If you attended the Virtual Café on Sunday, 10/17, you had an opportunity to hear a bit about the history of art as a spiritual element for Unitarian Universalism in our church. We have many examples of art of all forms from well-known local artists that have found their way to our church through donations, commissions, and purchases. Starting back at the West Street Church in Wilmington, the Angel Window (now in Brunner Chapel) made by Frances Darby Sweeny was contributed in 1893 along with its additional piece, the Sisson-Conant window, now installed in the hallway along the church office. Details about all of the major works of art in our building are in “150 Years of History: Roots and Branches, Continuity and Change” on our website here or in the printed booklet, available in the church office.

You also heard how the First U Art Gallery began back in 2017 when Rev. Roberta Finkelstein proposed to David Weiss that we fill the empty walls outside of Brunner Chapel with member art focused on the Soul Matters themes. He invited Nancy Pinson to join him in creating the gallery and it’s been going ever since. If you’re meeting in the church weekdays and evenings or even want to make a special trip, be sure to visit the gallery. Enjoy members’ art on the Soul Matters theme of “Embracing Possibility” in addition to other themes from the past year. The gallery will not be available on Sunday mornings until further notice, pending updates to the church policy regarding COVID.

For those who are not quite ready to return to church in person, the Art Gallery is now also online. You can view it at the following link: First U Fall 2021 Art Gallery Online

Nancy Pinson, Art Gallery Coordinator