The ancient art of iconography is coming to Orange Beach Arts Center to teach beach folk about divine images—the paintings will offer patrons a view from ‘Windows into Heaven’.

 Balpha Noojin’s work will be displayed at the Center Sept. 15-Nov. 16 and is meant to share a unique art form with Gulf Coast residents and tourists.

 Noojin said the genre comes with creative limitations, but spiritual awards abound.

 “We consider icons to be holy images—it’s a very ancient art and has never changed in style since it began centuries ago,” he explained. “We don’t have right to change anything; we have to be as exact about it as possible.”

 Noojin said he finds more reward in this art form because he is giving others a chance to see God’s work.

 “I dedicated myself to keep the work up and to have icons that go out to affect people,” he recalled. “They are created by spirit—we’re not allowed to sign the front of an icon, but we may sign them on the back.”

 “We sign, ‘by the hand of Balpha Noojin, servant of God’ and the date.

 “We ask for intercession from the saints, and from Christ and from the Blessed Mother.”

 His works include Our Lady of Tenderness (mother with child), Archangel Michael, St Francis of Assisi, Our Lady Of Guadeloupe and Our Lady of Vatopedi.

 Noojin paints with gouache—a type of paint closest to the traditional egg tempera. It is a fast-drying medium of color mixed with a water-soluble binder.

 He explained that it mixes with water like a watercolor and it is used because it is a translucent paint so that artists can put one color down, then put something over it.

 Noojin serves God with the strokes of his own brush, but he also finds joy in teaching others the about the art form.

 He’s offered workshops for the past 10 years and finds that they teach about spiritual connections as well as painting.

 “Icon Writing Workshops are five to six day retreats in which participants learn the prayerful practice of painting or ‘writing’ a Byzantine style icon,” he said. “The emphasis is on the step-by-step process of painting an icon… as well as on the spiritual practice of allowing God to work in us and through us.”

 “Each day begins with a prayer and includes intentional silence, listening to Gregorian chants, , group reflection and discussions on the history of icons and the practice of praying with icons.

 “This time set apart is joyful, most often transformative and challenging, open to all faiths and to those with or without art experience.

 “Icons are known as "Windows into Heaven", the link between humans and the divine.”

 Juli Jordan, special exhibit coordinator at the Orange Beach Arts Center, experienced the artist and atmosphere first hand.

 “I attended three of Noojin’s icon workshops at his home in Mentone and I can relate the experience as one that is meditative, intricate and oddly fun,” she divulged. “Noojin has such a wonderful rapport with people and is a very encouraging teacher; he lives in a magical setting overlooking DeSoto Falls surrounded by mountain laurels and rhododendrons with the constant sound of the falls in the background.”

 “There is nothing like this particular setting as a backdrop to an icon workshop, it is truly a ‘Window into Heaven’.”

 She said the artists’ personality matches his setting perfectly.

 “Noojin has a whimsical sense of humor so while icons hang the walls in his home the large mantle holds a playful retinue of rocks, beads and campy statues,” she said. “Nature plays an important part of his life and this is forthcoming in two new icons that he is currently completing—each of these mark a departure from the formality and of the Byzantine process.”

 “One is inspired by the artist Joseph Stella's “The Virgin” (1926) and, while retaining the process inherent in writing an icon, it exudes a palette of vibrant colors reminiscent of Latin and/or Indian paintings and a tone of joy and abundance.”

 A Byzantine iconographer for the past 17 years, Noojin studied under his mother and under master iconographer Phillip Zimmerman; he was a sculpture beforehand and lived in Montreal for 18 years before moving back to Mentone, Ala.

 He is one of many artists featured in a special series at the Center. Jordan said variety is the key to the selection.

 “One of the goals of the Visiting Artists and Special Exhibits Series is to bring in a diverse spectrum of art; for example, the year began with a ‘Craft in Alabama’ exhibit of master craft artists, followed by the whimsical and masterful watercolors of Shellie Reese,” she explained. “The annual emerging artists exhibit highlights graduating visual arts students and always brings unexpected surprises from amazingly talented young adults of various mediums.”

 “The current exhibit is abstract landscapes by Sarah Otts.

 “Balpha Noojin’s exhibit, entitled ‘Windows into Heaven’ adds to this diversity; the focus of his work is Byzantine Icons which brings an element of art history to the exhibit that is very interesting for all ages.

 “Because this is an art form typically viewed in certain churches or museums, exhibiting the icons in a secular setting allows the viewer to appreciate the work as a unique artistic expression and as a historical reference—igniting curiosity about the time and age when Byzantine icons emerged is an obvious outcome.

 “For all of these reasons we are excited to include Noojin’s work in our Visiting Artists Series.”

 Noojin has been awarded many honors in his 17 years as an iconographer. His work has been on exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art and The Gardens of Mentone, Gadsden and Memphis. He was featured on WTCI Chattanooga public television special on Southern Artists.

 Orange Beach Arts Center Director Wanda Price joined Jordan in high hopes for broadening horizons.

 “We’re always enthusiastic about bringing in artists that are beyond our local area,” she said excitedly. “We like to offer the public things that are off the beaten path.”

 Jordan believes that his exhibit is a credit to the Center where they work to make art available to all tastes and  all demographics, she said.

 “The Orange Beach Arts Center is a place for all ages to come experience art in a non-threatening environment,” she said. “We have over 100 member artists whose work rotates quarterly, we have the only public access glass blowing studio in the state of Alabama, we offer After School Arts Program for elementary schools and a wide variety of adult art classes.”

 “Our Visiting Artists’ Exhibit offer the public a chance to see the work of regional artists many who are new to this area.”

 Noojin’s exhibit will begin with a free wine and cheese reception at the Center from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 15.