Artist Michael Reeves is Etching Our Sanctuary Ceiling Back To Its Original Splendor

You’ve probably seen Michael Reeves’ work if you’ve crossed the George Washington Bridge or rode toward the Lincoln Tunnel from Hoboken (he’s a commercial artist and a sign painter). However, if you want to see some of his crowning glories, simply look up while standing in our sanctuary. Actually, standing and looking up is what he has been doing every day for the last six weeks or so.

Michael is working with the Milan Restoration Company to help restore the etchings in our ceiling tile to its original luster. Painstakingly, and completely by hand, he is re-etching our ceiling tiles to match how they looked when first installed about a century ago.

A repainted panel in Old First’s ceiling

Yep, think of him as Michaelangelo, but instead of lying on his back, he’s standing on his own two feet, on towering scaffolding, and working to keep his balance. Maybe he’s more like a fiddler on the roof.

“I’m standing and craning my neck,” he says of the daily and physically intense experience, “and my feet tend to hurt. All of us have a balance issue that is disturbed when you are working at altitude. It can get a little dizzying. That could be my biggest challenge up there — looking up.”

Yet, thanks to Michael’s masterful skill, things really are looking up. He’ll be concluding his careful project in about two months. Keep in mind that this great work has nothing to do with computers or drones. This is completely old school.

“Michael also paints things that you don’t notice,” says Old First pastor Daniel Meeter, “because there are black lines in certain spots to make it look like the rest is highlighted. It offsets the color; you don’t see the black. It’s like a trick. It makes it look like the stenciling is not flat, but has texture.”

Pastor Daniel Meeter (left) holds a stencil Michael Reeves (right) crafted following the existing designs in the Old First ceiling, to repair and refresh the stencil work across the entire ceiling

Michael has been living in Park Slope while working on the Old First ceiling project, but his actual home is in Mooers, New York (upstate — named after a general in the War of 1812). He was born in New Jersey but grew up in California. He attended art school, and an impressive career as a commercial artist followed. Now, he’s back in the area, just in time to help us. And timing is everything.

“The time is going very fast,” he says. “At the end of the day, I always feel like I haven’t done enough and the time’s over. But I do set goals for myself. If I meet the goals or at least come close to the goals, I’m fine.”

How is that working out?

“I usually come close,” he says.

Still, when you’re restoring such beautiful and important history, the hours could slip away from you.

“Some days I work 12 hours,” he says. “Some I do eight. I get here before 7. I sometimes open up the place.”

Although Michael is surely getting the job done, he’s seeing some other sanctuary jobs that could be done in the future. One suggestion: restoring our priceless mural of The Empty Tomb, measuring 14 by 21 feet, by the Italian artist Virgilio Tojetti, created in 1891. The work is a rendition of Luke’s account of the resurrection.

“That painting is in great condition,” Michael says, “but it definitely needs to be cleaned. It will be like having a super-size television after it’s clean.”

We’re enjoying Michael being a part of Old First; he was raised Catholic, and attends our Sunday services when he can. Recently, when introduced to the congregation, he received an enthusastic round of grateful applause.

“How many people go to church to get applause?” he asks. 

Fiberglass chips are used to replace and reinforce some of the ceiling ribs, using handcrafted molds and casts

Panels that are repainted and waiting to be repainted, using the same techniques as were used when the building was first built in 1890

The sub-floor, stories above the main floor of the sanctuary, installed by Milan Church Restoration to reach and repair the ceiling and repaint the panels and ribs.