OTHER INFORMATION ON FRANK ENGLE, HIS ART, AND
WORKS AT HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TUSCALOOSA

notes written by Lucy Kubiszyn from personal interviews with Mrs. Frank Engle.
Notes were compiled sometime in March or April 2002.

• Because of the special nature and requirements of liturgical art, Engle’s work in the Holy Spirit project was somewhat more traditional than what was customary for him at that time. However, even with the limitation set for him, he managed a remarkable degree of individuality and expressiveness.
• Father J.J. Cassidy, the priest at Holy Spirit at the time, was colorblind. Consequently, Father Cassidy would ask the nuns who were there what they thought the colors in the new church should be. Engle learned that if he could talk to the nuns first and get them to agree on the color he wanted it was much easier to get Father Cassidy’s consent.
• The life-size statues of St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother (The Immaculate Heart of Mary) that are now in the church are in an entirely different style from the other art pieces. Engle did not design them in the Romanesque period, and thus, they are less expressive of that style.
• Father Cassidy was more interested in the statue of the Blessed Mother than any of the other pieces. Father Cassidy complained to Engle that the Blessed Mother should be virginal and without a normal human figure of a woman. Engle persuaded him that she was indeed a young woman and the Mother of God and as such, she should have human qualities. In Engle’s view, he saw this statue as a means of helping people connect the divine with humanity. Father Cassidy finally agreed.
• The works at Holy Spirit are cast in plastic which artists today seldom use. It’s unusual to use plastic in casting today because of the health risk, the fumes from the plastic and the danger to the health of the artist.
• Engle worked day and night for over one year on the Holy Spirit project. His wife says that she seldom saw him during this time because he would come in late at night from his studio.
• Engle also did the art works in St. Robert’s Catholic Church in Reform.
• Officiating at the dedicating ceremonies of the new church in 1965 were Most Rev. J.J. Toolen, D.D. Archbishop, Bishop of Mobile-Birmingham. The Rev. J.J. Cassidy, pastor, celebrated the solemn high mass. Rev. Vernon F. Gallagher, C.S. SP. From Pittsburgh preached the sermon.
• A complete listing of Frank Engle’s work includes: Sculpture Commissions:
  • International headquarters, Blount Corporation; Blound Collection of American Art; Louisiana State University; Mississippi University for Women; University of Alabama; Ford Motor Company; Holy Spirit Catholic Church; St. Roberts Catholic church; North River Yacht Club; Ramada Inn; Tuscaloosa Racquet Club.
• Exhibitions of Sculpture, Paintings, Prints, Collages, Drawings, Ceramics (Partial Listing):
  • Butler institute of American Art; Indianapolis Museum of Art; Roma Gallery of New York, University of Tennessee; Auburn University; Delta State University; New Orleans Museum of Contemporary Art; Syracuse Ceramic Exhibition; Davidson College; North Carolina State University; Gadsden Library; Panama City Gallery; Anniston Library; Jackson Museum; Jackson Gallery; Howard College; Birmingham Museum of Art; Millport Public Library; Montgomery Museum of Art; Evansville Museum; Shelton State Community College; Chattanooga State Technical Community College; Anderson University.
• Works in Collections:
  • Davidson College; Mississippi University for Women; Shelton State Community College; Butler Institute of American Art; Menninger; Pizitz; Morgan; Strode; Walker; G. Folsom; J. Folsom; Patton; Buck; Galloway; Hudson; Goodson; Zoellner; Osmus; Bolt; Neymand; Kneeland; B. Engle.