Stan Moses

Stanley (Stan) George Moses (1931-1992) was a North Queensland artist known for his textile, timber and mosaic work around Queensland and further afield. “I have a gift that is not mine, and which I hope that I have made the most of ”. Stan MosesStan Moses (1981)Anglican Visitor July 1992 issue=11 pages=12-13
=== Early life ===
Stanley (Stan) George Moses was born on November 12th, 1931 in Atherton, North Queensland. His father, Antonio (Anthony) Moses (born 16.4.1900 died 9.9.1969) was from a Lebanese Christian family and his mother, Wilhelmina (nee Macfarlane) Moses (born 16.4.1906 died 25.4.1985) was Scottish. Stan was the second of six children. Older brother John A. Moses|John Anthony, born 10th June 1930; James Ronald born 4th  May 1936; Anthony David 17th  March  1941; Margaret Ann & Alexander Hugh (twins) born  20th April 1943.John A Moses (brother) email conversation with author
The family worshipped at the Anglican church of St Mary the Virgin in Atherton where Stan was an altar boy. Stan attended the local Atherton school and then boarded at All Soul’s School (now All Soul’s and St Gabriel’s) in Charters Towers with his brothers. (July 1945-46) 
=== Working life ===
In 1949, Stan and his brother, John, moved to Brisbane and lived at St Oswald's House (Anglican Hostel for young men) where they attended All Saints' Church, Wickham Terrace. The liturgy there was carried out with the best Anglo-Catholic precision and this exerted a great influence on Stan, re-enforcing what he had learned from the Bush Brothers in Atherton and at All Souls' School. 
Stan was employed at T.C. Beirne’s Department Store in Fortitude Valley. There he worked as a ticket writer and window dresser where he showed a flair for stock presentation. He also attended night classes in commercial art which was the only formal art training that he undertook. 
Due to a recession in 1950, Stan became unemployed and he returned home to Atherton where he worked for a number of years at the department store of Armstrong, Ledlie and Stillman as a window dresser/ticket writer.
22/05/1962 licensed as a Lay Reader by Bishop Shevill
10/05/1978 licensed as Eucharistic Assistant in the Parish of Atherton by Bishop Lewis 
=== Art ===
On returning to Atherton, Stan became active as a layman at the Anglican church of St Mary the Virgin and became very involved in parish matters. The Anglican Bishop of North Queensland, Ian Shevill|Bishop Ian Shevill, thought very highly of Stan's knowledge of liturgical ritual and commissioned Stan to design a crucifix in the style of Christ the King for St Helen’s Anglican Church in Home Hill. Other commissions for vestments and crucifixes followed. 
When Stan began to get orders from around the diocese, he eventually left work at Amstrong, Ledlie and Stillman and devoted himself full time to his own business. When John Lewis (Bishop of North Queensland)|John Lewis became the next Anglican Bishop of North Queensland in 1971, Stan continued to do commissioned works for churches and schools all over North Queensland.North Queensland Anglican Diocese Archives
An exhibition of his work was held held at St James’ Cathedral, Townsville, during the Townsville Pacific Festival (31 May to 8 June 1981).
Stan never married and lived at home in Beatrice Street Atherton, all his life, doing his art-work in the workshop behind the house. 
=== Influences ===
Once Stan travelled overseas to visit his brother John, in Bonn Germany. This was an important experience for Stan because he saw art work in churches in southern Germany which are of great historical significance in the realm of art history. 
Stan inherited his artistic/craft skills from his Scottish grandfather, Duncan Macfarlane who was an accomplished landscape painter and photographer and from his father, Anthony who “could turn his hand to anything in the field of carpentry” 
Stan’s mosaics can be seen today in churches and schools all over North Queensland
St James’ Cathedral, Townsville- “The Lord and the Twelve Apostles” and “Flight into Egypt”St James Cathedral Video Mosaic Dedication 24 December 1989(Available Townsville City Library)
All Saints Anglican Church, Ayr
St David’s Anglican Church, Mossman
Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Bowen
St Margaret’s Anglican Church, Cairns
The Halse Hall, All Souls’ and St Gabriel’s School, Charters Towers
While in Brisbane his brother John bought Stan a book, “Ecclesiastical Needle Work”. Stan developed a deep interest in the area and taught himself the sewing techniques from the book. He also purchased the Encyclopaedia Britannica to inform himself, not just about the technicalities of sewing and the fabrics used for vestments, but also about the history of the evolution of the craft.
Stan made many ecclesiastical vestments (Banners, Chasubles, Dalmatics, Tunicles, Stoles, Burses, Veils, Mitres) for bishops, priests and churches all over North Queensland. 
Stan was commissioned to make Crucifixes, Altars, Cabinets, Plaques, Candlesticks, Crests, and Lecterns for schools and churches all over the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland and for some North Queensland Roman Catholic churches, for Pope Pius XII Seminary in Brisbane  and churches in Melanesia and New Zealand.
He also restored the timber Rood Cross and Reredos in St James’ Cathedral, Townsville
Most timber pieces remain today
Category:Australian artists
Category:Australian people