Art restoration nears completion at St. John’s Seminary

In addition to its long-standing role as a house of formation for priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, St. John’s Seminary is also the home for a number of outstanding works of art — works which, unfortunately, can become disturbed by the elements (such as smoke from burning candles, or water from leaking roofs) over time.Recently, however, three paintings in the oratory of the Camarillo seminary are in the process of being restored, with the skill of a group of artists led by Patty West of the South Coast Fine Arts Conservation Center in Santa Barbara. The restoration of the paintings — “Christ the Redeemer,” “Our Lady of Guadalupe” and “Death of St. Joseph” — involves not only removing dirt from the actual paintings, but also cleanup and repair to areas around the artwork.The project was made possible by donations totaling $25,000; among the donors were Msgr. Douglas Saunders, retired pastor of St. Maria Goretti Church, Long Beach, and his mother. On Oct. 8, the seminary will celebrate the restoration with a special ceremony; for information, call (805) 389-2035.{gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2012/0921/sbseminary/{/gallery}