The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

A Hidden Wholeness:
The Zen Photography of Thomas Merton

"Merton's goal for the photographs was one of spiritual and intellectual transcendence, but they function on an aesthetic level so pure as to be visually transcendent as well. That's almost too much to expect from photographs and an achievement not often seen these days."

Evan Gillespie, Tribune Correspondent
     

Reviews of A Hidden Wholeness:

Bellarmine University, Louisville - Judy Cato, Angelo: Kentuckiana’s Art Magazine

Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City - Steve Euvino, Northwest Indiana Catholic
Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City - Evan Gillespie, South Bend Tribune

Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville - Jo Anne Triplett, LEO

Villanova University, Villanova, PA

 


Essays from the Exhibit Catalog:

 
Thomas Merton: Photographer by Paul M. Pearson
Through A Glass Purely by Deba P. Patnaik
“One Aesthetic Illumination:” Thomas Merton and Buddhism by Bonnie B. Thurston

 

Bibliography of works related to the Photography of Thomas Merton

A Hidden Wholeness: Exhibition Dates and Venues

"Merton photography 'almost dizzying' on aesthetic and intellectual levels."

Steve Euvino, South Bend Tribune

#1 Solitary Chair

#2 Branch and Leaves

#3 Bark

#4 Bare Branch and Rock

#5 Rock with Shadows

#6 Open Barn Door

#7 Trees

#8 Tree in Blossom

#9 Barn Doors and Weeds

#10 Branches

#11 Blossoms

#12 Monastery Window

#13 Silhouetted Tree

#14 Silhouetted Tree Trunk

#15 Bare Woods

#16 Wooded Glade

#17 Solitary Tree on Hillside

#18 Window Frame

#19 Basket and Tree Root

#20 Basket

#21 Basket (Detail)

#22 Basket (Detail)

#23 Basket

#24 Window

#25 Rock and Shoots

#26 Broken Rock and Grass

#27 Rocks and Root

#28 Root

#29 Root

#30 Root

#31 Window in Side of Barn

#32 Watering Can at Hermitage

#33 Ladder and Chair

 

#34 Wheel Barrow at Hermitage

#35 Tracks in Snow

A Hidden wholeness:
The Zen Photography of Thomas Merton

 

Exhibition Dates and Venues

 

  • McGrath Art Gallery, Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky. 19th November 2004 - 5th January 2005.

  • Grace Albrecht Gallery, Bluffton University, Bluffton, Ohio. 26th August 2005 - 25th September 2005.

  • Brincka Gallery, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City, Indiana. 10th December 2006 - 26th February 2006.

  • Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 3rd July 2006 - 28th July 2006.

  • St. Andrew's-Wesley Church, 1012 Nelson Street, (Corner of Burrard  & Nelson), Vancouver, BC., Canada. 31st July 2006 - 1st September 2006.

  • Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois. 28th October 2006 - 15th January 2007.

  • Martin de Porres Center, 2330 Airport Drive, Columbus, Ohio. 2nd July 2007 - 5th September 2007.

  • Muhammad Ali Center, One Muhammad Ali Plaza, 144 N. Sixth Street, Louisville, KY  40202. 18th March 2008 - June 15th 2008.

  • American Benedictine Academy, Sacred Heart Monastery/Mount Marty College, Yankton SD. 7th August 2008 - 10th August 2008.

  • Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Atlanta, GA. 14th - 15th November, 2008.

  • The Great Hall, Special Collections Library, Margaret I. King Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. 23rd November, 2008 – 15th January, 2009.

  • Nazareth College, Rochester, NY. 11 June - 28th September 2009.

  • Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, OH. February 26 - April 11, 2010.

  • University of St. Michael's College, Toronto, ON. November 1 - December 17, 2010.

  • St. Andrew's United Church and Centre for Peace, 901 11th Avenue South, Golden, BC. August 8 - September 5, 2011.

  • Chester Ronning Centre for the Study of Religion and Public Life, University of Alberta, Augustana, AB. September 10 - September 30, 2011.

  • Art Building 604, 6th Floor Art Parkade, University of Calgary, 2975 University Way NW, Calgary, AB. October 31 - November 10, 2011.

  • Winnipeg, MB. Winter 2011.

  • Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, BC. July 3 - 21, 2012.

  • Saint Meinrad Archabbey Library, Saint Meinrad, IN. September 1 - October 31, 2012.

    •

  • Festival of Faiths, 1701 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville, KY. November 14 - 18, 2012.

  • McGrath Art Gallery, Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky. May 7 - June 2, 2013.

  • Australian Catholic University Gallery, 26 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia. July 10 - 24, 2013.

  • Morton J. May Foundation Gallery, Maryville University, St. Louis, MO. January 12 - February 21, 2015.

  • Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, KY. May - July, 2015.

  • Villanova University Art Gallery, Connelly Center, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova, PA. August 20, 2015 - September 24, 2015.

  • Lorette Wilmot Library and Media Center, Nazareth College, Rochester, NY. September 26 – November 5, 2015.

  • Gallery, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Vanderbilt, 411 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN. December 2 - February 28, 2016.

  • Chapel, Union Theological Seminary, 3041 Broadway, New York City, NY. March 19th - April 13th, 2018.

  • Wisdom House, 229 E. Litchfield Road, Litchfield, CT. September 8th - November 10th, 2018.

  • Saint Vincent Gallery, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA. January 24th - March 8th, 2019.

  • Gumberg Library, Duquesne University, Pittsburg, PA. September 16th - November 8th, 2019.
    - Wednesday, September 18 at 6 PM. “Beholding Paradise: Merton’s Encounter with Photography and Zen” will be presented by Dr. Paul Pearson, Director of the Thomas Merton Center of Bellarmine University.
    - Thursday, November 7 at 6 PM. “Seeing Which Is Being Which Is Acting” and will be presented by Bruce Soun Harris Roshi, a Zen teacher and artist.

  • Chapman Gallery, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY.  October 25th - December 5th, 2021.
    Monday - Wednesday, 12 - 5, Thursday, 12 - 8 p.m and Sundays, 2 - 5 p.m.

  • Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, SC. September 16th - October 30th, 2022.

  • Theology & Ministry Library Atrium Gallery, Boston College, 117 Lake Street, Brighton, MA. 02135. January 23rd - April 23rd, 2024.
    Exhibit Launch featuring Paul M. Pearson and Mark Massa, S.J. Tuesday, January 23rd from 5.15-7.15 p.m.
    "Why Merton Still Matters: Student Reflections on the Life & Writings of Thomas Merton" with Keighlee Arp, Rosys, Ethan Strouse and Peter Vale. Monday 8th April from 5.00 p.m. - 6.30 p.m.

If you are interested in the possibility of borrowing this exhibit please contact Paul M. Pearson at the Thomas Merton Center.

 

The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University | 2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville KY, 40205 | 502-272-8177 or 8187

Copyright © The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. All rights reserved.
Photographs copyright of the Merton Legacy Trust. Not to be used without written permission.