July 19, 2009

Documentary video film- Guillermo Esparza, An American Iconographer- premieres as part of events celebrating 200-year anniversary of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, New York City and integrated into the artist’s current running exhibition Arcanum Angelorum at the Cathedral. The documentary interview, an original production by Los Angeles filmmaker Veronica Aberham for Studio-Online, an affiliate of London-based Studio International, interviews Guillermo Esparza, master iconographer and sculptor, exploring the artist’s arduous path to becoming an esteemed icon painter in the rarefied world of traditional Byzantine art and shares his discoveries and techniques. The original soundtrack is composed and performed by Maria Andriasova Esparza, wife of the artist and daughter of the famous Russian composer Iosif Andriasov.

Currently Esparza is the capomaestro for the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, New York City, as well as artist-in-residence at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Manhattan, New York.

The film was released on June 1st, 2009 and premiered at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral’s Holy Name Chapel in New York on June 7th, 2009 for the Cathedral’s 200-year anniversary, after Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan’s historic Mass, concelebrated by the presiding Pastor of the Old Cathedral, Msgr. Donald Sakano. New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg honored Guillermo Esparza’s sacred art exhibit "Arcanum Angelorum" ("Mystery of the Angels") at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral with a proclamation on its opening date of February 26, 2009 as the official "St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral Day" in New York City. Due to an extraordinary popularity of the exhibit, it is extended through December 31, 2009.

The exhibit takes place in the undercroft of the Old Cathedral in the Holy Name Chapel, 263 Mulberry Street.

In 2009, Guillermo Esparza launched his sacred arts lecture series at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral with "Our Lady of Perpetual Help Icon" lecture, and will continue his lecture series this fall at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation as well.

Veronica Aberham plans to continue working with Maria and Guillermo Esparza, filming additional episodes on Mr. Esparza and his permanent art installations throughout the US. Their next stop is the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, Garden City, NY for Mr. Esparza’s Mural Icon of the Pantrokrator; S.S. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, Somerset, NJ for Mr. Esparza’s monumental sculpture of Archangel Michael, which he carved out of Vermont marble; and Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, Tenafly, NJ for Mr. Esparza’s 60-foot Peace Dove mural.

The film is presently being translated into several languages, including Russian, by Columbia University-trained scholar, Olga Zvenyatsky.

Current Exhibition: Arcanum Angelorum (Mystery of the Angels)
Dates: February 26 - December 31, 2009
Location: Holy Name Chapel, 263 Mulberry Street, New York, NY, 10012
(Please note: The exhibit will take place in the undercroft of the Old Cathedral.)
For exhibition hours, please contact the Cathedral’s office at (212) 226-8075.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.guillermoesparza.com
http://www.andriasovaesparza.com
Video interview by Veronica Aberham.
Studio Gallery: Guillermo Esparza, An American Iconographer 


For more information, please view the official press release:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/Esparza/Film/prweb2655734.htm

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