Arts & Environment

The Arts & Environment committee is responsible for enhancing the visual environment of the church. 

The New Sculpture - You can’t help but notice our new sculpture in the Gathering Space.  Its creator, Joe Bonifas, is not your ordinary artist.  Most of the people of Lima know him as the art instructor at Lima Shawnee High School for the past thirty years.  In his “real life”, however, Joe is owner of the Black Oak Forge, Blacksmithing Studio, where he creates sculptures and functional works, including items such as interior and exterior sculptures, entry gates, railings, tables and a wide variety of specialty items.  There are photos of some of his works on the bulletin board.  As a member of The Artist Blacksmith Association of North America, Joe has conducted workshops for blacksmiths in many states from here to California.  This piece began with forming the crosses of MDF then covering them with a heavy gauge copper that he textured to look like wood.  All of the other parts are forged from steel.  It obviously is fairly heavy so it is held in place by eight four-inch long bolts that are inserted all the way into the brick and concrete block beneath the wallboard.  It is also supported on a system that will allow it to be taken down (in four parts) when the wall needs painting again.