Interplay of Art and Architecture at St. Joseph's in Macon, Georgia

We are very accustomed to thinking of ecclesiastical art in rather compartmentalized terms. While this not hard and fast, we tend to think of altars as one distinct piece of art and the art and design which surrounds it as another. Certainly we understand there is a cumulative effect in the relation of these various elements, but we still frequently have a tendency to compartmentalize them into their distinctive components. 

However, in considering these elements we should not only consider the incidental interplay between them, but also consider how they can actually -- and explicitly -- interact with one another directly. 

A project undertaken by Rohn and Associates Design at St. Joseph's Church in Macon, Georgia shows just such an example as the wall murals and the side altars were evidently designed to specifically interact with one other. The result is quite powerful to say the least.

This approach was something that we saw in some of the very best approaches to contemporary ecclesiastical art and architecture within the 20th century -- and we have frequently shown it in our Other Modern series. That said, it needn't be limited to this as this present example shows.

If you are wondering what the rest of the church looks like, here it is.