For those of you who didn't know, Shannon and I are team teaching a class at our church for Sunday School called, "Considering Visual Art from a Christian Worldview." We are presenting our final class this coming Sunday. It has been an amazing experience.Our intent is to equip and encourage the members of our church to get involved in the arts, specifically visual art where Shannon is completing her Masters of Fine Art (MFA) in painting.
The image above was created by an artist who is becoming a mentor to Shannon and a friend of mine, Berenice Rarig. She is with her husband in Perth, Australia, where he is a missionary for Mission to the World, while Berenice is completing her Ph.D. in Fine Arts.
The figure in the image is constructed of bones and is lit by candle light. As you look at the work, you will quickly see the shadow shows the figure is apparently kneeling in prayer. While you can't see it in the image, the installation of the piece incorporates the flicker of the candle which adds motion to the shadow. As I imagine this, I can almost share in the fervency and passion of the figure as he rocks, seeking to fully express himself in his communion with God.
I'm also impressed on how the image transitions from the light around the figure to darkness. Because of this transition, I feel it represents the theme Shannon and I are sharing in our class, that the arts need the light to push back the darkness. I believe this is the responsibility of our cultural mandate given by God in the garden to take stewardship over the creation as God's image-bearers, as those who carry light into a world with much darkness.
My thanks to Berenice for allowing us to use this image of her work to encourage other Christians to lay hold of our responsibility to regain the ground that has been woefully neglected for centuries...to seize the opportunity to push back the darkness.
My thanks to our church, Evangel Presbyterian, for allowing us the privilege of bringing this message in the class.
My praise to the Good Creator who gifted us who are made in His image with imagination and creativity. May we not only use these gifts for His glory, but for the encouragement of everyone, and for the faithful stewardship of His creation.
Please let me know what you think...
4 comments:
I think you're singing my song!
Great Song!
That's cool. At first glance it reminded me of the "sculpture" Shannie put together while the scouts were working on theirs.
Now I want to play with the light to see what comes out.
I try, I really do try. But at first glance at the picture, I thought you were doing a post on mosquitos.
But I'll keep trying!
And Shannie, I promise to keep my mouth shut at your art show if I don't get it!
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