by Karen Jensen Markowsky, Jan. 6, 2010
I have wonderful memories of the very large original painting Head of Christ, as it was prominently hung in the sanctuary (above where the choir was seated) of the church that my family attended when I was growing up in the 1950’s and ’60s (Edgewater Covenant, at the corner of Bryn Mawr & Glenwood Avenues in Chicago, in what was at that time a Swedish neighborhood). It was so nice to be able to gaze up at that beautiful painting during the Sunday services!
Warner Sallman was a member of our congregation, and as I recall, every Easter he would make a beautiful chalk drawing in front of the congregation, surrounded by potted Easter lilies, while we listened to a lovely presentation of spiritual music.
One year when I was little, Mr. Sallman personally presented each of us children in the Sunday School of our church with a beautifully framed copy of one of his paintings. I was very honored to shake his hand when he gave me the painting, which I still have and treasure to this day.
