Client: Our Lady of Mercy
Location: Potomac, MD, United States
Completion date: 2007
Artwork budget: $90,000
Project Team
Sculptor
Sarah Hempel Irani
Hempel Studios
Carver
Ugo Antognazzi
Studio Antognazzi
Installation
Andrew Logan
Canal Street Studios
Overview
St. Joseph, the Carpenter at Our Lady of Mercy
Larger-than-life-size Carrara marble
Our Lady of Mercy commissioned Sarah to create the Virgin Annunciate and St. Joseph the Carpenter for their new sanctuary. She had already sculpted the fourteen Stations of the Cross in bas-relief collaboratively with another sculptor for the parish.
Goals
The goals for this sculpture were to beautify the sanctuary and honor St. Joseph.
Process
Sarah worked on the sculpture of St. Joseph, the Carpenter, first in clay, then had it cast in plaster. The plaster casts were sent to Studio Antognazzi in Pietrasanta, Italy to be carved in marble, per Renaissance tradition. Sarah worked with an international shipping company and an import agent to get the marble to the United States. Once it cleared customs, her installation crew was ready at the shipyard and we installed the sculpture at Our Lady of Mercy.