Introducing the Thomistic Artists Guild, with Upcoming Conference and Competitions

NLM received the following notice from Fr. James O’Reilly, FSSP, and is pleased to share it with the public.

Where has beauty in the arts gone? Buildings are gray, woke agendas are tied to a film’s plot, and classical music usually has one or two channels on public radio. Western Civilization experienced a Renaissance before and it is time for another one to begin. Great works of art were often made in prior ages and with the help of God, we can encourage the next generation of artists to make beautiful art once again.

For those of you interested in promoting beauty and excellence in the fine arts, I encourage you to become patrons for the Thomistic Artists Guild, INC. We are a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles that is currently seeking status as a Public Association of the Faithful so we can open up local chapters outside of California.

The five points of our vision are as follows:

• Praying for artists
• Fostering appreciation for the fine arts
• Assisting artists find morally sound work
• Preserving reverence for the Church’s patrimony
• Evangelizing through the fine arts

The Guild is under the patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas because we are encouraging artists to make art with the components of beauty (due proportion, clarity, and integrity) that Thomas writes about. We also have been inspired by Dr. Daniel McInerny’s book Beauty and Imitation to see the seven main types of fine art (music, literature, sculpture, film, theater, painting, and architecture) as mimetic arts that tell our story to pursue happiness, ultimately eternal beatitude in heaven. Guild members make art through this mimetic lens and encourage fellow artists to do the same.

Our Guild members also have a great affinity toward the Vetus Ordo due to its high degree of beauty and the impact it has had on artists throughout history. The Traditional Latin Mass brings many artists to encounter Beauty itself in the Sacred Liturgy which inspires them to make works of art containing due proportion, clarity, and integrity. Michelangelo, Vivaldi, and Tolkien regularly worshiped at the TLM when their artistic masterpieces were made. I hope that future Guild members and patrons are also inspired in their artwork due to their love for the Church’s liturgical patrimony. Many members of Thomistic Artists Guild regularly worship God with the TLM and in turn bring true excellence to their artistic disciplines such as theater, film, music, and painting.

Even if you are not an artist yourself, you are welcome to join the Guild as a patron to help us live out our mission. More information about becoming a patron can be found on the Guild’s website.

Previous performances and lectures can be found on the Guild’s YouTube page.

Our first ever “Art and Virtue” conference will be held on May 30th at St. Vitus Catholic Church in Los Angeles. The day begins with a Dominican Rite High Mass followed by a series of presentations, live music, and poetry writing. Thomas Mirus from the Catholic Culture podcast will be the main keynote speaker and will discuss the role of virtue in the life of artists. Elena Roche and Professor Anthony Grumbine are the other two speakers as well. Cash prizes will be awarded for the poetry and art competitions.

Sign up for the art competition here.

Sign up for the poetry competition here.

Please keep the Thomistic Artist Guild in your prayers and pray that artists follow Thomas’ principles of beauty in their artwork!

God our Father, we see the beauty in the world you created. Please guide the actions of Catholic artists, that they may cultivate fine art that glorifies You and promotes virtuous living among others. Help them foster works of art containing due proportion, clarity, and integrity so others may be inspired to be with the source of Beauty itself. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

(Thomistic Artists Guild Prayer)