Large mosaic becomes a source of inspiration for Clearfield parish

CLEARFIELD -- An extensive art project has not only brought added beauty to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, but parishioners and leaders say it also has drawn them closer together.

A 4-foot-6-inch by 4-foot mosaic -- the work of 43 members -- was hung last weekend. The members literally gave it their blood, sweat and tears, as well as many of their prized possessions since they began putting the piece together in October.

The mosaic is a depiction of God's Holy Spirit descending upon the local area in the form of a dove.

"It's just a really beautiful, colorful approach at looking at one of the core themes within the Christian faith," said the Rev. Claudia Seiter.

The grand-scale art project was the brain-child of professional artist and parishioner Pat McGee and her son, Mike McGee, both of Layton.

Mike McGee is a photographer and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Pat McGee said she'd just been at the church for a year, having relocated from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., when she learned that the Rev. Susan Beem Beery, who was rector at the time, had discussed such a project for a while.

And when McGee said she had experience with a similar endeavor in Florida, the project began to take shape.

McGee and her son came up with four possible drawings for which the congregation could vote.

Once the drawing was selected and transferred onto a large piece of plywood, it was time for the members to go to work.

McGee said she wore a hat from a Shakespearean festival when she made an announcement about the project.

She walked out and announced "Hear Ye. Hear Ye," before reading a proclamation stating everyone in the parish was going to be involved.

But the ongoing participation and investment parishioners gave her was something she didn't expect.

McGee said women from the parish would work a couple of nights a week and after snacks each Sunday with bloody hands, because the piece is made largely of broken glass, ceramics and pottery.

"I told them to wear gloves to protect their hands, but they didn't," McGee said. "They wore battle wounds from spending hours working on it."

And when she asked parishioners to bring in small treasures to complete the piece, they took that assignment very seriously.

"Very, very special things started to come in," she said. "I could tell that people were really, really taking this to heart. An older man brought in a marble he played with as a child. People brought jewelry from grandmothers, things they knew were from a special memory in their life. That made it personal."

Seiter said the church community came together in a shared sense of camaraderie and enthusiasm. And she said all in the parish seemed to become enthralled as the piece took on a life of its own over the four months of construction.

Parishioner Judy Gabourie said the project makes her church complete.

"It turned out so much better than I ever thought it could." she said. "It's just a stunning piece of art."

The project became an especially important activity for member Mike McPeek, of Sunset.

McPeek's wife, Nelda, died just as the members were starting the actual construction of the art piece.

Because the McPeeks were members in the small congregation since 1962, participants opted to make the artwork into a memorial for Nelda.

Nelda died after a long battle with five brain tumors. She became incapacitated, relying on special care at Manor Care Center for 10 months before her death.

Mike McPeek said smashing the glass, plates and other materials for the project was cathartic after losing his wife of 57 years.

And he said the artwork continues to help him heal.

The piece was hung last weekend, and will be dedicated at the 10:30 a.m. service this Sunday by the Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish, Utah bishop of the Episcopal Church. Irish is set to retire soon.

The public is invited to attend the service at the church, 1759 S. State St.

Members and guests now are putting their creative energy into other, smaller projects at a new art guild that meets at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

Seiter has lunch with the art guild every week.

For information about the art guild, Irish's dedicatory service or any other questions about the church, call the church offices at (801) 825-0177. The offices are open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays.