Series - 16 – Church

This series has a strong focus on church architecture, with many photo essays documenting the current form of dozens of particular churches, their interiors, exteriors, and churchyards. A second strong focus is on icons, holy pictures, and religious art. A great many of the approximately 240 Ukrainian churches in Brazil were built after the 1960s, and many have been (re)painted since that time. Numerous local and international iconographers and painters have been engaged to paint them, many with strong personal styles and diverse skill levels. Numerous other holy pictures are displayed in houses, public facilities, museums, and in the artists’ studios. During the fieldwork, an explicit research interest developed in the various iconographers and painters, with dedicated interviews in several cases. This series also assembles historic information and participant observation of religious life from parishioners’ perspectives. Video recordings include church services and holiday celebrations. This series overlaps closely with the series on Calendar and Life Cycle celebrations, and with the series on organized life.