Creating Art at a Nation-wide Conference

I just got back from one of the most incredible trips I've ever taken art related! I had the opportunity to travel with 4 other art ministers from our VineArts ministry at Vineyard Boise to present art ministry to the National Vineyard USA "All In" Conference in Anaheim, California.

We road tripped down to southern California from Boise, Idaho carrying easels, canvas, art & paint supplies, power tools & lumber. We collaboratively painted live during worship sessions at the conference for 3500 pastors, missionaries, leaders, teachers, musicians, youth & children who attended from Vineyard churches all over the United States. 

During the live painting sessions we created 7 separate paintings that we constructed together into one giant art installation piece. The piece became an 11 foot tall Celtic Cross. Our team  of 5 (plus 2 others) spent 6 months praying, collaborating, planning, and prepping for the piece that would speak to the Vineyard USA churches and to the entire Body of Christ.

We also provided art tables for people to create pictures during the final worship session. And we joined together with the art ministers at Indianapolis Vineyard to provide tables where people could come and get prayed for by our art ministers and receive a creative word or picture.

This kind of art & creativity had never been presented or provided before at one of these bi-annual conferences. It was a huge privilege to be asked to do this kind of work. We were approached by many people letting us know how much they were connecting with the presence of the art & creativity in that kind of setting. This was also a great launching point to talk about art ministry with people representing hundreds of churches throughout the United States.

To read a detailed description of the artwork we created and our artist statement and see photos & video of us creating live, click here: 
The Lonely Art Minister
to go to the blogpost titled:
"All In (Art we made at the National Vineyard Conference" written by Jessie Nilo (the VineArts Director).