Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell important influence for student artist

Artist Benjamin Fernandez shared his faith in three dimensions April 18 during a special private presentation in the Mueller Gallery on the campus of Caldwell University.

Fernandez, a member of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Bridgewater, hosted a showing of his senior thesis exhibition, “Transfiguration,” inspired by the charism of the university’s founders, the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell.

The Sisters founded the university in 1939, and they maintain a continued and prominent presence on campus ever since. Throughout his college career, Fernandez, an honors student pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in studio art with a focus on mixed media, has developed a special and personal connection to the Sisters through his involvement with campus ministry and community service events.

The religious sisters’ lifelong devotion to contemplative prayer, study, ministry, and service influenced two of the mixed media works in his exhibition – “Prayer for Peace” and “Hallelujah.”

Fernandez’s own developing spirituality has deeply influenced his art. Another of his spiritual pieces was selected for the front cover of the 2023 issue of the Catholic poetry journal, “Presence.” Additionally, he has shown his work in several solo spiritual art exhibitions at community venues throughout New Jersey.

Through his interests in spirituality as a means of reaching viewers viscerally and emotionally, Fernandez has become increasingly inspired to direct his artistic goals and practices toward facilitating spiritual contemplation and reflection among viewers, guiding them to broaden their awareness and appreciation of themselves, others, and the world.

In his exhibition, he strives to communicate that an understanding of a life well lived can reinforce recognition of oneself as an individual with the capacity to make a positive impact both during and beyond one’s own lifetime.

“Although one’s life is finite and often unpredictable, we have control over our responses to the circumstances that we each face, and so it is crucial that we prioritize what is truly important in our lives,” said Fernandez. “Our essence of being remains in how we affect the lives of others, and even by our existence and presence alone. It is up to each of us to strive for a life well lived: a life that is fulfilling, meaningful, and purposeful, in which we appreciate our own existence, look for the best in others, contribute the best of ourselves, and leave the world a better place.” This theme unites all of the works in his show, including “Prayer for Peace” and “Hallelujah.”

“Prayer for Peace” is a large-scale wall-hanging work of mixed media and illumination that is intended to symbolize the conflict of division, violence, and destruction in our global contemporary moment, which can challenge our faith. Fernandez communicates – particularly to his peers in his emerging generation – that oftentimes, the belief that we can make a difference in our world is aligned with the act of prayer, which can be used as a source of strength and resilience.

“Transcendent of ethnicity, political affiliation, and all other demographic qualifiers, prayer is the language of humanity,” he said. “Even during the darkest of times, we must continue to have belief and faith, as it is with hope that goodness will always prevail.”

“Hallelujah” is a wall-hanging mixed media work in which a fluid atmosphere of color and movement is designed to elevate viewers viscerally. “There is a special beauty in lifting ourselves physically and spiritually,” said Fernandez, “as we acknowledge the presence of God with pure love and celebrate the life given to each of us with joyous praise and gratitude.”

Overall, it is Fernandez’s focus on universal qualities and pursuits that guides his spiritual work. “Art, whether evoking a sense of comfort and peace or feelings of unease and confrontation, is a way into the soul,” he said, “and a vehicle through which we can ignite a spark of personal transformation that empowers each of us to connect with others on a common spiritual level.”

A selection of Fernandez’s works from “Transfiguration” will be featured in a solo exhibition at the Bridgewater Library this June.