Sculpture

 

Reliquaries

Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, KY, USA, 2023

Concept and design by Jordan Hainsey. Fabrication by Byzantine Art (βυζαντινή τεχνη), Athens, Greece

These two reliquaries were commissioned by St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption to house relics of St. Paul the Apostle and St. Arnold of Arnoldsweiler. The reliquaries are fashioned from bronze repoussé with both sterling silver and 24K gold plating. They are accented with freshwater pearls and hand-faceted zircon stones. Known as "speaking" reliquaries, they draw on designs from the Medieval period in which reliquaries were often fashioned in forms that alluded to the very bodily relic they contained.

 
 

Ceremonial Verge

Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, KY, USA, 2022

Concept and art direction by Jordan Hainsey. Design and Fabrication by New Guild Studio, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA

This ceremonial staff (verge) was comissioned by St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption for use in solemn liturgies. Carved and gilded in 24k gold leaf, the staff combines motifs from an ancient staff held in the treasury of Saint Mary Major Basilica, Rome, with a carving based on the famous Virgin of Paris statue from Norte-Dame Cathedral, Paris.

 
 
 

Ampulla

Saint Paul Cathedral, Birmingham, AL, USA, 2022

Concept and art direction by Jordan Hainsey. Design and Fabrication by New Guild Studio, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA

This ampulla (container for Holy Chrism oil) was inspired by one contained in the treasury of Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, made by Viollet-le-Duc in 1866. It was hand-carved from linden wood and measures 16 inches tall. Set with hand-blown lapis glass eyes, the ampulla is gilded in 24kt gold leaf and features a hand chased, fired enamel breast plate. Ingeniously engineered, an embedded magnetic plate at the head allows practical access to the Holy Chrism vial inside.

 
 

Central Portral detail

 

24 Statues and 2 Tympana

Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, KY, USA, 2021

Project co-lead and art direction by Jordan Hainsey. Designs by Neilson Carlin. Fabrication by St. Jude Studio, Philadelphia, PA

  • 20 full-round niche statues measuring 1’6” W x 4.25’ H, 250lbs

  • Four 3/4 round buttress niche statues measuring 1’6” W x 4.25’ H, 275lbs

  • Two tympana reliefs measuring 8’10” W x 7’ H x 1’ D each, 2,320lbs

Construction of St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica began in 1893 under architect Leon Coquard with designs based on Notre Dame, Paris. In 1908, the limestone Cathedral facade was begun and completed under architect David Davis with sculptural reliefs by sculptor Clement Barnhorn. Funds however prohibited the 20 facade niches from receiving statuary. These niches—in addition to two portal tympana and four false niches— sat empty for 110 years.

In 2019, Roger Joseph Foys, tenth Bishop of Covington, announced the “Speaking for Centuries” Campaign to complete the Cathedral facade, adding 24 statues and two tympana. Working with St. Jude Studio and artist Neilson Carlin, Hainsey led the effort in planning, designing, and fabricating the statuary to be in harmony with the architects’ intentions and the extant statuary by Barnhorn. All stone used was sourced from the same quarry in Indiana where the cathedral facade stone was taken from in 1908.

 
 
 

Sarcophagus and Effigy

Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, KY, USA, 2020

Project lead, design, and art direction by Jordan Hainsey. Fabrication by St. Jude Studio, Philadelphia, PA

In 2020, the remains of Camillus Paul Maes, third bishop of Covington, were moved to St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica to fulfill his wishes to be buried in the Church he built. Working with St. Jude Studio, Hainsey led the effort in planning, designing, and fabricating a sarcophagus and effigy in keeping with designs for medieval burials. Hainsey designed a Neo-gothic sarcophagus that would hold the casket, with an effigy in the likeness of Bishop Maes atop the lid. All pieces were hand-carved from white and green marble. The former Baptistry space was further enhanced with the addition blue vault decorated with gilded stars.