Sisters artist unveils Nativity scene

Dozens of parishioners gathered in St. Winifred’s Garden at St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church on Saturday to witness the unveiling of the latest in a series of magnificent wood sculptures that grace the haven of serenity in Sisters.

Sculptor J. Chester “Skip” Armstrong was commissioned several years ago to create the statues of saints that watch over the garden. Recently, he was asked to add a six-foot-by-eight-foot Nativity scene, which will become the centerpiece of the church’s annual Christmastime Nativity Festival.

The timing of the unveiling was deliberately chosen to coincide with the church’s annual Mother’s Day Tea. Proceeds from this increasingly popular event, combined with a personal donation by Lois Ball, funded the creation of the sculpture.

“We want to thank all of you for helping to bring this sculpture to life for us,” Father Jim Logan told the assemblage. “It has gone beyond what I imagined it would be.”

“I really enjoyed the process,” Armstrong told the gathering. “I love the connection with the church. It takes us back to the Renaissance and all the great work that was done for the church.”

The artist jokingly called himself “Skipangelo” and said he’s “willing to take on the mantle as long as the projects keep coming in.”

Armstrong described the difference between the bas relief style of carving — creating perspective in two dimensions — and his usual three-dimensional sculptures. He described the work as a challenge and it was clear that he met it as he and Logan stripped away the blue cloth veiling the piece to the delighted and awestruck gasps of the audience.

The artist explained the composition of the sculpture, noting that he particularly enjoyed the focus on Mary. He noted that the sculpture is done in ponderosa pine — “the wood we all live with every day” in Sisters.

“We are with Mary and Joseph in the stable in this rendition,” Armstrong said.

He thanked his friend and co-worker Jan Hansson for his help on the project.

The assembled witnesses approached the sculpture for a closer look and marveled at the intricacy of the work.

“The more you look, the more you see,” said one.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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