A CREO ARTS PRODUCED FEATURE FILM
Quest for Beauty
Directed by David Whitacker
Produced by Creo Arts, CAC at Belmont, Joe and Susie Schickel, The Bruegemann Center for Dialogue at Xavier University
SUMMARY
Quest for Beauty is a feature documentary exploring the life and work of William Schickel, a prolific twentieth-century Catholic artist whose career spanned more than six decades. Working across painting, sculpture, stained glass, and architectural design, Schickel shaped a remarkable body of commissioned work, including his renowned renovation of the Abbey of Gethsemani, where he collaborated closely with Thomas Merton.
The film traces Schickel’s lifelong pursuit of beauty, the challenges he faced, and his vision for the Church—marked by a deep commitment to unity within the Body of Christ. His works reside in private collections and institutions around the world, including the Vatican Museums, bearing witness to an artistic legacy rooted in faith, craftsmanship, and communion.
Quest for Beauty has shown in locations across the U.S., including:
Asbury University
Asbury Theological Seminary
Belmont University
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
Cincinnati Art Museum
Official Selection for the Twelve Lions Film Festival
Available to rent or purchase via Amazon Prime
Celebrating three years of Creo Arts—forming artists, gathering communities, and awakening the world to the beauty of the Christian story through the arts.
For three years, Creo Arts has inspired, connected, and equipped missionaries of beauty across the country. Through artist grants, films, gallery exhibitions, community gatherings, and national partnerships, we are helping form communities where art and faith flourish.
This video celebrates what has taken root so far—and invites you into the work ahead. As Creo Arts enters its next season, we are expanding our reach through membership, deeper formation opportunities, increased grantmaking, and a growing network of artists, patrons, and churches committed to beauty as a witness to the Gospel.