Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Friday, July 25, 2008
A work of honor: Father-daughter team lends artistic touch to shrine church
Aug. 28, 2007
When the church at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is complete and what now is a construction site becomes a place of pilgrimage, it will be easy to overlook the contribution of one father and daughter.
Which will be just fine by artist Tom Stingl, who with daughter Liz Stingl of La Crosse spent about seven weeks this summer helping Robert Elliot paint the faux marble on the church columns.
"It will be interesting how the shrine blends with the columns and fits with the whole picture," he said. "We just did one little aspect of it."
For the two members of Holy Trinity Parish, this summer will become a piece of family lore.
"When the whole thing is constructed, it will be interesting to attend Mass and look up at the columns and think, ‘Wow, I actually painted that and my hand had a part in creating this amazing shrine," Liz said.
Tom, 52, teaches art at De Soto middle and high schools. Liz, 20, studies metalworking and painting at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
The two said they tried to be respectful as they painted the columns, using a technique Elliot taught them. Liz also said she'd paint her dad's arm if he got in her way.
Liz said it will be amazing to think their work — along with that done by a number of people since construction began May 13, 2004 — will remain 500 years from now.
The dedication and opening of the Shrine Church is slated for July 31, 2008.
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