Here are high quality giclée print reproductions on canvas of works of art that I have painted or carved over the last 47 years. Having been asked many times if I had any art for sale, I am finally able to say Yes, I do!
I am now able to offer some of my work to share with you. This makes me very happy! It is a fulfillment that is both personal and communal, in the sense that most people that see and know my art live close to the churches where the works live. Some of these works are reproduced from the walls and windows of those churches and the other works I have painted or carved during periods when I was not working on commissioned projects.
Now the work can be shared with people that live far away and anyone who would like to have them in their homes or places of work, and that is a wonderful blessing.
These works of art are printed with archival pigmented inks on museum quality gloss canvas. Under optimal lighting conditions the prints will last 100+ years. They are available in two formats: Rolled and shipped in a tube or Stretched over a wooden frame and shipped in a box.
Because some of the works were done at distant time intervals and contain a variety of themes, I have expressed some thoughts about them, as each one is a deep probe and contemplation of the subjects.
I welcome any comments or suggestions you might have. AVH
Just received the beautiful print of the Blessed Mother (“Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe”), an incredible work of art. Thank you Vonn for your dedication to your craft and the inspiration you bring. Beauty, Joy, depth of feeling. We need more of this to lighten our world. Blessings, Ellen C
The painting Perfect Harmony expresses the beauty that comes through music realized in the mastery of musicians; a beauty that is further enhanced when the music is shared with others. The Painting hints at a feeling that goes beyond the music. It is expressed in the complement of Harmony that blends the two into one. The Master Musicians are the brothers Porfirio and Lile Martínez of the mountain town of Orocovis, Puerto Rico. The painting on the wall shows their father working the land on the Family farm. The song they sing completes the painting in “Perfect Harmony”.
La pintura Perfecta Armonía expresa la belleza que viene a través de la música realizada en el dominio de los músicos; una belleza que se mejora aún más cuando la música se comparte con otros. La pintura insinúa un sentimiento que va más allá de la música. Se expresa en el complemento de armonía que combina los dos en uno. Los maestros músicos son los hermanos Porfirio y Lile Martínez del pueblo montañoso de Orocovis, Puerto Rico. La pintura en la pared muestra a su padre trabajando la tierra en la granja familiar. La canción que cantan completa el cuadro en perfecta armonía.
Fue hace 50 años que recibíamos por primera vez una imagen de nosotros mismos desde la Luna. En el proceso de enviar un hombre a la luna por primera vez, Joseph Allen, uno de los astronautas que estuvo involucrado en el proceso de planificación, recuerda:
“Entre todos los argumentos que se hicieron a favor y en contra de viajar a la Luna, nadie mencionó la posibilidad de que la mejor razón sea simplemente observarnos a nosotros mismos”.
Y, esa resultó ser la razón, para vernos desde afuera como planeta. Cuando recibimos la foto de nuestro planeta, fue una revelación global que cambió la forma en que pensamos. Desde entonces, nuestra conciencia nunca ha sido la misma. Vimos a nosotros mismos tal como somos; solo en la inmensa oscuridad del espacio; pequeña, delicada, resplandeciente con la vida, la belleza divina.
No fue hasta los principios de los años 70 que comenzamos a pensar en la ética y el cuidado del medio ambiente. Esto sólo fue comentado por los místicos y los ambientalistas, pero desde entonces todo ha cambiado. El mundo ha respondido con una gran cantidad de reflexiones importantes. Ahora tenemos las herramientas científicas y el pensamiento filosófico y ético para comenzar a razonar acerca de nuestra responsabilidad con respecto al medio ambiente.
Pinté esta obra (pintura al óleo sobre panel de madera, 42 x 57 ″) cuando era miembro de la Comisión de Justicia y Paz de la C.O.R. aquí en San Juan, Puerto Rico en 1992, inspirado en parte debido a las condiciones de deterioro del medio ambiente en esta isla más delicado, los irreflexivos desarrollo excesivo, la contaminación que estaba pasando, y la destrucción de las comunidades locales. La encíclica del papa Francisco Laudato Si ‘En el Cuidado de Nuestro Hogar Común lo explicó todo por completo. Su mensaje fue claro y dijo de forma elocuente. Fue una aclaración teológica de lo que decía toda la ciencia, y para mí, ¡el huracán María aplastó la prueba de ello!
La pintura es retórica en concepto y nos presenta dos posibilidades: una en armonía con la Creación de Dios, un futuro de justicia, paz y sostenibilidad. El otro de saqueo, el caos, la guerra sin fin y un colapso último de la naturaleza y la vida en nuestro planeta tal como la conocemos. La Tierra está pintada en forma de huevo, simbolizando metafóricamente la fragilidad del ecosistema de la Tierra, así como su abundancia y fertilidad natural. La metáfora del huevo también se utiliza para mostrar un pacto roto y la ruptura resultante de la frágil ecología de la tierra y la caída de la humanidad en desgracia causada por un sistema económico lineal defectuoso basado en el abuso del poder y la riqueza, simbolizado por el uso profano de oro.
No hay duda acerca de esto. Nosotros, los humanos tenemos las herramientas para destruir o salvar a la civilización, porque Dios nos creó con esa capacidad. Pero también nos creó con libre albedrío.
Cuidar el medio ambiente es una cuestión moral. Papa San Juan Pablo II hizo hincapié en la prioridad de la ética sobre la técnica, y el espíritu sobre la materia. Si destruimos la tierra, destruimos la creación divina, nos destruimos a nosotros mismos.
BREATH OF LIFE “and then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and Man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)
Breath of Life
On this Earth Day 2019, I share this 27 x 40-inch oil painting. I conceived it with Teilhard de Chardin’s “Cosmogenesis” in mind. It makes visible how we are physically part of the Cosmos and of our Mother Earth. Hence it is a visualization of how all things are connected in God’s creation.
Significantly it is a reminder of the crisis we find ourselves in.
We here in Puerto Rico who have lived through Hurricane Maria have seen both the most beautiful and the most destructive forces of nature. When I think of the devastation, the waste and the suffering, I lament that we humans have contributed in a significant way to this most devastating, climate crisis.
Let us meditate on this Earth Day 2019 on our connectedness to all things.
We are the conscience of planet Earth!
Lord we pray, help us to be the Stewards of your Creation as you created us to be. Amen
“Earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.” (Isaiah 24:5)
A.Vonn Hartung designed this poster for an ecumenical conference on the environment organized by the Catholic Commission on Justice and Peace in Puerto Rico on Earth Day 1993.
The poster is interactive. Hence the participants who purchased the posters received crayons. Proceeds went to the Faith-based environmental movement.
It depicts St. Francis giving thanks for Creation but he stands in a semi-polluted world. The scripture reading is from Isaiah 24:5 (“The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant”).
“Latter-Day Jonah” is a concept, that is, a drawing with a paste on image of planet Earth. It speaks of the crisis that we face with climate change due to the overuse of carbons in our energy consumption. Furthermore it highlights the unsustainable development that is taking place because of our predatory economic system. In fact, the technology that we have developed is so powerful that it is threatening to destroy the natural balance of God’s creation.
The threat that we witness in the drawing is both the terrestrial devastation shown by the power of the bulldozer and the crisis we face in over-fishing and pollution of our oceans. Here we see a young fisherman being swallowed like Jonah by a giant fish. This is symbolic of the Awakening of consciousness that we as a species are Awakening to as scientific data is revealed to us.
This drawing in some ways is a self-portrait. Indeed I recall becoming aware of the crisis that we face as Humanity peers into and contemplates our future.
I recently received an email from a theology graduate student at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown New Jersey. Eileen Connor Callahan stated that she was writing about the correlations between Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical Laudato Si’ On Care for our Common Home and my painting On Earth as it is in Heaven: through Him all things were made Jn 1:3(shown here). Indeed she was visualizing “Laudato Si'” through my painting. For this purpose she went on to ask me a few questions for her paper and slideshow. She presented them in early December 2018.
I painted this work 26 years ago, and it’s more relevant now than ever before! I now see it as an aid to visualizing “Laudato Si'”.
Certainly, I was inspired because of the deteriorating environmental conditions on this most delicate island, Puerto Rico. Unquestionably Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’ On Care for our Common Home spelled out the environmental problems on a global scale.
Its message was loud and clear!
Undeniably, its message is clear and eloquently stated. Hence, it is a theological clarification of what the science reveals to us. Furthermore, for me Hurricane Maria brought it all into focus!
Some folks think we as an industrial society and economic system have little to do with causing climate change/global warming. But what parents would gamble on their children’s lives and future generations if there is a possibility that we can do our best to protect God’s sacred creation?
I have become aware that most Catholics/Christians have not read Laudato Si’, let alone studied the encyclical. It is clearly written and elegantly concise. What’s more, Pope Francis has quoted popes going back to Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI as well as the research of the most eminent international scientists renown in their fields. But unfortunately it is not being discussed as a prioritized issue in our churches or society in general.
This painting points to Laudato Si’ which spells out in everyday language both the environmental and spiritual crisis we are facing.
Bridges unify people and make it possible for commerce (like rivers) to flow.
Bridge builders have always risen to take on the dangerous challenges and vital work of their construction.
“The Bridge-Builder” 18 x 24 inch acrylic painting
In this painting we can see the progress that the bridge makes possible: the defense of our country, the industries that bring prosperity and the cities of great population.
The iron-worker climbs to erect, refit and maintain the bridges – the vital connections that unify and make for a strong society.
As a tradesman the iron-worker, as all other dedicated workers, keeps our country connected, safe and prosperous, our people unified, and with the hope of a better future for ALL.
Padre Julio Victor García commissioned this painting/retablo in 2002 for Iglesia San Francisco Javier (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico). It measures 6 feet in width by 11 feet in height and is my original design. I built it from solid mahogany, painted it in acrylic and gilded with gold and copper leaf.
Symbolic elements of the painting
The vertical format symbolizes this world, our Church and the witness of the life and evangelizing work of San Francisco Javier.
The frame displays the Sign of the Cross with which we as Christians identify ourselves in and through Baptism. It represents the tireless work of St. Francis, from sunrise to sunset. Additionally it shows the eternal truth, the Alpha and Omega of Christ. It acts as a window through which we enter to find further truths.
St. Francis Xavier is baptizing a youth. Significantly the youth symbolizes the future church. Hence we see the people coming to the Faith.
The Holy Family is represented by any and all who do the Will of the Father. Specifically, they are bringing young souls to be saved.
The Children brought forth by their Godparents engage us in reflection and contemplative prayer.
The Holy Trinity: Above the head of St. Francis we see the sacred image of The Holy Trinity. The great 15th century Russian iconographer Andre Rublev.originally wrote (painted) this icon. Its inclusion is meant to draw us into the mystery of God,and to remind us of God’s love. Additionally it prophetically reminds us of Jesus’ words as expressed in John 15: 26-27 (“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.”)
The Background: Surrounding this cascade of divinity with its luminous light and vapors, are luxurious examples of Holy Creation. Specifically the abundance of nature expresses this concept. The breadfruit and mango trees symbolize Love, Beauty and Resurrection. Additionally we see the dove drawing closer, and the serpent which being driven away.
“They who pray with faith have fervor and fervor is the fire of prayer. This mysterious fire has the power of consuming all our faults and imperfections, and of giving to our actions, vitality, beauty and merit.” (Francis Xavier)
It was 49 years ago that we first received an image of ourselves from the Moon. In the process of sending a man to the moon for the first time, Joseph Allen, one of the astronauts who was involved in the planning process recalls:
“Among all the arguments that were made for and against traveling to the Moon, nobody mentioned the possibility that the best reason would be simply to observe ourselves.”
Undeniably, that turned out to be the reason. In other words to see ourselves from outside as planet. Thus, when we received the photo of our planet, it was a global revelation that changed the way we think. Thereafter our consciousness has never been the same. Specifically, we saw ourselves as we really are; that is, alone in the vast darkness of space; small, delicate, resplendent with life and divine beauty. Through Him all things were made.
To clarify, it was not until the beginning of the 70’s that we began to think about ethics and care of the environment. Generally, only mystics and environmentalists had commented on this. However, since then everything has changed. Significantly, the world has responded with a lot of important reflections. Moreover, we now have the scientific tools, the philosophical and ethical thinking to begin to reason about our responsibility regarding the environment.
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Laudato Si’ spells it all out
Correspondingly, I painted this Work (Oil painting on wood panel, 42 x 57″) when I was a member of the Justice and Peace Commission of C.O.R. here in San Juan, Puerto Rico back in 1992. Certainly, I was inspired in part because of the deteriorating environmental conditions on this most delicate island. Specifically, the thoughtless over-development and pollution that was going on, and furthermore the destruction of local communities. Unquestionably Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’ On Care for our Common Home spelled it all out completely. Undeniably,its message was clear and eloquently stated. Hence, it was a theological clarification of what all the science said. Furthermore, for me Hurricane Maria explicitly slammed down the proof of it!
Two possibilities
To summarize, the painting is rhetorical in concept and presents us with two possibilities. That is, one in harmony with God’s Creation. In other words, a future of justice, peace and sustainability. The other of plunder, chaos, endless war and an ultimate collapse of nature and life on our planet home as we know it. Earth is painted in the form of an egg. This is to metaphorically symbolize the fragility of Earth’s ecosystem as well as her natural abundance and fertility. The metaphor of the egg is also used to show a covenant broken and the resultant rupture of earth’s fragile ecology as well as humanity’s fall from grace. Indeed, this has been caused by a flawed linear economic system based on the misuse of power and wealth, symbolized by the unholy use of GOLD.
Caring for the environment is a moral issue
There is no doubt about this. We humans have the tools to destroy or save civilization, because God created us with that capability. But he also created us with free will.
Caring for the environment is a moral issue. Through Him all things were made. Pope St. John Paul II emphasized the priority of ethics over technology, and spirit over matter. If we destroy the earth, we destroy the divine creation, we destroy ourselves.
Por medio de él todas las cosas fueron creadas (Jn 1:3)
Fue hace 49 años que hemos recibido por primera vez una imagen de nosotros mismos desde la Luna. En el proceso de enviar a un hombre a la luna por primera vez, Joseph Allen, uno de los astronautas que estuvo involucrado en el proceso de planificación, recuerda:
“Entre todos los argumentos que se hicieron a favor y en contra de viajar a la Luna, nadie mencionó la posibilidad de que la mejor razón sea simplemente observarnos a nosotros mismos”.
Y, esa resultó ser la razón, para vernos desde afuera como planeta. Cuando recibimos la foto de nuestro planeta, fue una revelación mundial que cambió la forma de pensar. A partir de entonces, nuestra conciencia nunca ha sido el mismo. Nos vimos como realmente somos; solo en la inmensa oscuridad del espacio; Pequeño, delicado, resplandeciente de vida, divina belleza.
No fue hasta principios de los años 70 que comenzamos a pensar en la ética y el cuidado del medio ambiente. Esto sólo fue comentado por los místicos y los ambientalistas, pero desde entonces todo ha cambiado. El mundo ha respondido con una gran cantidad de reflexiones importantes. Ahora tenemos las herramientas científicas y el pensamiento filosófico y ético para comenzar a razonar acerca de nuestra responsabilidad con respecto al medio ambiente.
Así en la Tierra como en el Cielo
Laudato Si’ lo explicó todo
Pinté esta obra (pintura al óleo sobre panel de madera, 42 x 57 ″) cuando era miembro de la Comisión de Justicia y Paz de C.O.R. aquí en San Juan, Puerto Rico en 1992, inspirado en parte por el deterioro de las condiciones ambientales en esta isla tan delicada, el sobredesarrollo y la contaminación irreflexivos que ocurrían, y la destrucción de las comunidades locales. La encíclica del Papa Francisco Laudato Si’ Sobre el Cuidado de la Casa Común lo explicó todo por completo. Su mensaje fue claro y dijo de forma elocuente. Fue una aclaración teológica de lo que decía toda la ciencia, y para mí, ¡el huracán María aplastó la prueba de ello!
Dos posibilidades
La pintura es retórica en el concepto y nos presenta dos posibilidades: una en armonía con la Creación de Dios, un futuro de justicia, paz y sostenibilidad. El otro del saqueo, el caos, la guerra sin fin y el colapso final de la naturaleza y la vida en nuestro planeta, tal como lo conocemos. La Tierra está pintada en forma de huevo, simbolizando metafóricamente la fragilidad del ecosistema de la Tierra, así como su abundancia y fertilidad natural. La metáfora del huevo también se utiliza para mostrar un pacto roto y la ruptura resultante de la frágil ecología de la tierra y la caída de la humanidad en desgracia causada por un sistema económico lineal defectuoso basado en el abuso del poder y la riqueza, simbolizado por el uso profano de oro.
Una cuestión moral
No hay duda acerca de esto. Nosotros, los humanos tenemos las herramientas para destruir o salvar a la civilización, porque Dios nos creó con esa capacidad. Pero también nos creó con libre albedrío.
Cuidar el medio ambiente es una cuestión moral. Papa San Juan Pablo II hizo hincapié en la prioridad de la ética sobre la técnica, y el espíritu sobre la materia. Si destruimos la tierra, destruimos la creación divina, nos destruimos a nosotros mismos.
