The Art Of The Clare

Sacred Art

Stunning original art can be found throughout the retirement community and the three chapels as well as many of the corridors and common areas showcase the Clare's sacred art. 

The Clare Chapel on the 19th floor is the largest of the three Clare chapels.
Upon entering the Chapel the twenty feet of stained glass that forms the background for the main altar immediately captures our attention. This window has been designed to share the spiritual journey of St. Clare of Assisi and St. Francis of Assisi with each person who prays here. It is a testament to their love for Jesus and invites us to share in that relationship through our prayer. 

It is an interpretation of a famous event in lives of the two saints. It is said that one day Francis and a few of his friars agreed to meet with Clare and her companion in the forest below Assisi. They had planned to share a meager meal and spiritual discussion. The people up in Assisi had no idea of what was occurring below when they saw the entire forest afire! When they went'down to investigate and try to extinguish the fire, they found Francis, Clare and their companions in deep prayer.

The artist, Cindy Kessler, related this story through the use of the combination of color, line and design. She personally traveled to Germany to guide the choices of color of the glass that was blown specifically for this design. The windows, at a height of 10 feet, begin in the adjacent conference room that can be used as overflow seating for the Chapel.

The Cross and The Candle Stand
Soaring eight feet above the assembly is a mahogany and brass crucifix and candle stand. A large polished brass halo embraces the arms of the cross and the corpus of Christ crucified. The corpus for this crucifix was originally used at St. Anthony Home in Crown Point, Indiana, which has ministered to those in need since 1939.

The Altar
Although the altar may take many shapes, the Altar for St. Clare Chapel has been designed to relate to the story in the window. The three varied-sized substantial legs remind us of the forest below Assisi, the wood of the cross and our foundational faith in the Holy Trinity. The highly polished mahogany is surrounded by polished brass in flame-like forms adding to the sacred dignity of this table of sacrifice. Inset in the front leg of the altar are relics of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi.

The Ambo
The ambo is designed to complement the altar table. It, too, is a table. Here, the Word is broken open for us through the proclamation of the Gospel and Scripture. Like the altar, the ambo is made of Honduran mahogany and polished brass.

The Tabernacle
Steve Remmert, the designer and wood craftsman of all of the wood liturgical furnishings, suggested that this form for the tabernacle elicits many biblical images like the column of fire leading the people in the Exodus and the burning bush encountered by Moses, but also the "fire in the forest" of the St. Francis and St. Clare story. These themes express the power of God's love for us and reciprocally, ours for God through Jesus. This piece also is Honduran mahogany lined with Australian lace wood. 

The Clare At Water Tower
Chicago's first and only high-rise senior living retirement community

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