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'Sacred Stories' exhibition grows, changes over time

First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights has extended the run time for "Sacred Stories, Images of Significance: Voices in a Congregation," a major art exhibition and installation, from its original end date of January 10 to the new date of January 24. "Sacred Stories" is the creation of Mario G. Alberico, an artist and curator who resides in Arlington Heights and is a long-time leader in the congregation. "Sacred Stories" has evolved over the past six weeks and will continue to change throughout its course. Inspired by a recent sermon on the transfiguration of Jesus by Rev. Alex Lang, senior pastor at First Presbyterian, the exhibition seeks to amplify and articulate the transformational moments, or sacred stories, that all people experience.

"These moments-our sacred stories-are captured in our memories, our stories, and our photographs, our images of significance," said Alberico. These truths emerged for Alberico as he listened to Lang's sermon on the transfiguration of Christ last May 24. And when Alberico heard Lang calling for church members and friends to share their most important photos and their associated stories, he saw a unique opportunity to represent, through art, the shift that has been taking place in both the local churches and the larger church body over the years, "from focusing on the clergy's voices to the voices of the congregation and our sacred stories," Alberico explained.

The way these voices are expressed through the exhibition has changed as the weeks have progressed. The focal point of one area of the installation-the Sukkoth (or Tabernacle)-has evolved each week, "revealing new and richer curtain artwork that has grown more vibrant and complex as the anticipation of Advent increased and now gives way to Epiphany. It is in this sacred area where we hear the voices of the congregation, literally, as they are whispered within the curtains of the Sukkoth while we view the bound compilation of photographs used in this installation," explained Alberico.

Members of First Presbyterian Church submitted more than 200 of their most meaningful personal photographs (the "images of significance") for use in making the "Sacred Stories" exhibition. Alberico employed them as artifacts and inputs in the process of making multivariate pieces of art. Alberico transformed various parts of the site into galleries using multiple mediums, including two-dimensional prints and murals, digital art and video, poetry, conceptual art, performance and interactive art, and photography.

One of the latest additions to the exhibition has been the creation of an adult mandala coloring book. The coloring book is meant to be used as a tool to aid meditation and focus on Christ. "I took one picture from the 200+ submissions and made a mandala piece of art. Then, I altered the image in many different ways and turned it into an adult Mandala Coloring Book for Prayer and Mindfulness," Alberico said. As he notes, adult coloring books are topical, and "like most things, the sacredness of the mindfulness ritual has been commercialized and consumerized. This interactive art is my way to take back the sacred." More changes and additions are in store as the exhibition approaches its January 24 end date.

First Presbyterian Church is at 302 N. Dunton Ave. in Arlington Heights. Public viewing times, with guided tours, for this free exhibition are Wednesdays, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, with other daytime and evening tours available by appointment. To learn more about the "Sacred Stories" art exhibition, visit www.fpcah.org/news or call (847) 255-5900. Special assistance for the exhibition was provided by the digital fine art printing studio and nonprofit Latitude Chicago.

Mario G. Alberico describes himself as an artist, advocate, and advisor. Diagnosed in high school with a rare and fatal form of bone cancer (Ewing's Sarcoma), Alberico underwent experimental treatments that helped him survive the cancer, but whose long-term effects continue. Creating art became an outlet and a cathartic way to deal with his illness, treatment, and recovery, and continues to demonstrate in his life the power to simultaneously confront suffering and celebrate the beauty of life. Alberico's art has been featured in gallery shows in New York and in Chicago, most recently in the juried exhibition for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's 13th Annual "Art in Motion" (Alberico was a finalist). Alberico also serves on numerous nonprofit boards.

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