This Salon conversation, a return of a series which began prior to the pandemic, is presented by the Nevelson Legacy Council. This Salon celebrates the life of The Rev. Dr. Ralph Edward Peterson, the visionary builder – with the creative partnership of architects, designers, artists, business persons, government leaders, philanthropists and congregation members – of the “new” Saint Peter’s Church (1977).
Among the most storied collaborations is that with Louise Nevelson, the preeminent sculptor who created Chapel of the Good Shepherd (1977) for Saint Peter’s. A Renewing a Masterwork campaign is underway to restore and conserve Nevelson Chapel, the artist’s only remaining, fully intact immersive environment in its original location.
Before his death, Dr. Peterson began planning this event in celebration of his 90th Birthday. The Council is honored to host it, in partnership with Saint Peter’s Church, and warmly invites your in-person participation. A reception follows.
Kindly RSVP to council@nevelsonchapel.org
About the Salon participants
Teresa Carbone, moderator, is Program Director for American Art at the Henry Luce Foundation. Prior to her position at Luce, she was curator at the Brooklyn Museum from 1985 to 2015, overseeing the American Art collections from 2005 to 2015 as Andrew W. Mellon Curator of American Art.
W. Easley Hamner, the project architect for Hugh Stubbins Associates, the architects of Citigroup Center, inclusive of Saint Peter’s Church, whose collaboration with Dr. Peterson endured as a life-long friendship.
The Rev. Dale R. Lind, Jazz Pastor Emeritus at Saint Peter’s Church, was a professional collaborator of Dr. Peterson’s as well as of the late Rev. John Garcia Gensel (who founded the church’s legendary Jazz Ministry in 1964) since the first days of their considerable time at Saint Peter’s.
Wilson Yates, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Society and the Arts at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, who worked with Dr. Peterson from the earliest days of their art/religion/society efforts.
Karen Zukowski, independent historian and member of the Nevelson Legacy Council, who was working with Dr. Peterson at the time of his death to explore the creative and spiritual force of the Chapel. Karen chairs the Arts Committee of the Council, a group of conservation professionals guiding the restoration of Nevelson Chapel.
About Dr. Peterson
The Rev. Dr. Ralph Edward Peterson served as the seventh pastor of Saint Peter’s Church.
His leadership, from 1966 to 1980, came at a decisive time in the Church and City’s history. Under his guidance and in dynamic collaboration with church leaders, architects, designers, artists, business persons, government leaders and philanthropists, Saint Peter’s revitalized with a mission at the intersection of art, religion and society. In the 1970s, Dr. Peterson led this revitalized congregation in establishing a first-of-its-kind condominium with First National City Bank, which resulted in the building of CitiCorp Center (1977) inclusive of the “new” Saint Peter’s Church.
The new church was the work of Hugh Stubbins, with principal architect Easley Hamner, and designers Lella and Massimo Vignelli. Ralph enlisted preeminent sculptor Louise Nevelson to craft a contemplative chapel, which she called a “gift to the universe” and an “oasis of silence.” He brought the Rev. John Garcia Gensel’s jazz ministry to Saint Peter’s which led to it being dubbed “the first church of jazz.” Once completed Saint Peter’s flourished as a spiritual and cultural “intersection” of worship, inclusiveness, ecumenism and learning in the heart of midtown Manhattan. In 2016 the Landmarks Preservation Commission of the City of New York formally designated Saint Peter’s Church, along with the entirety of Citicorp Center, a landmark. Together, the complex is New York City’s youngest landmark.
After leaving Saint Peter’s Dr. Peterson joined the Episcoapl Church, where he served a number of congregations and institutions, including House of the Redeemer in New York City.
Ralph was born on April 12, 1932, in Duluth, MN to the Rev. Harold Edward Peterson and Verna Muriel Peterson, née Miller. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1954 and a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University in 1955. He attended the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago from 1958 to 1960, earned a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained. After graduate studies at Columbia University, he began his clerical career in New York City in 1962 at the National Council of Churches as Executive Director, Department of Ministry. In 1971 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Gettysburg College.
Ralph married Karin Birgitta Esselius on May 31, 1969, at Uppsala Cathedral, Sweden. He is predeceased by her and his brother, Dale. Ralph is survived by his son, Kristofer, who lives in London, England with his wife Chloe and their four children, Fredrik, Lucia, Axel and Thor.
A Mass of the Resurrection with inurnment will be celebrated on Saturday, December 17 at 10:30 AM.