Bridgewater Artist's Nativity To Be Showcased At The Vatican In Rome

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — For the second year in a row, Bridgewater artist R Michael Palan was tapped to showcase his hand-made intricate nativity overseas at the Vatican in Rome for the holidays.

"It will be one of 100 from around the world. It will be labeled, 'Made in Bridgewater NJ'," said Palan to Patch.

Palan's nativity is based on the historic 19th-century Star Barn in Elizabethtown, PA, and will be on display from Dec. 8, 2024, to Jan. 6, 2025.

"The barn is Gothic Revival architecture. The iconic Grant Wood painting, 'American Gothic' gets its name from the Gothic Revival house in the background of the painting," said Palan.

Palan and his wife Karen Loccisano have been crafting nativities since 2011 in the basement of their Bridgewater home and have had their work showcased across the country including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, South Carolina and Washington, D.C.

Two years ago, Palan and Loccisano held a workshop for visitors to build their own Star Barn Nativity. They made a version of the same Nativity to place on display at the National Christmas Center at Stone Gables Estate in Pennsylvania.

Palan chose the Star Barn as his inspiration for the nativity because he wanted "the Nativity to have a very American look to it" for the international exhibit in Rome.

"The Star Barn itself, if you could fall in love with a building, you could fall in love with that building. It's just like a really spectacular building," said Palan.

Palan elaborated on what he did for the workshop and made it more complex for his Nativity in Rome.

"I'm proud. Since the beginning, we've always tried to find the best places we could to show our work. And I would have to say, I don't think it gets any better than the Vatican," said Palan.

The couple previously was chosen to showcase their American nativity in 2023. The scene had American touches to represent America such as Joseph being dressed in coveralls and there was a sign for Route 66 in the background. Read More: From A Bridgewater Basement To The Vatican In Rome: Nativity To Be Showcased

Palan and Loccisano also have a new Nativity that will be displayed at Glencairn Museum in Pennsylvania. Palan will be doing a presentation and dedicating their work to a friend they lost to cancer last year.

"In 2013, the first year we showed our Nativity work at Glencairn, our friend's family gifted their family Moravian Star from Soviet-occupied Germany to the museum. Our Nativity will be on display beneath that star," said Palan.

The couple have been creating memorable works of art for years. They met while working as illustrators for Highlights magazine. They eventually branched off to illustrate children's books and design Christmas ornaments for Kurt S. Adler. Read More: Bridgewater Husband-Wife Duo Crafts Exquisite Nativity Scenes

Then in 2011, the couple saw a Presepio (the Italian word for Nativity) at the Carnegie Museum of Art and were inspired to create their own.

Since then, Palan and Loccisano have worked out of their basement to create these beautiful works of art.

"It goes from our unfinished basement, from there, to a Grand Place," said Palan.

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