Painting of Nativity has a special aura to it

A long-lost painting of the Nativity, which illuminates under black light, was found in the church attic.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR

YOUNGSTOWN — There will be more than candlelight that illuminates the sanctuary of Faith Community Church at its Christmas Eve service.

A long-lost painting of the Nativity, rediscovered last year, will “light up” at the culmination of the communion service.

The painting, measuring 8-by-21-feet, is no usual work of art. “The colors are beautiful on it as it was,” the Rev. Gary Marcy said. “Then I was told it was painted with a fluorescent type of paint that illuminates under a black light. Under the light, it really comes alive.” The star of Bethlehem, leading the way to the Christ Child, is especially intriguing as it glows.

The Rev. Mr. Marcy, who has been pastor at Faith Community since August 2004, said the painting was discovered when he and the church janitor, Russell Wire, were exploring the church’s basement and attic storage spaces. “We found all kinds of stuff from the 1940s and ’50s, mostly furniture and some other items from that era,” Mr. Marcy said.

Then, he said, they came across a rolled-up canvas, covered with dust. “We took it down to the narthex, dusted it off and unrolled it,” he said. “It is a treasure that has been found.”

Mr. Marcy said from what he can piece together — gleaning information from members who remember the artwork — the painting had been tucked away and forgotten since the 1950s. “The painting was done at the end of World War II,” Mr. Marcy said.

Ruth Smith, a longtime church member, said the congregation displayed the painting, under black light and under somewhat of a protective shelter, during the Christmas season. The church, at 1919 Midlothian Blvd., had a good vantage point to showcase the painting picturing the reason for the season.

Last Christmas, Mr. Marcy unveiled the rediscovered painting at the conclusion of the Christmas Eve service as the congregation sang “Joy to the World.” Though he had told members about the discovery and some remembered the painting, everyone was delighted when it was displayed, Mr. Marcy said. “I’m still trying to find black floodlights and found the smaller ones so far,” Mr. Marcy said, since that is what he understood was used to illuminate the painting originally. “I’ve never seen a painting like this,” he said. And, it’s nothing like a psychedelic scene from the 1960s or ’70s, he added.

This year, the painting of the Nativity, which also depicts the visit by the Three Wise Men, will again be shown at the conclusion of the candlelight Christmas Eve service at 8 p.m. The service, which was coordinated by church music director Angela Russo, will feature harpist Kirk Kupensky, soloists David Halt, who will sing “Mary, Do You Know” and Shane Russo who will sing “O Holy Night” and the chancel choir. The Christmas message will be “What’s So Special about Christmas.” Mr. Marcy said he put in a call to the Butler Institute of American Art to have someone on its staff assess the painting. “We want someone to take a look at it and evaluate it. It’s a part of history,” Mr. Marcy said. The church also wants to get suggestions on lighting and displaying the painting. It also has a temporary frame on it.

The artwork was not done by professionals, but church members at the time who had artistic talent. Though the names of those who worked on it are found on the back — Victor Kosa, Tony Dennison, Martha Gagyi and Dorothy McClelland — the designer of the painting is not known.

Gagyi, who retired in 1990 as society editor at The Vindicator where she worked for 39 years, was among the painters. “I painted scenes for church plays so I was asked to help out,” she said.

“It took weeks and weeks to complete,” Gagyi said of the project.

“At the time, black light was new and different,” said McClelland, a sister of Smith’s. She said that’s why the special paint that would illuminate under black light was used.

McClelland credited Gagyi with being the “principal painter.” For herself, she had taken art class in high school and “was drafted” to help.

Mr. Marcy said that various groups that meet at the church also have admired the painting.