Page 135 - Demo

133Chapter Room (St. Meinrad Archabbey), St. Meinrad%u2014Spencer Co. (537-08)Because we knew Brother Maurus was busy, John assured him we could shoot pictures by ourselves if he wanted to return to work. With that, he showed us where the lights were, and wrapped up with a quick visit to the Oratory room and the Chapter Room. After thanking him for his guidance, we were now alone, scrutinizing a most interesting space. The Chapter Room had two rows of simple high-backed chairs, precisely positioned, facing each other, on either side of the long room. Light filtered through contemporary black-and-clear stained-glass windows%u2014stunning and powerful in their stark simplicity. And there were murals everywhere. The ones on the ceiling were especially vivid and filled with an exuberant vitality. I particularly liked the panel depicting sea life, with writhing octopus tentacles and exotically colored fish. Surrounding them all, the signs of the twelve major constellations danced, while two larger-than-life, wooden-carved monks flanked the entry door with bowed heads.After capturing several shots in the Chapter Room, we returned to photograph the church, where we met an electrician who had been up inside one of the steeples working on an antenna. Up there, he said, it was possible to see Tell City%u2014almost 15 miles away. John had asked Brother Maurus earlier about going up into the towers, but was told they were off limits. No problem, there was plenty to shoot inside the church itself%u2014the huge mural of the risen Christ, the lectern%u2019s nine bronze panels, the dramatically vaulted ceiling, the organ%u2019s 3,844 flamed-copper pipes.After having finished off two rolls of film, and staying an hour longer than we%u2019d originally planned, it was time to leave St. Meinrad. It had been a fascinating tour%u2014the unexpected juxtaposition of Old World%u2013New World, religious residents%u2013lay guests, Romanesque stone towers%u201320th century interiors, formality%u2013flamboyance, religious paintings%u2013astrological symbols. Thank you, Brother Maurus for sharing your remarkable home with us. %u2014LB