Guardians Of The Soul: Angels And Innocents, Mourners And Saints-Indiana's Remarkable Cemetery Sculpture - Softcover

In this special book, the magnificence and poignancy of Indiana’s captivating cemetery statuary—treasures that have virtually gone unnoticed—are revealed, for all to see, in stunning, sepia-toned, black-and-white imagery by acclaimed Hoosier photographer, John Bower. Also included is commentary by Bower describing his project, as well as heartwarming stories about some of the local people the statues were erected to honor. To create his book, Bower and his wife drove 10,000 miles, comprehensively exploring over 200 Southern Indiana cemeteries.

While all the extraordinary photos in Guardians of the Soul were taken in Southern Indiana--the part of the state that is south of U.S. 40, the old National Road, they are representative of the cemetery statuary located throughout America—and they rival statues that can be found in the world's most famous cemeteries. Collectively, these amazing pieces of art represent a significant, yet underappreciated, facet of our collective heritage.

While I've always found cemeteries to be serene and peaceful places, in recent years I've also become increasingly aware of the amazing statuary they contain. For the most part, there is a quality, quantity, and variety to this sculpture that is not being duplicated today. So I decided to share what I was finding in this book, so you could marvel at it as I have. Because of natural weathering, acid rain, and vandalism, I felt it was important to capture these statues on film before they were irreparably damaged. So I devoted a year to traveling all across Southern Indiana with my camera, recording this unique art form. The result is Guardians of the Soul, a collection of images depicting statuary that could easily fit into our nation's finest museums.

What I found, in over 200 cemeteries, were scores of angels--ranging from diminutive cupids to awe-inspiring larger-than-life winged beings. For the smallest, I had to lie on my stomach to shoot them, while others, perched atop tall bases, required the use of an eight-foot step ladder. But, besides these heavenly messengers, I also came across statues of children, soldiers, religious figures, and mourning women. I even saw animals such as dogs, lions, and horses, as well as uncountable lambs and doves. All these monuments--whether human, saint, or animal--were erected as lasting memorials to celebrate the lives of individuals who were deeply loved--and they still radiate that love, which I am pleased to share with you.