LAFS History
Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield (LAFS) was founded in 1995 as a non-profit, inter-faith organization by local clergy, artists, and community volunteers interested in expressions of spirituality in the arts. The Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield supports interfaith connection across the spectrum of faith through mutual appreciation of artistic expression.
The first festival, held in May 1996, presented outstanding talent, and included a visual art exhibit, an award-winning documentary, produced in cooperation with a local public television station featuring Springfield church art and architecture, and a series of educational and performing arts programs. The community's overwhelmingly positive response encouraged the establishment of a biennial festival. This inter-faith celebration of the arts has evolved to include a juried Sacred and Liturgical Art Exhibit, performing art programs, music celebrations of faith held in local houses of worship, and creative sharing of religious traditions of the wider Springfield community.
The Sacred and Liturgical Art Exhibit is an integral part of the festival every two years and is held in conjunction with the Springfield Art Association. This juried exhibition reflects the talent and diversity of distinguished artists from all over the country, who represent many faiths, cultures, and traditions. The exhibition includes painting, photography, sculpture, ceramic, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, and mixed media artworks. The exhibition also offers a unique opportunity to purchase original liturgical art. A strong testimony to the festival’s commitment to showcasing excellence is that our very first such exhibit in 1996 was named one of the “Best of Springfield” by a local newspaper opinion poll.
In partnership with the Springfield Art Association, the LAFS invites artists from across the country to submit their art works. LAFS actively solicits submissions from all traditions in keeping with their interfaith emphasis. A distinguished Curatorial and Jury panel execute the final selection process.
The Springfield Art Association hosts an Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony at the M. G. Nelson Family Gallery, with prizes awarded to the Best of Show, First, Second and Third place winners.
The Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield Logo was designed by Dale Rogers for the 1998 festival. It is a tribute to the brilliant paper cuttings of Henri Matisse and attempts to illustrate the artistic quest of the human spirit towards the Divine. The hand reaches upwards towards ancient symbols for God and the places that we often see the handiwork of God. Nature is represented by a single leaf. The wonders of Creation is represented by the spiral or coil of life. A starburst represents light and the cosmos. The colors in the original design were the primary colors which underscored the primary and fundamental essence of this artistic quest.
Dale Rogers a founding member, and Program Chair of the Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield. Mr. Rogers has served as the director of Music and the Arts at Westminster Presbyterian Church since 1986, as well as on the board of directors for the Dana-Thomas House Foundation in Springfield, as dean of the Springfield Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and as four-time program chair for the Association of Disciple Musicians.
The first festival, held in May 1996, presented outstanding talent, and included a visual art exhibit, an award-winning documentary, produced in cooperation with a local public television station featuring Springfield church art and architecture, and a series of educational and performing arts programs. The community's overwhelmingly positive response encouraged the establishment of a biennial festival. This inter-faith celebration of the arts has evolved to include a juried Sacred and Liturgical Art Exhibit, performing art programs, music celebrations of faith held in local houses of worship, and creative sharing of religious traditions of the wider Springfield community.
The Sacred and Liturgical Art Exhibit is an integral part of the festival every two years and is held in conjunction with the Springfield Art Association. This juried exhibition reflects the talent and diversity of distinguished artists from all over the country, who represent many faiths, cultures, and traditions. The exhibition includes painting, photography, sculpture, ceramic, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, and mixed media artworks. The exhibition also offers a unique opportunity to purchase original liturgical art. A strong testimony to the festival’s commitment to showcasing excellence is that our very first such exhibit in 1996 was named one of the “Best of Springfield” by a local newspaper opinion poll.
In partnership with the Springfield Art Association, the LAFS invites artists from across the country to submit their art works. LAFS actively solicits submissions from all traditions in keeping with their interfaith emphasis. A distinguished Curatorial and Jury panel execute the final selection process.
The Springfield Art Association hosts an Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony at the M. G. Nelson Family Gallery, with prizes awarded to the Best of Show, First, Second and Third place winners.
The Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield Logo was designed by Dale Rogers for the 1998 festival. It is a tribute to the brilliant paper cuttings of Henri Matisse and attempts to illustrate the artistic quest of the human spirit towards the Divine. The hand reaches upwards towards ancient symbols for God and the places that we often see the handiwork of God. Nature is represented by a single leaf. The wonders of Creation is represented by the spiral or coil of life. A starburst represents light and the cosmos. The colors in the original design were the primary colors which underscored the primary and fundamental essence of this artistic quest.
Dale Rogers a founding member, and Program Chair of the Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield. Mr. Rogers has served as the director of Music and the Arts at Westminster Presbyterian Church since 1986, as well as on the board of directors for the Dana-Thomas House Foundation in Springfield, as dean of the Springfield Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and as four-time program chair for the Association of Disciple Musicians.
LAFS Documentaries
Documentaries written and narrated by Elaine Birtch (LAFS) and produced by Helen Dobbyn (WSEC-TV/PBS)
Documentaries written and narrated by Elaine Birtch (LAFS) and produced by Helen Dobbyn (WSEC-TV/PBS)
- Sacred Architecture of Springfield, 1996
- Four Calls, 1998
- Through Emily’s Eyes, 2000
