Entering the building, visitors reach a circular stairway topped by a skylight, from which the sun’s rays shine down on a life-size sculpture of Icarus, also by Logan. Like the Greek mythological figure who flew too close to the sun with wings fashioned from feathers and wax, this figure’s wings, composed of tiny mirror fragments, appear to dissolve as the piece, suspended on a long cable, turns slowly like a Calder mobile. Below a symbolic ocean of glass fragments by Bob Benson arranged to suggest a wave-like surface awaits Icarus’ fall into the sea.

Clyde Jones, another artist represented in the permanent collection, worked in the Georgia pine forest industry until crushed by a falling tree trunk 25 years ago. During recovery he began to carve, remembering his grandmother’s advice that this is what people who are depressed should do. In the exhibition he is represented by three-dozen wooden animals of every description, most of which are vibrantly painted, even though Jones is color-blind.

Each of the exhibiting artists has a story to tell. Baltimore native Loring Cornish moved to Los Angeles in 1997 and converted his rented apartment into an environment of mosaics, wall pieces and crosses before his landlord evicted him. Returning to Baltimore, he decorated his new surroundings with art that provided him with an environment of faith. Literally every cent went into his artwork; in his room, recreated at the Visionary Art Museum, a wall sculpture spells out the word “FAITH” in 4-foot-high letters composed of thousands of pennies with an overall pattern of nickels. The religious artist says he gains his inspiration from collections of objects. “Lots of things grouped together hit me,” he says. “They say, ‘Make something out of me.’”

Every year a half-dozen of the museum’s galleries are occupied by a mega-exhibit based on a single theme. The current exhibition (through August) is titled “All Faiths Beautiful: From Atheism to Zoroastrianism, Respect for Diversity of Belief.” Arrayed throughout the galleries are hundreds of examples of artistic, religious expression: Christina Varga’s Medieval-type triptych, for example, depicts Mohammed, Jesus and Buddha side-by-side; Preston Geter’s miniature totem pole features carved figures of Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King Jr., Satan and Christ, a juxtaposition that positions the King of Rock ’n’ Roll atop the King of the Civil Rights Movement. As is typical of all of the museum’s exhibits, pithy quotations abound: “Forced worship stinks in God’s nostrils,” Roger Williams (1603–83), Puritan fighter for religious freedom and the founder of religiously free Rhode Island. “My religion is kindness,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company,” Mark Twain.