New Work: "Closer To God"

As a young Catholic boy, my first lessons in religion were that God was about love and compassion and being a good person. By adolescence I discovered that just because I was gay, the Church would never see me as a good person, would deny me of love, and would show me no compassion. To me this wasn't what God was about. I learned then God and religion are two different things. It’s not following rules written and preached by men, it’s simply having love, compassion and being a good person that puts you Closer to God.


The original of Closer to God as well as 3 different print sizes (including full size Gallery prints and signed and numbered limited editions) are available. Visit my website www.breyette.com for purchasing and more details. During the 'Day of Issue Sale' they are 20% off, that's $500 off the original. This special offer ends around midnight Midnight (EST) April 11th, 2008. Framing is also available.

The issue of growing up Catholic and being gay, turning away from a religion who's leaders pass judgment and preach being gay as immoral despite a Lord that says "Love one another", is one that I've wanted to deal with in one of my works for years, but never quite knew how to capture that. I found new focus & motivation for the piece because Pope Benedict's recent praise of states that passed marriage discrimination laws and his upcoming visit to the US this month. I figured if he is coming here then I am going there (at least with my artwork). I chose St. Peter's Basilica as the setting for my couple to show that gender is inconsequential for souls who find love.