Are you known within your parish as an artist?
Many of you who read this are likely visual artists whose work involves their faith. We'd welcome your comments on whether you are known within your parish as an artist who creates religious/spiritual art. Here are some open-ended questions:
If you are known, how did it happen and how does it affect your life within the parish? If you are not known, would you like to be? What could ECVA do to help make this happen?
Thank you in advance for your comments.
Brie Dodson
Director of Communications
The Episcopal Church & Visual Arts
If you are known, how did it happen and how does it affect your life within the parish? If you are not known, would you like to be? What could ECVA do to help make this happen?
Thank you in advance for your comments.
Brie Dodson
Director of Communications
The Episcopal Church & Visual Arts
posted by ECVA | 4:43 PM
12 Comments:
I'm not sure my current parish, where I serve as Vicar, is a good indicator. In my parish before seminary, St. Peter's Church in Rome, Georgia, the congregation knew of my photography and my wife's photography and writing. We both thought of ourselves as artists, but at best what we did was seen as craft, even though some of the work we did together (polaroid image transfers and hand-painted black and whites) were for sale in a local gallery. I think it is difficult for many to see photography in any form as fine art.
peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue
You know, Frank, I have experienced the same thing with not only photography, but digital graphics as well. I think it may be that those who are not into art production do not recognize primary design element that runs through art, whatever medium employed. I think that some in my parish view me as involved in art work (most don't know or care who did this or that advertising art or bulletin cover), but there is a narrow view of "artist" which does not let in a practicing attorney who earns a living outside of art as the real thing.
Most discouraging to me is the general lack of knowledge concerning ECVA in my area. I get these blank stares followed by "E-What?" and "why does the church need that?" And when we go to the on-line exhibition information, it is as if I directed them to Mars. This is not everyone's reaction, but it is the reaction of many.
Jan Neal
I am not known, nor do I consider myself, an artist in my Parish. However, I am the beneficiary of much beauty created by numerous artists within my church; the artists who create beautiful flower arrangements for the Altar and Nave each Sunday from fresh cut flowers, the artist who creates a beautiful bulletin cover each Sunday. I have been amazed however, at the lack of appreciation shown to those who create such beauty and make use of the gifts of the Spirit. Have we become such a self consumed world that we can no longer give thanks for all of God's gifts?. Are we not denying God, when we refuse to see or acknowledge the beauty given to us by God through these talented souls? Is not art, at minimum, a vehicle by which to enhance our worship? I am reminded of the words of St. John Damascene, who said, "The beauty of ...images moves me to contemplation, as a meadow delights the eyes and subtly infuses the soul with the glory of God"
So, to all you creative souls, not known as "artist" who provide such beauty and enhance our worship, I say to you, continue to create with impunity because you make us all the more richer for it, even those who know not what they see and how they are blessed by your gifts.
the congregations which I have served as interim rector over the past 6 years have known of my attempts to pursue the single question of "what did Jesus see that prompted His claim that the Kingdom was at Hand ? " I have used my watercolor abstractions as a mean of getting at the question in sermons. The responses seem to indicate that folk could begin to wonder if the " Kingdom " might be a present experience rather than strictly a future hope. In theological parlance, I guess my art is an attempt to probe realized eschatology and hopefully foster an appreciation of creation as "filled with the glory of God" On another level, the art provides another way into seeking the mind of Christ by probing what might have been his vision .... from which His gospel flowed.
Thanks for the chance to do this reflection .
Roy W Cole+
Diocese of Upper South Carolina
What a wonderful use of your art, Roy, and how refreshing it is to hear someone suggest that the " Kingdom " might be a present experience rather than strictly a future hope. Use of art to teach and uplift makes it very visible as a gift from God.
Jan Neal
I am an artist known in the parish though my work is not generally shown. However, I have been creating ribbon banners for various seasons that seem to be enjoyed. They came about because of a lack of updated banners and a desire by our new priest to add color to the nave.
Generally, though, I find most parishioners do not activiely incorporate art in their spiritual life, except perhaps for the most traditional of images.
As the CF Coordinator I have introduced Behold posters and magazine, from the curriculum Seasons of the Spirit. It includes poetry, visual art and music in each seasonal packet. Also, the 3 volume Imaging The Word: An Arts and Lectionary Resource publ. by United Church Press (the Behold magazine grew from that) is wonderful to use and share.
I second Jan's response, Rob. What a wonderful way to explore the question. Have you submitted any of your pieces to the EVCA site? I would love to see them. I'm going to check now!
Lynn P
I am known in my Parish as an artist. My art is not centered consciously on my faith, but I have to assume my faith informs my art somehow. I do not set out to make "Christian art" or even art that is related to religion or faith. That said, there is something that bridges my faith and my art.
When my art is successful I believe it communicates my vision of some small piece of the world to the viewer. I think real visual art is characterized by this kind of conduit between artist and viewer. In a real sense it is a spiritual connection. It happens infrequently, but when it does it feels like God is holding hands with me and the viewer.
peace,
Dan Barry
Dan, I agree with you that there is a bridge between art and faith regardless of the artistic intent. Isn't the whole world and everything in it, whatever the subject of a given work of art, God's handiwork, and aren't we participating in co-creation when we depict it? While I am intensely interested in direct liturgical themes, there are messages of faith to be found in the most common image of nature, color and light (the "small piece of the world" of which you speak). The spiritual connection is made, I think, when the artist inspires the viewer to see something usual in an unusual way. By the way, your web site design is very effective, and your art makes me see nature in a distinct and different way. I like your work very much.
Jan Neal
Yes I am known and here are news articles on my bible to show you what I have done. My church gave me space to write the bible in the church and people in the church know me for that work. These links have pictures so you can see what I am doing.
WFAA TV ran this Easter 2005 video showing me writing the Bible at my Exhibition at the Center for Biblical Arts in Dallas, the Biblical Arts Museum in March and April 2005. http://www.wfaa.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=www.wfaa.com/pronk/050328_1200biblewriter_wz.wmv
“An Epic Undertaking” The Dallas Morning News, March 15, 2005. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/parkcities/stories/031605dnparpepper.99f18.html
“Hand Lettering of Bible proves illuminating” The Dallas Morning News, March 14, 2001. Dallas Morning News article that compares my Bible to the Saint John’s Bible where they interview the director of the Saint Johns Bible project about my Bible, so Saint Johns has known in print about my Bible since 2001. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/122904_religionlookback_illuminatedbible.59cd1e6d.html
“James Pepper: Still toiling, now with pope’s blessing” Dallas Morning News December 31, 2004 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/010105dnrel9.648a4cb3.html
These links can be found on my website which is best found by doing a Google of “The Pepper Bible.” http://www.hometown.aol.com/biblescribe1/biblescribe1/index.htm
James G. Pepper
Biblcial SCribe
James,
Thanks so much for sharing your work. I plan to visit the sites provided and see your work. Your work sounds fascinating.
I am an artist that uses mixed media and visual liturgical design production but it hasn't been easy.
There doesn't seem to be much need for my talent and I am having to start at square one to bring liturgical art into our diocese.
I decided to organize at the top instead of fight the blocked doors at the local parish level.
The first thing I did was to organize other liturgical artists in the diocese and formed a committee (I think there is power in numbers). This sounds simple but this task took over 6 months to organize and meet. We are now writing a "How To" internet book for other parishes concerning the visual arts on our diocesan web site. this will include the various symbols, colors, and materials-media, structure and design principles that can be used
during the various liturgical seasons.
We are also asking that each parish make an inventory of their sacred art (this could take two hundred years), publish to the diocese when they are having visual art productions in their churches, offer liturgical art workshops to include visual art and sacred dance and drama in the diocese, and a liturgical art calendar to be produced on the website.
I know that this all sounds very basic but to start at the ground level and involve art in the Episcopal Church of our diocese is new, exciting, and a could be a bit frightening if we fail. But of course we won't fail because we are talking about creating a venue to lift up our hearts in praise through liturgical art. How can we fail?
Blessings,
Connie
Connie,
This sounds like a fabulous diocesan project to open the doors to art. I am most interested in hearing how this is going and seeing the resources you have on-line. Would you be willing to send a link (either here or to me privately at jbnecva@mindspring.com)? I don't think it is so unusual to find it hard to awaken interest in art on the local level. I believe that many artists face the same challenge, and you have come up with a creative educational solution. Thanks so much for your inspiration.
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