Maria Widstrom wanted to attend school where she could involve her faith and learn the art of sculpture to share her work with fellow Catholics.
She chose a school in Florence, Italy, where she studied for two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic. For a good chunk of her stay, the city was quiet, without the usual throngs of tourists, she said. “So, you could really enjoy the city and all the art that it has without feeling rushed,” she said.
Maria Widstrom
Widstrom, a self-employed figurative sculpture artist and parishioner of Epiphany in Coon Rapids, recently joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to describe her stay in Italy and her interest in sculptures. Spending time studying museum pieces and “involving that in my own works and studies really helped me develop as an artist,” she said.
Widstrom created equine sculptures for about 10 years, but wanted to share her work with a broader audience. After “lots of contemplation and some prayer and really thinking what to do,” she realized “we need more sacred sculptors.”
“I feel like there needs to be more art brought to these churches because here we have a lot more newer churches, and I saw how beautiful churches (in Italy) could be,” Widstrom said. “I want to bring more of that here to Minnesota.”
Widstrom believes individuals are called to spread their faith in their own ways. Being more of an introvert, she finds that sculpture is a way to share her faith “through my art without words, more just with what I can create.”
Widstrom said she is open to creating whatever churches might need. “I would love to help bring those things to life,” she said.
Living in Florence felt like being part of a movie set, Widstrom said. To hear details about her stay in Florence, from groups at the church she attended to how she liked the pizza — and to hear the full interview, tune in to the 9 p.m. Sept. 23 “Practicing Catholic” show, which repeats at 1 p.m. Sept. 24 and 2 p.m. Sept. 25 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
To see samples of Widstrom’s work, visit her website, MarieThereseFineArt.com, or search for Maria Therese Fine Art on Facebook and Instagram.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Father Tom Margevicius, director of worship for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who describes the annual candlelight rosary procession from the state Capitol to the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, this year set for Oct. 7; and licensed marriage and family therapist Jake Voelker, who offers tips for navigating the early years of married life with joy.
Listen to their interviews after they have aired:
Recent Comments