A new exhibit mingles biblical literature, Renaissance drawings, and new poetry

May 27, 2025

An exhibition that mingles 2,000 years of biblical literature, 200 years of European master drawings, and 42 days of new poetry by Stefan Balan is on view at Découvert Fine Art in Rockport. The exhibit, “Love Never Ends: Exercises In Mythic Imagination,” sprang from a serendipitous meeting of gallery owner Steven Law, right, and poet-oncologist Stefan Balan of Andover, left.

A novel exhibition that mingles 2,000 years of biblical literature, 200 years of European master drawings, and 42 days of new poetry by Stefan Balan is on view at Rockport’s Découvert Fine Art.

The exhibit, “Love Never Ends: Exercises In Mythic Imagination,” sprang from a serendipitous meeting of gallery owner Steven Law and poet-oncologist Stefan Balan of Andover.

“At the heart of the exhibition is a profound narrative of connection, hope and transcendence,” Law said.

The collaboration that led to the exhibit began when Balan visited the art gallery with his wife and two children last winter.

“They just appeared one day, and our rapport was immediate,” Law said. “Curiosity bridged our worlds and after 42 days, a remarkable body of work came into being.”

Balan’s poetry draws from his experiences in both medicine and art.

A native of Romania, he is the recipient of the American Cancer Society’s Lane Adams Quality of Life award and the Champions and Visionaries of Healthcare award, according to his bio.

Law said this collaboration transcends traditional boundaries of art to celebrate a timeless interplay of visual art, literature and poetry.

“In all the 12 years as a gallerist, I have never had so many meaningful conversations that stem from an exhibition as I have had with this one. People have felt it,” he said.

In creating this show, he curated a selection of European master drawings that he paired with selected biblical verses to provide a historical and spiritual framework. Inspired by these pairings, Balan wrote poems that explore themes of human resilience, faith and the passage of time.

“The hope is that visitors will leave not only with a greater appreciation of these art forms but also with a sense of hope and renewal,” Law said.

But the creative process on this theme of the human condition does not end with this exhibition. Balan and Law plan to commission a new musical composition.

This effort was sparked by a heartfelt story that Law shared with Balan about a requiem by French composer Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986).

“My late husband and I experienced this masterpiece during our final Boston Symphony subscription together as well as at cherished performances at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, Notre Dame in Paris, and at our wedding,” Law said. “Each time, we were transported, carried to the heavens. Music, art, and literature have the power to do that.”

Law and Balan are driven to commission this new requiem by their desire to honor all who grieve and find healing and hope through poetry and music.

“Requiems are yearnings of the departed shared by the living, that loved ones will find their way to paradise and peace,” Law said. “Love’s continued reverberations with the departed make possible a healing of the deep wound of loss — from the initial stunning moment of separation toward a self that is restored, and even transformed to remain in life.”

Proceeds from this exhibition will contribute to the commission and future performance of the new requiem.

Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, from 1:30 to 5 p.m., and by appointment; email: slaw3895@gmail.com. The show runs through Bastille Day, July 14.

The exhibit, poetry and artist information can be viewed online at https://www.decouvertfineart.com/exercises.