TO FOLLOW MY ART MINISTRY ADVENTURES IN HAWAII DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, GO TO:
Monday, April 28, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Creativity and Contemplation
JOURNEY THIS WAY
This Lenten/Easter Season I was given the honor of partnering with Vineyard Boise Church for their "Journey of the Cross" multi-media interactive experience during Holy Week. "Journey of the Cross" has 4 events that the public can attend and are encouraged to interact with.
How have I partnered with them?
When faced with the sobriety of how human we are, those moments when we realize that we so desperately want to live fully and love well, but all too often we get bogged down in the mess of circumstances and we fail to respond and live out of that life and love, the question of the heart is asked, "Is it me?" and the journey becomes very personal.
I've created a 12 piece art exhibit that has been temporarily installed in the Vineyard Boise Church sanctuary for people to interact with during this most holy of seasons on the Christian church calendar. I created my exhibit in the contemplative tradition of "Stations of the Cross" that is usually experienced within liturgical churches, but with the difference that instead of the literal journey of Jesus Christ to the cross I have depicted a more contemporary personal journey of a heart. I researched and studied the traditional contemplative art form of iconography and have practiced the contemplative prayer forms of lectio and visio divina. In creating my exhibit I wanted to bring forward these ancient practices to modern day to create a kind of modern icon experience, and in such a way that whether the viewer has experience in liturgical practice or not, hopefully they can still connect with the exhibit in a personal way. Each station piece is made of various pieces of wood that have a center image created on cardboard (and decorated with gold leaf). Attached to each is a statement with questions meant to draw the viewer into a more personal interaction with the art piece. Each station piece leads to the next in a journey-like format allowing the viewer to follow a path much like we experience in real life (often times we experience it in cycles throughout our lives).
My exhibit is titled:
"There and Back Again: A Heart's Journey to Love Much and Love Well"
How to approach this art exhibit:
If you choose to journey, follow the arrows.
This exhibit is meant to be an opportunity to journey in contemplation through creativity. Allow yourself to engage with the art pieces themselves, but also allow yourself to experience something deeper emotionally and spiritually, beyond the art. Take the time to approach each station piece in sequence (starting with the Intro piece that explains the background of the exhibit and continue on through the Roman numerals 1-12).
As you approach a piece: view the center painting. Read the words hanging. Allow yourself to connect with the entire piece of art, engage with the words that are hanging, contemplate the meaning for you. Ask yourself questions. What is going on here in this piece for the heart? What is God saying to your heart through this piece? When you’re ready, follow the arrow to the next station piece. Continue the journey. The journey is meant to be a cycle we each experience (probably several times in a lifetime).
Some station pieces may speak to you more than others. That’s okay. Is there a station piece that connects with you more than the others? If so, ask yourself why. Is there a station piece that disturbs you more than the others? If so, ask yourself why. Spend time in prayer about it. Take some time to journal about it. Ask God to continue speaking to you during this Lenten/Easter season about what you connected with through this journey experience.
Thank you for embarking on the journey.
These visual expressions, interpreting transformative moments in the life of a creative
heart, are offered in the tradition of the contemplative Stations of the Cross.
Like stones of remembrance, each station depicts a moment along the path that has been influential to the journey of the heart.
Each tiny painting print is from an original large mixed media painting on canvas. Many of the originals were not created in the order they appear in this exhibit but are specifically placed now to create a journey for the heart. The koru swirl at the bottom of each piece is a seal meaning new beginnings .
There and Back Again: A Hearts Journey to Love Much and Love Well has been a ten year project, from inception to research, to its completion. And it s been the culmination of thirteen years of learning to listen for the Voice that calls the heart to take the risk, to trust, to be set free, to be who it s supposed to be, and to love much and love well.
Like stones of remembrance, each station depicts a moment along the path that has been influential to the journey of the heart.
Each tiny painting print is from an original large mixed media painting on canvas. Many of the originals were not created in the order they appear in this exhibit but are specifically placed now to create a journey for the heart. The koru swirl at the bottom of each piece is a seal meaning new beginnings .
There and Back Again: A Hearts Journey to Love Much and Love Well has been a ten year project, from inception to research, to its completion. And it s been the culmination of thirteen years of learning to listen for the Voice that calls the heart to take the risk, to trust, to be set free, to be who it s supposed to be, and to love much and love well.
1
Fill Me Up
It starts with the willingness to be open. Open for change. Open to learn and grow and become. Open to dream of more. Open to let go of all that would hinder. Open to new beginnings. Open to enter the journey unexpected.
Fill Me Up
It starts with the willingness to be open. Open for change. Open to learn and grow and become. Open to dream of more. Open to let go of all that would hinder. Open to new beginnings. Open to enter the journey unexpected.
2
Sing Over Me
And then there s the call. A call on the wind that sings out to the heart. It s a voice from within that calls out from beyond. Arise. Come away with me. The season of singing has begun. Come. Something resonates within the heart. Passions are stirred and a question is asked.
Sing Over Me
And then there s the call. A call on the wind that sings out to the heart. It s a voice from within that calls out from beyond. Arise. Come away with me. The season of singing has begun. Come. Something resonates within the heart. Passions are stirred and a question is asked.
3
Open Heart
Me? Now? Will it be safe? The heart weighs the pros and cons of the journey. And after much contemplation, the heart answers and makes the decision to surrender to the quest. To take the risk. To trust love. To step, to run out the door onto the road, away from the comfort of what is familiar and enter the adventure awaiting beyond.
Open Heart
Me? Now? Will it be safe? The heart weighs the pros and cons of the journey. And after much contemplation, the heart answers and makes the decision to surrender to the quest. To take the risk. To trust love. To step, to run out the door onto the road, away from the comfort of what is familiar and enter the adventure awaiting beyond.
4
Who Are You?
The journey can take the heart to exciting and dangerous places. Along the way the heart encounters others and it recognizes that so much is at stake. The heart sees (as if for the first time) It s not just about me, there s so much more. Where do I fit in? The heart wonders does it have what it takes to accept the burden of the journey and make it to the end?
Who Are You?
The journey can take the heart to exciting and dangerous places. Along the way the heart encounters others and it recognizes that so much is at stake. The heart sees (as if for the first time) It s not just about me, there s so much more. Where do I fit in? The heart wonders does it have what it takes to accept the burden of the journey and make it to the end?
5
Storm Dancer
As the journey continues, the heart endures troubles and difficulties that can be overwhelming like a furious storm. Some can be scary and make a grown heart feel like a child. Not all storms are meant to bring harm. Some are meant to build courage and faith to dance upon the raging waves. It s not so bad to be like a child, full of hope and wonder.
Storm Dancer
As the journey continues, the heart endures troubles and difficulties that can be overwhelming like a furious storm. Some can be scary and make a grown heart feel like a child. Not all storms are meant to bring harm. Some are meant to build courage and faith to dance upon the raging waves. It s not so bad to be like a child, full of hope and wonder.
6
Dive Deep
And if the heart leans in to listen intently, it can hear a voice calling out from the storm. A voice that beckons it to dive. To dive deeper into the waters. To swim past all that seems logical, down into the depths of surrender. It is here where the real work can begin. It s here in the deep that new life is birthed.
Dive Deep
And if the heart leans in to listen intently, it can hear a voice calling out from the storm. A voice that beckons it to dive. To dive deeper into the waters. To swim past all that seems logical, down into the depths of surrender. It is here where the real work can begin. It s here in the deep that new life is birthed.
7
Heart Surgery
It is in the depths of surrender that the heart can undergo the needed surgery for new beginnings. It s here on the table of sacrifice that the heart is most vulnerable. It gives itself over to the bloody mess of the work and allows for the removal of all that has hindered it from being fully free. Pain is necessary to understand joy.
Heart Surgery
It is in the depths of surrender that the heart can undergo the needed surgery for new beginnings. It s here on the table of sacrifice that the heart is most vulnerable. It gives itself over to the bloody mess of the work and allows for the removal of all that has hindered it from being fully free. Pain is necessary to understand joy.
8
Isolation
Pain can cause the heart to retract. The vulnerability of surrendering to the process of transformation can feel like too much at times. The heart isolates overcome by selfishness, pride, hurts, fears and insecurities. The question why? is asked. Faced with the reality of the self, the heart wants to turn back. Back to where it started. Back to where if felt safer.
Isolation
Pain can cause the heart to retract. The vulnerability of surrendering to the process of transformation can feel like too much at times. The heart isolates overcome by selfishness, pride, hurts, fears and insecurities. The question why? is asked. Faced with the reality of the self, the heart wants to turn back. Back to where it started. Back to where if felt safer.
9
The Battle
What the heart may not know is that there is a war being waged behind the scenes. The heart is valued more than it can realize. The battle is fierce. Will the heart be set free to live fully in the light with confidence or will it be chained and bound in darkness by fears and insecurities? What the heart needs to know is that it is good and worth fighting for. And it is not alone.
The Battle
What the heart may not know is that there is a war being waged behind the scenes. The heart is valued more than it can realize. The battle is fierce. Will the heart be set free to live fully in the light with confidence or will it be chained and bound in darkness by fears and insecurities? What the heart needs to know is that it is good and worth fighting for. And it is not alone.
10
All Things New
Refreshing rain will come to wash away the blood, sweat, and tears of rebirth. The pain of the journey has been for a purpose. The call on the wind was True. The heart has been remade. Love pours and flows and is expressed from everything it does and says and is.
All Things New
Refreshing rain will come to wash away the blood, sweat, and tears of rebirth. The pain of the journey has been for a purpose. The call on the wind was True. The heart has been remade. Love pours and flows and is expressed from everything it does and says and is.
11
Restoration
Now the heart, instead of retracting into darkness, has been restored to the light. It can turn towards, instead of away from. It reaches out with compassion and embraces community. It is restored through new beginnings into who it is supposed to be...fully alive.
Restoration
Now the heart, instead of retracting into darkness, has been restored to the light. It can turn towards, instead of away from. It reaches out with compassion and embraces community. It is restored through new beginnings into who it is supposed to be...fully alive.
12
Communion in Community
The journey has taken the heart to there and back again. Like a portal to the past with hope for the future, the heart can be fully present and alive. It feels a part of something much bigger than itself and it will never be the same. It willingly embraces the communion of other hearts and recognizes that the journey isn t over. The heart was made for so much more. And so the heart finds itself at the beginning once again setting out to love much and love well.
Communion in Community
The journey has taken the heart to there and back again. Like a portal to the past with hope for the future, the heart can be fully present and alive. It feels a part of something much bigger than itself and it will never be the same. It willingly embraces the communion of other hearts and recognizes that the journey isn t over. The heart was made for so much more. And so the heart finds itself at the beginning once again setting out to love much and love well.
My desire for this exhibit is to be able to rent it out to other churches, galleries, and venues for interactive contemplative experiences. There is even a bowl I provide that has tiny stones and shells. If the viewer experiences a special heart connection to any part of the exhibit they are encouraged to take a stone or a shell with them as a reminder of the experience. If you or your organization or venue have interest in renting my exhibit you can contact me via email at: revelatorart@yahoo.com
Friday, April 4, 2014
First Thursday Downtown Boise
Like many cities, Boise has an event that takes place once a month in it's downtown area that features the artistic culture of the city. Many art galleries, restaurants, and businesses stay open past normal business hours to invite the public in for an evening of art, music, food & drink, and a chance to get to know the one another a little better.
For Boise this event takes place the First Thursday of each month. From 5pm-9pm anywhere from the Boise Art Museum to The Linen District, from BODO to Freak Alley...the public is welcome to take part in Boise's downtown life, join in the art walk, and enter into the cultural conversation.
Over the years I have frequented First Thursday (on my own, with groups of friends and fellow artists, and by being a featured artist somewhere). I've been able to meet lots of interesting people, view tons of incredible art, hear loads of really good music, and experience heaps of great memories.
Last night was First Thursday and once again I found myself meandering through the city streets, weaving in and out of galleries, and embracing those moments of connection with people.
One stop was at The ArtSource Gallery on Main.
The ArtSource is a co-op of local artists and its always been a place to check out some great paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, and any other kind of medium it's members shine through.
Debi Bonsack has some of her acrylic paintings on display at ArtSource. While I was looking at them, a man joined me in the viewing. Seconds later he couldn't help but respond out loud to me about how much he loved her use of the small box canvas, allowing the subject to pop out and take center stage. I thought that was a wonderful observation on his part and a great compliment to the artist.
Later I went into the Alaska Building on Main and found a treasure. Artist Chi E Shenam Westin was showing his oil paintings. I met Chi last summer when I was doing the Meridian Arts Festival at Storey Park along with last fall at Art in the Bar at The Knitting Factory (my performance art company Marten Evergreen was performing at both, and I was sharing an art booth with Lukas Evergreen). Chi has a variety of styles that he paints. Some of my favorites are his colorful landscapes that he paints on metal.
Boise has a program called AIR (Artists In Residence) giving artists studio/gallery space downtown for 3 months where they can work and create. I also know other cities that have this kind of program. It's a wonderful way to help artists truly become a part of the city culture. A treat for me...friends of mine, artists Lisa Cheney and Lauren Kistner have been sharing a studio space with AIR so it made for way to connect with both of them at the same time. Lisa an amazing artist who creates mixed media paintings and teaches visual journaling. Lauren is an incredible abstract artist who utilizes line, color, and texture in her mixed media paintings.
There is so much going on during First Thursdays in Boise, you never know who you'll meet, what you'll see, and where the fun will be.
Click here to keep updated: FIRST THURSDAY BOISE
Next month First Thursday May 1st you won't want to miss:
1314 W. Grove St., Boise
May 1, 5pm-10pm
Art at the Modern is an annual cultural experience not to be missed!