Works of Watanabe donated to local church

SARASOTA — World renowned religious artwork will now adorn the walls of one local church after a donation was made by a parishioner this month.

A total of 24 pieces by Japanese artist Sadao Watanabe were gifted to Church of the Redeemer by philanthropist and collector Hugh Culverhouse Jr.

Watanabe became a devout Christian after nearly dying from tuberculosis, dedicating his life to sharing the glory of God through art.

Watanabe, who died in 1996, became famous for his illustrations of the Bible made in mingei, a Japanese folk art tradition.

Watanabe used the style of stenciling and dyeing — known as the katozome method — to express biblical scenes.

“Art always brings people together, and I want my church to be a place where everyone comes together to experience God’s love in many forms,” Culverhouse said.

Some of Watanabe's work is part of the Vatican Museum's permanent collection and has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the British Museum in London.

Culverhouse's donated collection will hang in the Sarasota church's Robinson Center for free public viewing by the end of the year.

Residents can visit the art on weekdays by online appointment and during certain church services and events, according to a news release.

Charleston Wilson, church rector, said the Watanabe works will bring more attention to the "beauty of God" like other art donations have done over the years.

“As far as I know, Redeemer is the only place in the country — perhaps the world — with a collection like this,” Wilson said. “I’m pretty sure Redeemer’s collection of Watanabe is larger than what’s on hand at the Vatican Museum, but I’ve read somewhere it’s not in good taste to brag.”