By Sabina Clarke
This stunning and beautifully illustrated book with photographs of original paintings by first generation London-Irish artist Brian Whelan is a fascinating exchange of ideas between Irish Catholic Brian Whelan and Jeff Frohner, a Lutheran pastor from Orange County, California who proves to be an enthusiastic and knowledgeable Connoisseur of fine art. How they met, separated by six thousand miles, is almost miraculous, serendipitous and completely by chance— as if their meeting were somehow preordained. Frohner was searching the internet for images of the Nativity for inspiration for his Christmas sermon when he encountered an image of Brian Whelan’s painting Nativity– a powerful, richly textured work with a black skinned Madonna and child and some playful modern touches. From that moment on, Frohner was hooked and moved to do something he had never done before—contact the artist.
What struck Frohner was “how these paintings begged for conversation, those kinds of conversations that usually happen late at night when after a pint or two one is able to discuss the real matters of life without fear of judgment or of being dismissed.” Yet, he was still sobered by the immutable fact of the distance that separated him both “literally and metaphorically” from the painter who lived outside of London in rural Norfolk.
Still, he mused on what fun it would be to sit down with Whelan, as an old friend, and discuss his paintings with him and tell him about the feelings his paintings evoked in him. After the initial email, further correspondence was arranged by Whelan’s wife and business manager Wendy.
Soon, Frohner began exchanging regular emails with Whelan. Their conversations, inspired by Whelan’s paintings, many of which are like parables from the Bible, replete with symbolism and imagery and liturgical influences, encompassed faith, art, salvation, damnation, God, the Devil, culture, science and religion.
And gradually, as they got to know each other, their sometimes late night conversations were fueled by a pint or two both literally and figuratively—which may have helped to open new realms.
What was essential for this idea to succeed was an artist open to talking about his work and an art patron with the interest and sophistication to appreciate the depth, intelligence and subtlety of the artist. Whelan, obviously, does not sit loftily on his artist’s perch but is keenly interested in the Pastor’s response to his work while humbly admitting, at times, to being enlightened by some of the Pastor’s observations and interpretations-some of which, may be different from what he originally intended when he set out to create the work.
Gauging from this lively, stimulating ongoing dialogue, Brian Whelan is an open, thoughtful and deeply contemplative artist, eager to engage with his audience, share ideas and consider other points of view.
This book goes beyond capturing a high level conversation between two men from different, disparate backgrounds who share similar sensibilities; the two may have unwittingly stumbled upon a whole new genre between artist and patron. Regardless, their conversation is enlightening.
[To order this book go to the website: www.brianwhelan.co.uk. The price depends on the exchange rate when ordered online but is usually around $19.]