During the week of July 8-13, Art Education Assistant Professor Jeremy Johnson studied the ancient practice of Byzantine Icon Writing at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, Kansas under the guidance of Master Iconographer Theodoros Papadapolous. Passionate about icons, Dr. Johnson participated in the training as part of his own spiritual journey and to extend the power of icons to the blind and visually impaired by making his own tactile versions of icons.

Eighteen people from various backgrounds attended the intense week-long workshop. Dr. Johnson learned the art of egg tempera painting, a process that is over 1500 years old, and the prayerful process of creating an icon of St. Michael the Archangel in the Byzantine style. In the coming months, Dr. Johnson will employ the skills he obtained at the workshop to create new icons.