www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Icons for Outdoor Display

Hi!

Anyone have a lead on a company that sells icons for outdoor display.

Thanks for the help.

I don't know if this will help or not. I followed Sharon Mech's advice for preparing an icon for display in an outdoor shrine from this thread:

https://www.byzcath.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000815;p=2

It has worked real well. I bought my icon from St Anthony's Monastery near Florence, Arizona:

http://www.stanthonysmonastery.org/

David Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

Holy Ghost BC Church in McKees Rocks has several large icons (6 feet or more high and I think as wide) that they use seasonally. If my information is till current Fr. Ron Larko is still pastor there. These icons were painted by Mila Minya and in my opinion are good outdoor displays. My former parish in Miami also had one and the bright colors looked nice in the bright sun. I don't know if she is still painting or not.

There is also a company that produces icons of a sort that are more suited for a sign or a display on a church than a stand-alone icon. If you are interested in that let me know and I will try to round up that contact.

Tony

Tony,

Yes, that would be great. Let me know that contact. I was driving through my neighborhood and noticed all the houses decorated for "Christmas" (actually lights, snowmen, Santas, one creche). I actually thought of placing an outdoor icon of the Nativity out on Christmas Eve, if I can locate one in time. I have landscape lighting in my front yard, so I hope to place the Nativty icon there. If I cannot acquire one for this year, I can save for next year.

There is a company on Thomas Rd. in Phoenix which prepared several tile icons which are permanently mounted in various spots outside St. Thomas Church in Gilbert, AZ. I believe the firm is called "Mexican Tile", but you might contact Fr. Phil Acquaro of St. Thomas for more information.

Ceramic tiles weather better outdoors in the Arizona sun. Standard ones will only last a year or 2 outdoors. For example, I have one mounted on particle board in a semi-protected garden area that is slowly fading and self-destructing from the Arizona dryness and heat.

Try:

Figula & Daughters
P O Box 15
Glen Hope, PA 16645
Phone: 814-672-5597
Fax: 814-672-5291

figuladesigns@aol.com

They did the new icon above the entrance at St. John the Baptist BC Church on the South Side of PIttsburgh.

Why not use metal icons - as has been done in Russia for centuries? Brass icons and crosses can be housed in a wooden shrine with or without doors.

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner.

I would think that if one took a standard wooden icon and varnished it with a satin exterior polyurethane varnish that it would hold up well if there were some protective shelter from the weather. Has anyone tried this?

Fr. Mark took the words right out of my mouth. Metal icons and crosses placed in a nice wooden box (recessed with a slanted roof if you live in a wetter climate) are very nice.

Thanks for the suggestion of the metal icon, but that does not portray the visual effect of a colored icon. I was hoping to do "street evangelism" in my front yard, and colored icons "speak louder" than the monochromatic metal icon. I plan on a 4X5 foot icon. This would be seasonal display only in my front yard at the street.

Father Deacon John,
Glory to Jesus Christ!

Father Tom Loya was, I believe, a commercial artist before entering the seminary. He wrote all the icons for St. John the Baptist Church in Solon, OH, which are magnificent, authentic and refulgent in color.

On the outside of the church there is a VERY large icon, occupying most of one side. It has been exposed to northeastern Ohio weather for many years now, and is still in relatively pristine condition.

I suggest you contact Father Tom, who is now at Annunciation of the Mother of God, Lockport IL for further details.

Have a most blessed Christmas,
Deacon El

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!

Daniel wrote:"...I would think that if one took a standard wooden icon and varnished it with a satin exterior polyurethane varnish that it would hold up well if there were some protective shelter from the weather..."

Daniel, if you don't use special varnish made for out-door use, the varnish will crack and the ikon will fade from all the sunlight and UV rays in no time at all.

If the ikon is coated with sign-painters varnish, this should not happen as fast.

hope this helps...

mark

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!

Hello Fr. Deacon El!

I visit St.John's in Solon, when I go to visit relatives during the Holidays.

I remember asking one of the parishoners about the outside ikon and she told me that it was done with housepaints.

I'm going there for Christmas so I'll make a note to ask and see what they tell me...

mark

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!

Here is the website for the company that Tony recommended.

http://www.figulaanddaughters.com

They have some nice looking things!!!

mark

Dear Father Deacon John, you might also consider getting some advice from our own Chtec (Dave Mastroberte) here on the Forum who is quite an accomplished iconographer as is his father. He certainly would have good ideas on what you are interested in.