Group Art & Worship Events

Once in awhile I get the wonderful opportunity to be a part of group Art & Worship events. VineArts has facilitated several of these over the years...to different groups of people in different venues for different occasions...but always for the purpose to help people experience an intimacy with God & their fellow human being in a creative way. Many of these people aren't comfortable with artistic expressions...or don't consider themselves artists...BUT we believe that everyone is creative (because God-the ultimage creator-created us in his image and we all have his creativity in our genes...creativity isn't just drawing, painting, or sculpting). Also, many people arent' familiar with creative expression as a viable form of worship to God...BUT we believe that worship is in everything we do and say...we were created to worship Him...and so whenever we do things from our hearts (even if it's expressing love to another person....or expressing joy through creating art) we are allowing ourselves to worship. So yesterday I got to be a part of an Art & Worship event that VineArts facilitated at a local university in the Boise area. We met with around 60 students for this event. We provided everything (canvas, paints, supplies, etc.). The event began with blank canvases that we stretched, primed, and prepared with outlined images for the group to paint on. We as the leadership are there in the background to help pour paint on pallettes, change out water for the brushes, and occasionally encourage a participant.

We invited people to come and paint on the canvases together side by side (they could use whatever colors they chose). The only rule was they can't destroy something someone else painted...but they could add on or enhance it. This is a practical lesson in working together for a common purpose.

Music, coffee, refreshments, and an ambiantic setting was provided to help the participants feel comfortable to create together. One of our VineArts leaders spoke out encouraging words, read poetry, and shared heart to heart stories of life with the group throughout the event.

It's an incredible experience to watch so many individuals come together side by side and create something so beautiful together...there were no directions on how to...it all just developed naturally.

Here are the finished canvases after only 3 hours!

Once the students left to go to lunch, our team got busy with clean up and also cutting up the 3 canvases!!!! Yes!!! I read that right!!! We cut the canvases off the frames and then flip them over, grid them out and cut them in squares!!

Each person who participated gets to take one of the squares home with them (they are randomly distributed)...as a memento of the event...but also as reminder that their individual piece is vitally important to make up the big picture...and they also need each other in order to have the entire picture. It's an amazing lesson in the importance of community and our own purpose in this life.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE being a part of these kinds of events (and I don't even do any painting!!!)....it's so cool to talk with the participants and find out how impactful such a simple experience is in their lives and it's also such a fun experience for those of us on the leadership team as we work together to put on the event and as we get to see God move in other people's lives.

What an A.MAZ.ING weekend of ART!

Creativity Workshop taught by J. Scott McElroy at The Woman of Steel Gallery. Photo taken by Irene Deely.

This is me painting live on-site at the 2010 VineArts Gala.

The Creativity workshop taught by Indianapolis author of "Finding Divine Inspiration", J.Scott McElroy, on Friday night was soooooooo encouraging! Held at the Woman of Steel Gallery in Boise, it was hosted by the Woman of Steel herself, Irene Deely. The night was dedicated to learning how to hear God speak to us and applying that partnership to our creativity. We all were created by God who is the best artist & the creator of the universe...and we were created in His image...therefore we have that same kind of creativity within us (it's in our genes)...we just need to recognize this and learn to listen to the Holy Spirit to partner with Him as we create. Scott took us through an exercise where we paired up and prayed silently for the other person...as we prayed we were to listen and ask God for a picture for that person. Then we were to draw or paint what we saw and then share it with the person and then pray for them again. Surprisingly enough...it was quite easy to do (even for those who thought they couldn't hear from God)...and everyone had a story about how the picture spoke to them very specifically and was encouraging in their current circumstances. It was quite amazing and a wonderful blessing to hear from God and learn that we can bless others through our creativity...if we only ask for God to use us in this creative way. Thank you Irene & Scott!

The VineArts Gala on Saturday night was a spectacular event...a night of sophisticated style! The theme was Creating Culture. It was a semi-formal arts event with live classical & jazz music, catered food, on-site artists creating, poetry readings, and special speakers: Irene Deely (metal sculptor & owner of The Woman of Steel Gallery) who shared stories from the road of her 3rd National "Liberty Rising Tour"and J.Scott McElroy (author of "Finding Divine Inspiration") who spoke about partnering with God as we create. Jessie Nilo, the VineArts founder & director, presented the VineArts Leaders and spoke on what VineArts is about and how we're reaching the artist and those who respond to art (within the church, the community, the nation, the world). It was an amazing night dedicated to the artist's heart. Thank you to everyone who made the Gala such a success!

Creating Culture: a VineArts Gala

CREATING CULTURE: a VineArts Gala

WHEN: Saturday November 6, 2010

WHERE: Heritage Hall at Vineyard Boise

TIME: 7pm-10pm

COST: $7

DESCRIPTION: This semi-formal event will take place in the beautifully decorated Heritage Hall, and is for ages 12 and up. This is our main fundraiser for the year. Enjoy live music and dance performances, exquisite refreshments, and local artists creating artworks on-site. Selected artists will display and sell their artwork, with 20% of sales directly benefiting the VineArts Ministry.

SPEAKERS: J.Scott McElroy (Arts Pastor of Indianapolis Vineyard & author of the book "Finding Divine Inspiration: Working with the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity") and Irene Deely (metal sculptor & owner of The Woman of Steel Gallery)

To purchase tickets on-line: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e30ywl6s58ba1bdb&oseq=

Workshop on Creativity and the Holy Spirit

"Calling artists in churches everywhere!

You’re invited to a Creativity Workshop featuring J. Scott McElroy, Director of Arts from the Indianapolis Vineyard.

Learn to collaborate with God in your creativity, practical steps to hearing God’s voice, exercises in creating life-changing prophetic artwork, and more.

When: Friday Nov. 5, from 6:30-8:30pm

Where: The exquisitely beautiful Woman of Steel Gallery.

McElroy is the author of Finding Divine Inspiration: Working with the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity, and founder of The New Renaissance Rising arts movement.

Note: McElroy will also be the main speaker at the VineArts Gala held Saturday evening, November 6 at Vineyard Boise Church. (Register separately to attend the Gala; tickets are $7 and we will be selling tickets at the door.)"

Register Here: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=k6as4ddab&oeidk=a07e32lgux6253ba76c