The Washington chapter of Legatus kicked off its monthly event April 10 with Mass at the Catholic Information Center in Washington followed by a reception and dinner program with a presentation by noted Catholic sculptor, Timothy Schmalz.
Schmalz has sculpted large-scale works for more than 25 years. He is a figurative artist whose pieces are featured worldwide, including at historical sites in Rome and the Vatican, and locally at The Catholic University of America in Washington and outside the Alexandria offices of Catholic Charities USA. Schmalz describes his work as visual translations of the Bible.
He spoke about his journey from being an art student to his present mission of communicating the beauty of the Gospel through art that appeals to both the believer and nonbeliever. He stressed the need to bring up those from the underground who are ignored, such as his piece, “Let the Oppressed Go Free,” dedicated to the victims of human trafficking and the people who work to free them from this modern-day slavery.
Schmalz added that members of the church should not go underground or go quietly into the night, but rather live boldly and build even taller monuments to the heroes of the faith.
Guests received small replicas of Schmalz’s Life Monument sculpture, which focuses on the beauty of life.
