In Light of Women

In Light of Women, is a collection and commentary comprising 72 pages of contemporary icon painting done in egg tempera. An exploration of women in iconography, the absence of their voices in the church and icon imagery. Exquisitely painted icons are juxtaposed with text describing each of the images history, religious context and reflections about the world we live in today. In Light of Women is full of contemporary iconography and a must for any library, for those collectors of icons and those in authority who preserve this great tradition. Iconography has the potential the shape future theology through new liturgy and perspective for men and women everywhere. Mary Jane Miller's collection of new work is exquisite. Mary Jane Miller’s In Light of Women, One Woman’s Journey with Contemporary iconography is a provocative addition to the growing body of work (both image and text). Her images extend the reach of the icon beyond the boundaries of the Orthodox tradition. Following a brief introduction to the history of the icon, and a lyrical meditation on the properties of the earth pigments and egg yolk that she mixes to create her colors. This collection was created by a women iconographer in Mexico. She offers a selection of her icons arranged in three chapters: Mary Icons – The Most Popular through the Ages; The Gospel of Mary Magdalene – Icons Inspired by the Gnostic Text and Creative Insights and Image from Traditional Theology; and Feminine Voice – Classic Icons Interpreted with the Focus on Women. Each icon is accompanied by Miller’s reflections, short essays that fuse theological with personal ruminations. Where are the women in History? Miller is challenging the list in Women iconographers. She is a women iconographer and conveys her feminist arguments with passion and ingenuity, offering a critique of the position of women in the historical church. Her Byzantine style iconography visually echoes many of the arguments of feminist theologians and biblical critics of today.