Holy City, Holy Night
Madeline Carol

It was December 1989, and Christmas was almost upon Charleston. The city was alive with excitement as the air grew colder. The area still had its scars from the visit of the storm of the century, Hurricane Hugo, and in spite of the decorations, the landscape still bore the evidence of that historic pounding. Then, from above, a winter storm, so uncommon to the Lowcountry, descended, blanketing the area in what seemed a heavenly gift, the snowfall of 1989. The landscape was transformed into a winter wonderland, and Charleston was treated to a once-in-a-lifetime gift, a white Christmas.

Gone from view were the remaining signs of Hugo's damage. From the sky had come a heaven of beauty covering reality from one's sight and giving Charleston the wondrous gift of the season.

Madeline Carol attempts to take you back and preserve this once-in-a-century event. She does it in an artistic way, recreating the turbulence of a storm blowing in to the Battery to remind you that these events of nature can be both exciting and yet consoling.

Madeline then paints snow falling as though from a heavenly chorus of angels. She portrays it as a gift of that time and yet suggests in a camouflage of clouds the generosity of God through the ages in an apparition of the birth of Christ and the visit of the Three Wise Men. As the heavens have moved through time shaping our future, Madeline has painted the sky, bestowing the gift of beauty to help us forget the unfortunate past and yet reinforce the optimism of the future through the hope of the ages.

Madeline Carol uses colors to create both the chill of the evening and the warmth within the homes. She transports you in time to the beauty of what once was and yet what still is a world of hope. As she painted the snowstorm of 1989 and the angels, the holy manger scene just began to appear in the painting. Before her with the strokes of her brushes was created an artistic view of the holy birth and the fulfillment of the prophecy. Inspired by what was not planned, she completed this most unique painting based on the inspiration of what was given to her in its early genesis. From snow to spirit to serenity, Charleston is the scene of the Holy City, Holy Night, and in this remarkable and wondrous painting you are reliving the stories of the ages.

Madeline Carol, Capturing the Spirits
Art Gallery