Photo: Peter Bloomer

MURAL HISTORY
Inspiration for the chapel mural is rightly attributed to Viola Babbitt. In 1962, she mentioned to Stephen Juharos, a world-renown Hungarian-born artist, “that the beautiful old church in Flagstaff should have a mural.”

In a letter dated February 20, 1989 (quoted herein), Mr. Juharos recalls the history of the mural stating, “I have been in right mood. I suggested to visit the pastor in Flagstaff, which I shortly did and promised to introduce a sketch. Which also I did in a couple of days.”

There was a long delay between submitting the sketches and painting the mural. “With Mme. Babbitt we were waiting 15 years,” before the original sketches were discovered under the staircase in the rectory by Rev. Vincent Nevulis. Fr. Nevulis enthusiastically endorsed the plan declaring, “by all means the mural should be finished.”  Mr. Juharos got out his oils to paint, and Mrs. Babbitt embarked on a personal crusade to fund the project.

Photo: Peter Bloomer

“The theme is beautiful and was joy of planning, sketching than to work larger than life size … to be in harmony with the lines and colors of the stained glass windows.”

“Presentation of the Newborn Baby Mary to the Relatives” is the title preferred by Mr. Juharos.

Friends and relatives were models for the figures. The draperies and clothing “were done from various fabrics around the house.”

It took six months to complete the 16’ x 35’ masterpiece. “The arms get tired?  At that time I have been 65 with 58 years of pretty active painting in past. I still can’t remember I ever felt arms tired from painting.”

Visible with binoculars, the mural’s little secret is a tribute to his patroness. Held in the hand of the far right figure is a scroll with the following inscription, “By Stephen Juharos with the inspiration and support of Viola Babbitt.”

Stephen Juharos’ letter continues, “Whenever I have some hard time, if health or otherwise … I say a few prayers in the pew in pleasant dim light and feel back 65 years, when with my mother went to church weekdays, and the church had been not modernized yet. I feel this one is a little my church too.” 

Photo: Mary Agnes & John Faught – 1979

INSTALLATION
The completed mural took five rolls of canvas. It was installed by the artist in February 1979 with the help of Charles Kachur “a retired high school teacher and master of thousand things (lucky me), in a week it was on the wall, and was able to report that the job had been done.”

A few of Stephen Juharos’ other works include:

• two 8’ x 16’ murals in the lobby of NAU Cline Library, Flagstaff
• a religious ceiling mural measuring 35’ x 50’ in Pittsburgh, said to be the largest mural on the north American continent
• a mural depicting President Eisenhower at the Hall of Presidents museum in Gettysburg
• a portrait of Senator Barry Goldwater for Goldwater’s 1962 presidential campaign

STEPHEN JUHAROS - LETTER
The following letter from Treasure Art Gallery is the artist’s recollection of the mural’s history, which has been quoted above.

Stephen Juharos Letter

~ Ave Maria ~