New Beginnings in Creative Travels
looking back at 2012 and ahead at 2013
“It’s a dangerous business Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
-Bilbo Baggins
If you know me well enough you know how much I love The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Their scenes, dialogues, imagery, and multiple layered meanings have become the language of my life’s journey. From the moment Bilbo is invited on the quest by Gandalf and the dwarves to the moment Frodo joins him to sail off to Valhalla in the West...I am caught up in the story. I believe life is a story. Author John Eldredge speaks of this story that our hearts need to live, in his book, Waking the Dead…”We are now far into this epic Story that every great myth points to. We have reached the moment where we, too must find our courage and rise up to recover our hearts and fight for the hearts of others. The hour is late, and much time has been wasted. Aslan is on the move; we must rally to him at the stone table. We must find Gepetto lost at sea. We must ride hard, ride to Helm’s Deep and join the last great battle for Middle Earth. Grab everything God sends you.” Saint Irenaeus is quoted to say, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” The last few years I’ve heard my heart beating louder and stronger as God has been calling my name, like Much Afraid is beckoned to the High Places, as Thomas is called by the Boy to dive deep into the Lake, as Merida is drawn into the woods by the Wisps,...I’m to be a part of the Story. My name has been called. Warrior Painter-Dancing Child. With a heart that desires to love much and love well, I am wielding my paint brushes like a warrior and dancing on storms like a child to the far corners of the world. I’ve been called to be a lover of broken hearts. I’ve been called to be an advocate for the creative. I’ve been called to be a minister to the artist. I’ve been called to step out my door and travel wherever my feet take me. I’ve been called to walk through walls. The road has not been, isn’t, and will not be without struggle, without darkness, without heartache, and without fear. But it most certainly has been, is, and will be an adventure that is my life.
The winds have been changing and for such a time as this...I enter the Story to love fully alive.
I know what I must do...it’s just I’m afraid to do it. I cannot do this alone.
I’ve known this all along. I’m an only child who was brought up traveling and raised to appreciate places and cultures and peoples and experiences outside my own comfort zone. and I’m single with only myself to care for and look after (which I understand does give me chances and opportunities that others may or may not have). I recognize I have specific gifts and talents, and I have specific goals and dreams, and I have specific missions and callings. Though all of these things about me can give purpose and meaning and excitement to my life...admittedly, it can all be a bit daunting on my own. To converse about the deep things, to share experiences and collaborate ideas...to be challenged and encouraged, to learn and to teach, to grow and to change...it all requires relationship. Allowing others into our lives. To be real. To be raw. To be remade. And to gain the courage to be who were meant to be and to go do the things we are meant to do. It all requires relationship. So I’ve always been about relationship. I cannot do this thing called life alone. I’ve known this all along. This is why when I came upon the understanding that I was to set out on creative adventures around the world, taking art and creativity with me to partner with and come along side others who are already serving and connecting in community in other cities, in other states, in other countries...to join in the conversation that is already happening...I knew I needed to invite people in to what I was about to go do. I asked for friends and family to partner with me in support (through prayer, interest, financial means, communication) so that I wouldn’t be doing any of this on my own (everyone gets to be a part of the plan in some way). And I gathered a small group of 12 dear mentors, pastors, and friends around me as a sort of “Fellowship of the Ring” to Commission me for my journey. They continuously surround me with love and prayer and encouragement. They keep me accountable and challenge me to keep my focus to trust God as I embark on exciting but stretching paths abroad and here at home. I may be traveling on my own...but I’m not alone. I need community.
Anyways, you need people of intelligence on this sort of... mission... quest... thing.
LAITY LODGE RETREAT FOR ART MINISTERS: 3 years ago I traveled to a desert canyon retreat center in Texas for the first time with hopes of connecting with others who had a heart to minister to those crazy artsy types. And to my surprise and delight I was welcomed into a tribe of art ministers from all over the United States and the world. Getting to connect on intimate levels with artists, poets, musicians, songwriters, singers, dancers, sculptors, film makers, producers, writers, and other creatives who pastor, direct, minister, teach and mentor creatives in their communities, their churches, their cities has been one of the highlights of my year. I’ve returned each year for the 4 day time of respite and renewal. The relationships I’ve gained help me to take the steps I take each year in art ministry. I found my tribe!
CULTIVATION GENERATION: For the last 2 years Vineyard Boise has hosted a national youth conference each summer. I had the honor and privilege to help with the arts each night during the worship services at the 4 day event. I enjoyed being able to guide & mentor youth and young adults as they were given the freedom to express themselves creatively through visual art and dance as worship to God. It was so exciting to experience the life and vibrancy of the next generation being given the voice to speak and the permission to be who they’re meant to be in this world.
CREATIVE CHURCH CONFERENCE: The VineArts Ministry at Vineyard Boise hosted it’s first ever art conference in July. Featuring top authors & speakers on the subject of Art Ministry and Art in the Church we opened our doors to artists and art ministers from all over the United States and Canada for a 3 day conversation about creativity. This experience was so enriching. I co-led a few sessions and got the chance to connect in relationship with some amazing artists and art ministers from all over. We’re just beginning to break ground in this subject.
Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open.
PAINTING LIVE: There is something innately relational about experiencing and engaging with someone being creative as a message, as a story, as a conversation. It’s that language that transcends beyond differences in age, race, gender, faith, politics, cultures, ideologies. I love being able to paint live in front of people for that purpose...to break down the walls we put between each other and help us to speak the same language...the God given language of creativity. Whether I’m painting in a church service or out on the streets or at an art event, whether in a gallery or concert venue for hundreds of people or in a friends’ home for a private gathering...I love the interaction & collaboration I get to have with people as they engage with me while I’m engaging with the paint and the canvas, as I’m co-creating with God.
FUNDRAISING ART SHOW: I love who I am. I’m a self-employed working artist. That means the act of art making is my work. It is how I gain my income. I love what I get to do as a working artist. My work has been anything from selling my paintings created in my studio, doing commissioned paintings and murals, illustrating a book, designing CD covers and graphics for musicians, painting live at art events and churches, teaching art lessons and workshops, volunteering with VineArts (a local art ministry through Vineyard Boise Church), mentoring and encouraging other artists,...and most recently traveling to local communities in other states and countries to connect with people through creativity! With the new birthing of my creative travels around the world I found myself needing to raise money to pay for trip expenses (as I took 3 trips last year specifically for that purpose). I am very appreciative.... Last year a dear friend and benefactor aided me by financing an art event in June at a local art gallery in my honor. The event raised money (through art sales and donations) so I could continue as a traveling art minister, connecting with people all over the world through creativity. It was a huge success and gained me not only financial support, but clients and connections for art business and art ministry.
PERFORMANCE ART: A year and a half ago I co-founded a performance art company with an artist friend, Lukas Evergreen, called MARTEN EVERGREEN. We collaborate with other performers to create live avant-garde performances that combine dance, music, painting, and drama to tell a story and become an experience for the audience. We create a 2D painting during the performance that we later present for sale. We’ve performed at art events throughout Boise (last year performing 5 times!) giving us the opportunity to connect with other creatives and the public by building relationship before and after our performances. It has stretched and challenged me as an artist. I have found great joy and pleasure getting to dance and paint live and connect in community in this unique and creative way.
For the time would soon come when Hobbits would shape the fortunes of all.
My Creative Art Travels...
LITHUANIA: In April I traveled to northern Europe to connect with friends who are reaching a community in Klaipeda, Lithuania. They founded Vineyard Klaipeda (a church) where they mentor a small group of people and serve the city by helping out in the community. In partnering with my friends and meeting the people they were already in relationship with, I was able to facilitate a number of collaborative art projects with youth and adults in settings such as an orphanage, a school, and a couple of residential flats. I worked with several translators who would interpret my English into Lithuanian. But what I found most encouraging was that the language of creativity seems to transcend all language barriers.
ALASKA: In May I traveled to the northern most state of the U.S. to connect with a friend based in Anchorage, who is reaching many people throughout Alaska. She speaks at churches and mentors youth and young adults. Together we traveled to several churches and communities throughout the Anchorage and Kenai areas partnering in ministry at speaking engagements and other kinds of gatherings. In an official capacity, I painted live while she spoke and we ministered to those who were present. And in a more relaxed capacity, she connected me with artists and musicians and people she was already in relationship with and I was able to open up the conversation about creativity with them.
SCOTLAND: In Sept-Oct I traveled to the UK (for the 4th time) to connect with friends who are reaching a community in Arbroath, Scotland. They owned a café and built relationship with many artists and musicians in the historical east coast city. In partnering with my friends and meeting the people they were already in relationship with (along with other friends and people I was meeting on my own), I was able to have conversations with creatives throughout Arbroath, the highlands, Glasgow, and the west coast. I facilitated several collaborative art projects, painted live several times, painted murals, and enjoyed traveling around the country connecting and building relationship.
To read more about these trips I've taken and view photos go to: www.traveling-artist.blogspot.com
Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
Looking into 2013 so far...
Marten Evergreen:
ART IN THE BAR-Lukas Evergreen and I have been invited to join the production team of the local Boise art event: Art in the Bar that is held at The Knitting Factory Concert House in Boise throughout the year. This is a huge honor and will give us the wonderful opportunity to not only show and perform at the events, but also help produce them (allowing us to connect more with the local artists throughout the Boise area).
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES-to be announced. We are in the planning process of some new performances and will keep you informed. To see photos and video of past performances and to be informed on upcoming performances, follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/martenevergreen and here at this blog.
Art Ministry travels overseas:
THAILAND-autumn 2013, I'll be partnering through creativity with friends who are based in Lampang and Chang Mai.
Follow my adventures at: www.traveling-artist.blogspot.com . IF you're interesed in knowing more about this trip and helping to support me as I travel to northern Thailand to connect with people through creativity (if you're intereseted in helping through prayer support and/or financial support) you can contact me via email: revelatorart@yahoo.com . Thank you.
Art Ministry travels and conferences with VineArts:
TEXAS-Retreat for Art Ministers in March at Laity Lodge, Kerrville.
CALIFORNIA-National Vineyard Pastors Conference in July at Anaheim Vineyard, L.A.
IDAHO-Cultivation Generation in August at Vineyard Boise.
Follow what’s happening at: www.vineartsboise.org and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/vineartsboise and here at this blog.
revelatorART:
ART SHOWS-
-JANUARY-Coffee Studio in Meridian, ID
-APRIL-St. Luke’s Hospital Gallery in Eagle, ID
-JUNE-Eagle City Gallery in Eagle, ID
Follow what’s happening at: www.revelatorart.blogspot.com and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/revelatorart:lisamarten
and I'm sure a whole lot more is in store...
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.
“It is the greatest mystery of life that satisfaction is felt not by those who take, and make demands, but by those who give, and make sacrifices. In them alone, the energy of life does not fail, and this is precisely what is meant by creativeness. The positive mystery of life is therefore to be found in love, in sacrificial, giving, creative love. As has been said already, all creativeness is love and all love is creative. If you want to receive, give. If you want to obtain satisfaction, do not seek it. Never think of it, and forget the very word. If you want to achieve strength, manifest it. Give it to others.”
Shortly after my return from Scotland I was thrust into a family health crisis that consumed life for 2 months. It was a very stressful and stretching time that took it’s toll on me. It was during that time that I became familiar with what I call the BLUE FUNK (a foggy boggy darkness that settles in like an unwelcomed guest and takes up residence hanging, suspending) I am thankful for the amount of love and support I have surrounding me that helped me come to terms with the funk. Instead of fighting against it and causing more stress and tension for myself, I allowed myself to embrace it, sink into it, and learn from it. I’ve realized that I end up robbing myself of some key lessons learned and of some comforting truths when I reject the dark times. By taking them in, allowing my eyes to adjust, and listening...really listening, I am learning to trust.
2013 is revealing itself to be a year of embracing TRUST. Not just learning to trust or understanding the need for trust, but actively walking into trust...living trust, being trust. Open handed letting go kind of trust. That moment when Bilbo trusted his heart and not his head and signed the contract and ran out his door to go have his adventure. That moment when Frodo entered the Prancing Pony to find Gandalf absent and trusted to wait for direction. That moment when Arwen turned her horse around to return to Rivendell, trusting fate though all she had was a sense, a dream, a promise that there was a future for her and Aragorn. That moment when Samwise trusted that his friendship with Frodo was deeper and more true than the hold the ring had to divide them. Yes...it is that kind of trust...that active “creative love” that I believe I’m being tested to be.
“And this is my prayer for us: that we will not only love much, but love well.”
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