Artist's paintings memorialize, inspire
SAXONBURG — It’s meant as a memorial to the departed and an inspiration for a new generation.
That’s a pretty tall order for a four-sided shelter that hides a Dumpster. But one artist accepted the challenge.
It’s taken Butler High School junior Luke Montag, 16, two years to complete painting scenes of Moses parting the Red Sea, Jonah and the whale, Noah’s Ark and Jesus with children on the four formerly drab gray sides of the shelter behind St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 310 W. Main St.
And he’s not even a member of St. Luke’s. His great-aunt Amy Montag-Smith of Summit Township is, and she brought him onto the project.
The art is intended as a memorial to Montag-Smith’s parents, the late Raymond and Theresa Montag, who were also members of St. Luke’s, said Montag-Smith.
The Dumpster and its concealing shelter are adjacent to the church’s playground.
“We needed something on there that hides the Dumpster,” said Montag- Smith. “We wanted something that the kids would like.”
St. Luke’s Pastor Roger Keller said, “This is where it started. We wanted to have something so kids would have something to see.”
“I think it is the first thing he’s done. He started it two years ago,” said Keller.
“It’s the time and the weather. After he did one (side), it’s ‘How about another one?’ It grew into four. I don’t know if we set out to do four,” said Keller.
Keller said the side facing the playground was painted with Noah’s Ark first, then Jonah and the whale, then Jesus and the children and finally Moses parting the Red Sea on the side containing the door.
Montag said, “We used outdoor acrylic paint. We had gone and found pictures online and just kind of did a spin off them. I finished in September.”
“I think it took somewhere around 40 hours. I would pencil in the outline first,” said Montag, who used paint brushes to create the artwork.
“It was a challenge, but I was kind of happy to do it because it was a memorial to Granny and Pap,” he said.
One last detail remains for the project, he said. He will use calligraphy to put the words “In Loving Memory of Raymond and Theresa Montag” on the shelter.
Asked if he was ready to take on another painting project, Montag said, “I would do it, but I’m not going to actively search for it. Painting is a little out of my comfort zone, but I did it anyway.”
Keller said Luke’s work “is a nice touch. The children can enjoy it.”
“We have a beautiful campus and this just makes it more heartfelt and special,” Keller said.
He said Montag’s project fits nicely with the congregation’s mission of “Together Building Faith and Character.”
Montag-Smith donated the material and tools for the painting project and, of course, her great-nephew’s time.
