‘Swirls in the Sanctuary’ at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral

Art and religion have a lot in common. At its best, each offers peace and contemplation. They inspire and console. They can be transformative, expressing the inexpressible. They can make people feel less alone. Art and religion can reassure and give hope.

So why not combine the two? Which is just what’s happening through May 22 at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral in University City. Swirls, consisting of charcoal drawings by Anda Dubinskis and wood sculpture by Orlando (Dino) Pelliccia, is uniquely suited to the setting and the season, summoning the natural world of plants and water into the Italian Romanesque structure. The experience is soothing to eyes and ears, as the city’s hard edges and sharp noises soften into curving lines and whispery echoes inside the thick brownstone walls.

Richer in black and white

Both artists are Drexel University faculty members. Dubinskis, a recipient of numerous grants and residencies, is drawing coordinator for Drexel’s art and art history department. Her large charcoal drawings lead the eye through lacy twists of flowers, leaves, and paisley patterns that bring to mind untamed gardens, intricate wrought-iron gates, and 1960’s op-art dresses. All are executed in black, white, and gray only, and are richer for it. Color would only distract from the swirling imagery of Peony and Dubinskis’s other works.

Pelliccia, a painter-turned-sculptor, directs Drexel’s Leonard Pearlstein Gallery in addition to teaching. His contribution to the exhibit consists of a series of wood sculptures depicting whirlpools in various states of excitement, from the barely disturbed surface of Even Eddy to the deeply curved Wild White.

Centuries of inspiration

The exhibit lines the perimeter of the cathedral, which is the spiritual and liturgical home for 144 congregations comprising the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. The interior duplicates the style of a 4th-century Christian church, furnished sparingly and without pews. It serves to highlight the sanctuary’s bones: polished columns capped with scrolls, reaching up to arches and an exquisite mural dome, supported by walls lined with tall stained-glass windows. Set exhibition hours are limited and coincide with a noon service held daily at the cathedral. The interior, however, is large enough to permit viewing during the brief service.

“Swirls” is on view at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 19 South 38th Street, Philadelphia through May 22. The space is open Monday through Thursday from 11am to 1pm, or by appointment. For more information, call 215-386-0234, ext.13 or visit online.