If you haven’t been to visit Diocesan House in the past six months, you may not be aware that Bishop Marc, with the help of curator Mel Ahlborn, local artist and president of the Episcopal Church and Visual Arts, Inc., has turned its walls into an art gallery, dubbed Gallery 1055. Gone are the portraits of former bishops, and in their stead some beautiful artwork by local Episcopalian artists now graces the walls.

The newest exhibit at Gallery 1055, photographs by Lyra Harris entitled “Si Dios Quiere,” was installed this week. The photographs tell the story of the year Harris spent in Honduras working with the Anglican Association for the Development of Honduras, organizing health infrastructure programs in rural villages, leading educational seminars, and listening to people’s life stories. Harris is a young adult member of the Diocese of California and a service corps volunteer. The exhibit will remain on display through the nationwide Episcopal young adult gathering Camino, taking place at Grace Cathedral from September 21 through 23.

A special reception with the artist will be held this Thursday, July 26. It begins with Evensong in the Quire of Grace Cathedral at 5:15 p.m., followed by a reception and remarks from Bishop Marc in Gallery 1055 at approximately 6 p.m.

The first installment at Gallery 1055, on display during the season of Lent, was Eliza Linley’s extraordinary and compelling stations of the cross. Her works combine silk painting with photomontage for a contemporary meditation on how Christ continues to be crucified among us today through injustice and oppression.

More recently, the gallery exhibited photographs of the San Francisco Bay Estuary by David Sanger. These vibrant photographs, published in the book The San Francisco Bay: Portrait of an Estuary, tell the tale of a fragile ecology and inspire a deeper appreciation of the worth and beauty of the estuary.

Although the work of the three artists exhibited so far at Gallery 1055 have different themes -- Linley focuses on spirituality in the modern world, Sanger highlights environmental themes, Harris brings issues of social justice to the forefront -- each exhibit serves as a visual reminder of the diocese’s commitment to both contemplation and action.

Bishop Marc believes that showing the artwork of diocesan members at Diocesan House, the administrative center of the diocese, can tie us all together more deeply. He says “bringing these creative works inside on a regular basis helps people understand that this is a house, a home for our hopes and aspirations in the Diocese of California.”

All members and friends of the diocese interested in seeing Harris’ photographs are invited to attend the reception on Thursday, or to stop by Gallery 1055 in the Diocesan House at 1055 Taylor Street, San Francisco, during working hours (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday).