You've heard it said a thousand times, "A picture is worth
1,000 words." The truth of this adage was proven again last Sunday
when Gregorio Luke appeared at the Long Beach Playhouse.
Just back from Italy (where he addressed the Florence Biennale
on Mexican artist, Jose Orozco), Luke's presentation was an absolute
visual feast--one that could stand without verbal explanation from its
world-famous lecturer.
To be more specific, Luke's latest program is based on a
demanding, multi-media compilation of paintings that depict the life
of Jesus as envisioned by world famous masters from Europe and the
New World. In fact, the dramatic imagery in the paintings that Luke
has assembled relays the Christ story on every conceivable level--
and it was presented just one week before Christmas.
Arranged in chronological order, they begin with the
Annunciation--then following Scripture they visually document Jesus'
miraculous journey on earth--ending with his tragic betrayal, death,
and resurrection.
Acknowledging that his face is the most well-known image in
Western art, Luke starts with a rendering by an anonymous artist. It
is followed, non-stop, by depictions of scenes from the Bible that
were created by renowned painters from the earliest days of
Christianity to the present.
Artists include Nolde, Roualt, Sigueiros--Leonardo di Vinci and El
Greco, the two are his favorites--Rembrandt, Bosch, Tintoretto, Giotto,
Reubens, Salvador Dali, Gauguin, Orozco, Carravaggio--and many more
that flash by to tell the pictorial story of Jesus' life.
There are well-known scenes of "The Pilgrimage" or "La Posada";
also "The Nativity" (Virgin Mary and Holy Child, the manger, the
Magi, the three kings, the shepherds, and the angels), told in
styles that range from realistic, classical and romantic to stylized
and abstract.
Other familiar subjects include "Massacre of the Innocents,"
"Desecration of the Temple," "King Herod," "Flight from Egypt,"
wandering in the wilderness and fasting for 40 days, baptism, and
"The Head of John the Baptist"--many of them painted in dramatic
contrasts of dark and light called chiaroscuro.
When Jesus returns from the desert, the paintings portray him
recruiting Peter, collecting fish, and performing three miracles:
turning water into wine, walking on water, and resurrecting the dead
Lazarus. The audience sits riveted throughout Luke's cerebral/
spiritual presentation, so paintings of the parables provide some
recognizable, warm-hearted relief.
"No man can serve two masters," "Judge not and you will not be
judged," "Give to others and it will be returned to you," "Ask and
you shall receive," "Knock and the door will open," "He who is
without sin, cast the first stone," and "Render unto Caesar what is
Caesar's, and unto God what is God's."
Of course there's "The Last Supper" (which is known throughout the
world), followed by painful depictions of "The Betrayal," "Pontius
Pilate," "Crown of Thorns," "Road to Calvary," and Jesus' suffering
"Crucifixion between Two Thieves." By this time, Luke's words have been
curtailed because they are completely unnecessary. As Medieval
Latin hymns fill the theater, Gregorio Luke sits in silence and
allows the masterful paintings to speak for themselves. Needless to say,
the audience is silent as well--until the lights go on and each person
lines up to thank him sincerely and hug him or shake his hand.
Take a hint: Save the dates for the last two programs in Luke's
Long Beach Playhouse schedule. An expanded "Art of Love" lecture is
planned for Valentine's Day, February 14. And a brand new subject,
"The Belly Button," is set for Wednesday, March 21. Both of them
start at 8:00 pm.