ENVISION



Last week I went to the launch of "envision" (a new Treasure Valley wide faith based art community open to creatives of all mediums, skill levels, and accomplishments). over 40 people turned out! it was exciting to see the potential and possibilities when creatives gather together to collaborate in community. We know that though the normal tendency for a creative is to isolate (in our creative process, in our... business, in our spiritual lives, in our relational lives), truth is we the creative desires community and connection at a deep level (it's just so darn hard to be vulnerable with who we are and trust). It's encouraging when norms are broken down and we can reach across the barriers to each other (to understand and be understood). I like it when i see this beginning to happen.

Envision meets on the 3rd Wednesday night of each month, from 7pm to 9pm.

It's first meeting was at the VineArts Studio. It will probably meet there for awhile and then perhaps move around depending upon the theme of the night. Each month will have a different topic and speaker, a different format and experience (some with hands on experiential art making). The first meeting was made up of musicians, singer/songwriters, poets, authors, painters & other visual artists, photographers, dancers, art teachers, and art ministers from a number of churches throughout the Treasure Valley.
Envision:
Connecting Creatives with Each Other and the Creator

"The result of God’s stirring in our hearts, Envision aims to bring a sense of community to Christian creatives. Our vision centers on finding ways to embrace, inspire, and empower creatives, ushering them into the knowledge of who they are in Christ, while nurturing our God-given abilities to connect with each other, our communities, the world, and ultimately our Creator.

Envision will speak to all Christian denominations without prejudice. Whether or not you presently attend a church or have community with other artists, this is a safe place for you to come and find more of who you were created to be.

This meeting is an important opportunity for creatives within all areas of art to explore what needs among us are unmet. Your willingness to share ideas and discuss possible solutions to questions such as the ones below is critical as we move forward.

• What unmet needs do you see in the Christian creative community?
• What do you need in order to feel more connected and inspired as a creative individual?
• How can we support and serve you?

To help illustrate our vision we will feature a guest speaker/guest artist at each meeting who will share with our group. The first meeting on March 20th was led by Sherri Coffield. She spoke about how she came to realize that being a Christian artist doesn't have to mean creating art with a narrow religious focus and how this discovery has impacted her spiritual growth and personal ministry.

If you have questions or comments about upcoming meetings you can contact:
Sherri Coffield
scoffield.id@gmail.com
Child care will not be provided. Children under the age of 17 will only be admitted on a case to case basis since some mature content may not be appropriate."

all about LOVE

This site is about my art. I'm not one to normally post about my political views here or anywhere else for that matter. I don't like getting into debates or heated discussions with people (it's just not who I am). And I respect everyone's perspective, beliefs, and points of view...always trying my best to listen, understand, and love from the heart (especially if we don't agree on something).

So please understand, though this post will reveal something about me that I don't normally share in public, it's not meant to be anything else other than to share with you another opporutnity I had to love through creativity. I can't help but share the heart behind what I got to participate in this week by being able to paint live at a dear friends' fundraiser. This was all about love.

This week I had the priviledge to paint live during the 2013 Stanton Healthcare Spring Banquet themed "Building a Legacy of Life: Going Mobile". The non-profit healthcare organization was celebrating a new mobile unit to do free ultrasounds for women seeking help at the time of pregnancy.

The 2013 Stanton Healthcare Banquet was held at The Riverside Hotel in Boise.

There were over 480 people who gathered to support Stanton Healthcare and help raise funds for the coming year. People from the clergy, business, foundations, political (local & national), medical, entertainment arenas were present. But the honored guests were the Stanton Healthcare clients themselves. They are the real story here. The practical love that Stanton pours out to them blows my mind!

This is me with my good friend, the Founder and President of Stanton Healthcare, Brandi Swindell. The work she does in the political and medical arenas on a local level and on a national level for women and children and human rights is cutting edge and making history for our nation...all motivated by her heart to love people with the love of God. And that is Brandi in a nutshell...a lover of people (especially those who are broken and faced with difficult circumstances & decisions. she walks side by side with them, never judging or giving up on them, always embracing and helping).

 This is me with the Rev. Patrick Mahoney,

Director of The Christian Defense Coalition, Washington DC.

Rev. Mahoney was the Master of Ceremonies at the banquet.

This is a photo taken of me painting live during the banquet. I started out with a canvas that I had pre-textured with venetian plaster to create the look of a womb. I then layered paper images, words, and paint. I incorporated the Stanton flower logo into it.

The center image of the baby in the womb is a print of a sketch I did for the book:

"Formation Generation" by Robert M. Kurz (a book about praying through the developmental stages of your unborn chld. I illustrated it with over 30 original sketches) published in 2009 by Tate Publishing (you can find it on Amazon.com). This book is endorsed by Brandi Swindell and Rev. Patrick Mahoney and given to Stanton Healthcare clients.

Once I was finished creating, I invited some of the Stanton Healthcare clients and their babies to dip their hands into fingerpaints and imprint onto the painting (allowing them to become a part of the creating process). The painting (which is representing the precious creation of each of us by God, through being knit together in our mother's womb) has Scripture and other imagery and quotes about the development of the unborn child layered throughout the background.

The painting was later auctioned off to the highest bidder. It became a bidding war and in the end the painting sold for $3,250! All the monies were donated to Stanton Healthcare and the winner redonated the painting to Stanton so it can hang in the clinic as a beautiful memory and testimony of loving people.

"I knew you before you were born"

created live at Stanton Healthcare Banquet 2013

by abstract expressionist artist, Lisa Marten

30x40 mixed media on canvas

sold for $3,250 (all donated to Stanton Healthcare)

Stanton Healthcare is: a 501C3. founded by Brandi Swindell (Founder&President).
It runs with over 150 volunteers (medical, administrative, clerical, client advocacy/counseling, client services/practical needs, legal services, accounting services, event planning&coordination, development, resource identification, community outreach, childbirth education, sexual integrity education&information, parenting education).
Stanton Healthcare provides: free and confidential services: early detection pregnancy verification (no charge), limited obstetrical ultrasounds (no charge), life-affirming options counseling, first trimester pregnancy care, client advocacy, child birth/parenting education, maternity&baby supplies, adoption information, annual spa day, practical assistance, post abortion exams&support, sexual integrity program, referrals for OB/GYN care&STD testing, housing assistance&legal advice.
The mission of Stanton Healthcare: to offer life-affirming options and resources to abortion vulnerable women; provide hope to those struggling from the pain of a past abortion; and share the messsage of sexual integrity with this emerging generation-in a professional environment that promotes physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
The vision of Stanton Healthcare: to make the womb a safer place to live by making Stanton Healthcare "The Right CHOICE for Women."
Stanton Healthcare is located at: 3684 N. Harbor Ln., Boise, ID 83703 (next door to Planned Parenthood)
For more info on Stanton Healthcare: www.StantonHealthcare.org


It truly was an honor to love out of creativity to people who really are all about loving from the heart. I am thankful for the opportunity and am so excited that the painting sold for such a high price to help benefit the clients of Stanton.

As the Founder & President of Stanton is quoted to say:
"Hearts are being changed and lives are being saved. Babies that might have had their lives ended are being given life and women are finding hope-and that's amazing! Stanton is about teamwork and counting on each other to provide the best possible care to women faceing unexpected pregnancies. Through ultrasounds and 18 month support program (at no charge) our clients and their babies get a chance at a brighter future. Our goal is to be the first choice for every abortion vulnerable woman in our area facing an unexpected pregnancy. For those women, we want to be the first resource that comes to their mind. With our professional and compassionate care-and most of all-our love for them, they'll find peace and strength. Let's continue to stand together to build a legacy of LIFE." -Brandi Swindell



The Pilgrimage to Laity

The past few years I've traveled with a group of art ministry leaders from VineArts Boise to a remote location in Texas to attend the annual "Retreat for Pastors and Ministers to Artists" held at Laity Lodge by arts pastor David Taylor. This year was my fourth consecutive year traveling to the four day retreat and like each one before it, I've come back filled and inspired and encouraged about my role as an art minister.

The pilgrimage to connect in community with other arts ministers from around the States and the world each year is not an easy one. When I say that, I mean that there is a lot of time, money, committment, and preparation involved with the decision to attend (and not just on an individual basis, but also on a team basis). Like most conferences, seminars, retreats, and other meetings where there is travel, transportation, accomodation, meals, and session times involved...there is a registration cost (this particular retreat registration includes the cost of accomodation, meals, and sessions) along with the cost of flights and car rental and any meals outside of the time at the retreat.

One reason why I'm even bringing this up is to make note that as a traveling art minister (who isn't being paid for this particular aspect of what I do and am completely reliant on my art sales through my art business) the journey to Laity Lodge each year requires trust and faith that the financial and time committment will be covered. The other reason I bring this up is that, unlike my other art ministry travels that take me solo to other countries or states where I connect through creativity by partnering with pastors, missionaries, or friends who are already reaching out to their communities in relationship, this particular trip is embarked upon with one or more arts ministers from the VineArts Ministry in Boise. So the trip is contingent on schedules and finances of the entire group going. We each pay our own registration costs but work together to fundraise for the travel expenses through the VineArts Ministry.

One creative way we do this is to make fresh salsa together as a team and sell it to raise money for the trip. The totals of sales help to determine if our trips transportation cost will be met. The salsa has always been a big hit with supporters and we spend numerous days advertising, creating, canning, and selling the homemade cilantro lime salsa (a family recipe of one of our leaders) each year. The committment to this fundraiser has become a valued experience for those leaders planning to attend Laity and even for those leaders who won't be attending but enjoy the collaboration and will ultimately gain from the collective learning that Laity provides those who do attend. 

I enjoy being able to travel to Laity with leaders from the VineArts Boise arts ministry each year, as it allows not just for an individual experience but also for a collaborative experience. The act of prepping and planning, traveling and partaking, sharing and debriefing together, allows for a richer, deeper, more meaningful experience along the way. The shared experience enhances and encourages each of us as we endeavor to minister to artists individually and collectively.

I want to also quickly mention that though this is titled "Retreat for Pastors and Ministers to Artists" and though there certainly is emphasis on respite and renewal, this is not a vacation. It's a deliberate intimate gathering of Pastors, Ministers, Priests, Missionaries, Theologians, Scholars, Directors, Producers, Musicians, Singer/Songwriters, Artists, Poets, Writers, Dancers, Sculptors, and many other creatives and practitioners who have a commonality to care for the hearts of creatives within their communities (inside and outside of the church). People travel from all over the States and other countries representing numerous Christian denominations and organizations specifically for the opportunity to learn from each other regarding their work with creatives. It really is a very unique gathering of individuals and a very sacred time carved out for those who attend.

Each year there are different featured speakers and artists scheduled to share based on a predetermined theme or topic. In years past we've been honored by speakers like Poet Luci Shaw, Iconographer Frederica Green, Music Producer Charlie Peacock. This year the topic was "Being Caretakers of the Imagination" and the featured speakers were James Smith- Professor of Philosophy and Adjunct Professor at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI. and David Taylor-pastor, artist, author of "For the Beauty of the Church". The featured artists were Artist-Jay Walker; Professor of Art at Seattle Pacific University and sculptor-Roger Feldman; Painter-Jim Janknegt. The featured musician was Director of Worship Arts, Trinity Presbyterian Bifrost Arts-Isaac Wardell.

I won't go into details here about what was shared and discussed during this particular retreat (I need to wade through my notes and the files in my head and heart first) but I do want to say that the conversations and the connections at these retreats have been and are priceless to me. They seem to naturally set the tone and theme for my year. It takes me months, even years to process all that I experience at these retreats. I've learned to allow myself the time to do this. And I've learned that what was taken in on one retreat may not make sense until another...this is the process of allowing myself to dip into the deep wells of all that I've experienced at them and drink when the time is right, in order to understand my role as an art minister.

Another cherished thing about these gatherings is the meeting of those who understand each other. I remember the first time I attended the retreat after meeting fellow art ministers from all over the world, I had felt like I had found my "tribe". Fact is, we've all been journeying together for 4-5 years now...and we're becoming a family of art ministers. And like any family we are made up of individuals who have diverse backgrounds and views, focuses and specialties, giftings and callings...but we are family...and we are all on this pilgrimage together. And I will continue to make the journey as I can.

Eagle Magazine

I've had an article written about me and my art in the March-April 2013 edition of Eagle Magazine (a local lifestyle magazine).

It was a wonderful collaborative process between the editor, Jamie Dillon; the journalist, Kate Matthews; the graphics designer, Dave Stein; and myself. I want to thank them for representing me well.

You can view the article a number of ways. The magazine hits the newsstands today. You can pick up a hard copy for free at any Eagle Magazine stand that sits in front of restaurants and businesses in the Eagle City area. If you subscribe to the magazine you can have it delivered directly to you. And you can read on-line at www.eaglemagazine.com. If you click on the large link below titled "Connecting Through Creativity" you can go directly to the article and read on-line.

I also have to note...the article about me is in an edition that is also featuring "The Art of Fly Fishing" and "Living Long, Living Strong", along with articles featuring other creatives, writers, and even Publisher Maryanna Young. This excites me all the more! I find this quite appropriate! Thank you Eagle Magazine!

Eagle Magazine
March-April 2013
Page 32-33
Connecting Through Creativity
written by Kate Matthews
designed by Dave Stein
photos by Evermore Prints & Starry Night Media