Cecil Bernard is a contemporary abstract artist who often doesn’t use a brush to apply paint to his canvas. His work is on display at local and national galleries. Recently, the artist posted a wonderful painting on his social media page announcing a new series entitled In The Shadow of the Church. The painting was lovely. The image of a small “country” church, and at first glance, that’s all it is. But when you look closer, it isn’t a pleasant pastoral image at all.
I reached out to the artist Bernard and asked if he’d like to discuss this new series and his thoughts on bringing the “In The Shadow of The Church” to life.
Bernard explains that he wanted to emphasize “in the beauty of our nation that the church has been complicit.” It is an indictment of religion. He goes on to share his thought that religious people are some of the most misinformed across the world. Bernard shares that he has a degree in theology.
The artist is bringing to life the challenge we face when “Man is trying to be God” instead of listening to God. He speaks about the Inquisition, the Crusades, and other historic examples of human behaviour in the guise of religion. His exhibition will include approximately forty paintings. He has attempted to mount an exhibition before, but often the pieces were sold. This time, the work is intentionally being produced for a tour and ultimately a book.
Bernard shares his advice for up and coming artist and states that “anywhere with a wall is an opportunity” for an artist. He received awards from the OBAMA and BIDEN administrations for his work with young artists.
For more information on Cecil Bernard and his work on exhibition