From large sweeping canyons to small petite chickadees, the artwork evokes all sorts of responses- joy, wonder, awe, and contemplation- that naturally well up after a short stroll through the galleries. 

You might be wondering why, as a Catholic nature center, we are hosting an art show, but after a brisk springtime walk around the property you’ll notice there is a common thread tying together the works of art inside and our property outside. 

March is a mercurial month. The fluctuation of warm and cold, freezing and thawing, sweatshirts and winter jackets may feel like a bit of a ride up and down on a yo-yo. But even if this mud-filled month is not your favorite, it’s clear that there is a lot going on during this time of perpetual change. After a trek along the trails of the CEC, you’ll find that things are not as bleak as they might seem. The bright scarlet of red osier dogwood branches reach out over the wetlands in scraggly bunches of cheery, cherry stems. The pale mint of lichen hug the branches of alders as their frills and folds add patches to the smooth grey bark. Bend down and, upon close examination of a tuft of moss, you’ll find small silk-like stalks called sporophytes that shoot up like arms raised, just waiting for the day they will release their pouch of spores out into the open like a burst of confetti! Among these small hints of life there is no doubt about it- the place is beautiful. 

And it makes sense, then, that the beauty outside our walls permeates the inside of our building as well. We are inspired by the incredible beauty outside our doorstep, the work of the supreme artist and ultimate Creator, God. And in fact, this is how we are introduced to God in the very first pages of the Bible as he creates the Heavens and the Earth. God is, as St. Pope John Paul II wrote,  “a kind of exemplar of everyone who produces a work: the human craftsman mirrors the image of God as Creator.” 

Being made in the image and likeness of God, we too are called to participate in the life giving vocation to create. Whether this is creating with paint, pencil, chalk, sculpture, reseeding a prairie, or making a meal for our family, as we create we are called to act as God does: with love, care, and offering our creativity a generous gift of ourselves. 

And true beauty- found in nature and art alike, is a transcendental that harkens us back to God. Who hasn’t marveled at a gorgeous painting, or stood in awe of the intricate patterns etched into the ice and been drawn out of themselves and felt close to God? It’s a beautiful relationship that exists and is deeply intertwined, that among art, beauty, the natural world, and God.  

Our New Art Piece

It is integral then, that we have the work of artists to stir our hearts, draw us to God, and inspire us to our vocation to create lovingly in imitation of our Lord. Here at the CEC, we are truly blessed to have recently received an incredible donation of a beautiful work of art, that does just that!

The piece started when Mark and Emily Koczela first encountered the artwork of Samuel Bates. The couple was drawn not only to the incredible pieces of stonework that Bates created, but after some conversation, they were drawn to the artist too! Both parties shared a deep appreciation for art, but a deeper appreciation for God as a source of inspiration and the ultimate Artist. Before too long, the three were collaborating to create a work that would be on display in the Koczela’s home: a striking 3-piece stone triptych. 

Sam shared, “ This stone triptych began as a conversation with Mark and Emily Koczela about the nature of stone itself, the tools and techniques of carving, the shapes and forms of design possibilities and the many things that inspired the vision for the artwork which they were entrusting to me. It became clear as we talked that, while all of these things are important, what matters most to them are not “things” but God, the Creator of All Things.”

The creation of the piece was no small feat! Come and visit the CEC to see it on display and you can read all about the “ stone cowboys”- the skilled men who worked hard and diligently to quarry the ancient, incredible rock slab off the walls of a Montana cliffside. The stone alone is an incredible marvel, a piece of metamorphic slate that geologists estimate is over 1 billion years old! Additionally, the two stones on each side of the tryptic showcase an extremely rare occurrence known as “ book matching”, where the natural break in the rock created the two pieces that are symmetric to each other. 

After the stone was obtained, there were sketches, lots of conversations, and hours upon hours of work put in by Sam. All the carving was done using hand-held tools with diamond and garnet grit as an abrasive cutting edge. Aside from the 24 karat gold leaf, there is no other pigment used in the work. Carving through the layers of rock naturally revealed the dark unoxidized black interior of the rock, providing incredible, natural contrast and definition. 

The piece hung in Mark and Emily’s home for years, but with an upcoming move, the couple realized that they no longer had the space required for their beloved work of art. Through God’s providence, they found us! After a visit to the Catholic Ecology Center in January 2025 it was clear the couple, artist, and our organization were all aligned and deeply moved by the shared mission to preserve and celebrate beauty as it leads us to the Lord. 

In a few short months and with lots of help, things were prepared for the new gift that was to grace our hall. Walls were removed, and brackets added for internal support to hang the behemoth 300 and 600 pound stone slabs. Some amazing volunteers and board members used their strength and teamwork to carefully lift and place the pieces up on the wall in their new home where the piece was then covered while visitors waited in anticipation until the day would come for the big reveal! 

Pointing toward God

On March 2nd, though, at our member’s art show, the piece was unveiled! Titled, Ex Nihilo, it gracefully points to God, not just due to the beauty and peace solicited from gazing upon it, but also in its title. Ex nihilo is a term used to describe the kind of creation that comes from God and God alone. For only God creates ex nihilo– out of nothing. Human craftsmen, on the other hand, create out of materials– they create out of God’s creations.  

The artwork further points towards God as Bates explains, “Since the inspiration for this piece is the presence of God in and through creation, the big question became how to select and interpret imagery that directs attention past the carvings themselves to the unseen source beyond them. The fact that creation is a mystery that both reveals and veils the Creator has been central to both theology and philosophy for aeons. The horizon of Lake Michigan, which is clearly visible near [ the Koczela’s] home, is a natural focal point, as well as a natural metaphor about the presence and transcendence of God. What in nature evokes the reality of the unseen more powerfully than the vanishing point between the sky and a vast body of water? Everything leads up to that line, and everything comes from it, although it is not a “thing” at all. So, while looking at these carvings, one’s eye goes to and from the horizon and encounters diverse  forms (things) but it is always directed back to what is not a thing, the nothingness of the horizon, and then on to Someone rather than something, Who is Being Itself.” 

Artist in Residence Program

The Catholic Ecology Center is a space for encountering Christ- in the sacraments, in the beauty of the land, in the goodness of the people who visit, and in the works of art that are around us.  If you haven’t already, come and enrich your heart and mind with the wonderful art pieces that are found at the CEC! From our new stone triptych, Ex Nihilio,  to the wonderful works present in our member art show, to the land around us, we are blessed to be so steeped in beauty and have countless reminders of our loving God! 

 In his letter to artists, St. Pope John Paul II wrote of the incredible duty of the artist, “The artist has a special relationship to beauty. In a very true sense it can be said that beauty is the vocation bestowed on him by the Creator in the gift of “artistic talent”. And, certainly, this too is a talent which ought to be made to bear fruit, in keeping with the sense of the Gospel parable of the talents (cf. Mt 25:14-30).” In our desire to steward and celebrate true beauty of all forms and bear good fruit of all kinds, we are excited to announce the launching of our new artist in residence program! The program offers opportunities for adult painters, photographers, and other artists to use the CEC property as inspiration for a body of work. The artist is invited to spend up to a week staying in one of the cabins on our beautiful CEC property this summer, and use the space of the CEC to incorporate their passion for faith, creativity, and the outdoors as they create a body of work to share with others. In the fall/winter the artist will have their work on display in our gallery for all to see. If you or someone you know might be interested, please find more information on our website HERE. 

 Great saint and nature lover Saint Bonaventure once wrote “In things of beauty, he contemplated the One who is supremely beautiful, and, led by the footprints he found in creatures, he followed the Beloved everywhere”. During this Lenten season, we invite you to the CEC, to follow the footsteps of the Beloved- in nature and in artwork, and delight in the many gifts of beauty that God has given to us!