 |
Liturgical
artist
Jefferson
Tortorelli
designed
and
constructed
the
Cathedra,
Ambo,
Ambry
and
Presider's
Chair
for
the
Cathedral
of
Our
Lady
of
the
Angels.
A
modern,
Liturgy
Visual
Arts
national
award
winner,
his
work
focuses
exclusively
on
pieces
used
in
community
worship
spaces.
|
Jeff's
grandfather,
a
master
carpenter,
and
his
father,
a
master
machinist,
were
the
greatest
influences
in
his
life.
His
maternal
grandfather
taught
him
to
use
a
hammer
and
saw,
and
at
the
age
of
five,
he
built
his
first
bookcase.
While
attending
Catholic
schools
in
Los
Angeles,
he
grew
up
around
his
father
Frank's
metal
machine
shop,
working
there
at
the
age
of
nine
on
weekends
and
during
the
summer.
He
built
his
first
chair
at
age
eleven.
While
earning
his
degree
in
Finance
from
the
University
of
Southern
California,
Tortorelli
supported
himself
by
working
in
machine
shops.
After
graduating
he
worked
in
the
investment
field
for
fifteen
years,
but
became
dissatisfied
with
business.
Although
he
had
no
formal
training
in
art,
design,
engineering,
or
construction
techniques,
other
than
the
guidance
of
his
father
and
grandfather,
he
decided
to
follow
his
heart.
During
his
business
career
Tortorelli
always
built
things
for
himself,
but
his
parish
priest
gave
him
the
opportunity
to
build
some
liturgical
pieces
for
Holy
Name
of
Mary
Parish
in
San
Dimas,
California.
He
discovered
that
he
most
was
fulfilled
making
ritual
pieces
for
worship
spaces.
Tortorelli's
designs
are
executed
in
wood,
metal
and
stone.
Age
old
techniques
of
joinery
are
employed
--
eliminating
the
need
for
glue
or
mechanical
fasteners.
All
finishes
are
a
special
blend
of
oils,
developed
centuries
ago,
which
invite
the
touch
of
the
hand.
"I
have
truly
been
blessed
in
my
life,"
Tortorelli
reflects.
"I
am
able
to
create
with
my
mind
and
hands
pieces
that
will
be
used
in
the
worship
space
of
a
community.
I
cannot
think
of
a
more
rewarding
endeavor."
Work
for
the
Cathedral
is
Tortorelli's
first
national
commission,
reinforcing
his
conviction
that
"this
is
what
I
was
meant
to
do."
His
commitment
has
not
been
easy
at
times
as
he
supported
his
four
children,
but
he
hopes
that
the
Cathedral
commission
will
allow
him
to
continue
his
work
in
liturgical
art.
Tortorelli
was
told
by
Father
Richard
Vosko,
liturgical
art
consultant
for
the
Cathedral,
"The
places
where
we
worship
shape
the
way
we
pray,
and
the
way
we
pray
shapes
the
way
we
live."
He
hopes
that
his
work
"imparts
to
that
worship
space
a
sense
of
spirituality
and
helps
us
on
our
journey."
When
asked
about
his
philosophy
and
his
beliefs,
Tortorelli
refers
to
the
words
of
Archbishop
Oscar
Romero,
who
was
assassinated
in
1980
for
his
belief
in
the
dignity
of
all
humans.
"How
beautiful
will
be
the
day
when
all
the
baptized
understand
that
their
work,
their
job,
is
a
priestly
work,
that
just
as
I
celebrate
Mass
at
the
altar,
so
each
carpenter
celebrates
Mass
at
the
workbench,
and
each
metal
worker,
each
professional,
each
doctor
with
the
scalpel,
the
market
woman
at
her
stand,
are
performing
a
priestly
office!
"How
many
cabdrivers
I
know
listen
to
this
message
there
in
their
cabs;
you
are
a
priest
at
the
wheel
my
friend,
if
you
work
with
honesty,
consecrating
that
taxi
of
yours
to
God,
bearing
a
message
of
peace
and
love
to
the
passengers
who
ride
in
your
cab."
Please
visit
http://tortorelli.com
for
more
information
about
Jefferson
Tortorelli.
Learn
more
about
the
CATHEDRA,
the
AMBO,
the
AMBRY,
the
PRESIDER'S
CHAIR.
