On March 9, we gathered at Quills Coffee in New Albany to hang out, and hear from Sojourn artists Amanda Nichols, Alan Vales, and Justin Vorel. To start things off, Michael Winters presented a version of the following notes as a way to think about God as Creator and how we might make things in response to the way God makes things. This is part 2 of the notes. See part 1 here.
In part 1, we came to the conclusion that worship is the only decent response to a deepening understanding of God as Creator.
Can our artists’ work then express itself as worship in a plethora of contexts and styles? We don’t need to place too many constraints on how this might work itself out, so I want to present some ideas of how our art might extend our Sunday gathered worship practices into the scattered public sphere.
NOTE: The artist’s images used on this post represent a reading of the artworks that the artists themselves in many cases may not intend or support. The images are used here without specific permission from the artists, but shown because these artworks may help us imagine possibilities growing from the concepts presented. Each of these artists have lots of great art to share, so enjoy the links.
With always keeping God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – The Creator before us, can we imagine art as…
Call to Worship – With our artmaking, can we bring attention to the goodness of God’s original creation in such a way that people want to praise God?
"Snake River" by Darrell Kincer
Darrell Kincer’s panoramic landscapes, which will show at The 930 this spring along with more of his photography, have a way of calling our attention to God’s creation. Those who are quick to praise God will have plenty of reason to do so when they see these landscapes in person, or from their translation into photography by Kincer.
Confession – With our artmaking can we call attention to the results of our sinful misuse of creation and our creativity?
From the Midway series by Chris Jordan
Much of the best contemporary art is doing exactly this. Chris Jordan’s entire career is built upon showing people how extreme our impact is upon the world’s ecosystems. His work confesses that we have not been responsible with our power to effect change in creation.
Repentance – With our artmaking can we turn things around in the opposite direction?
"The Meeting" by Chris Engman
Chris Engman’s mind-bending constructed photographs often make the viewer take a second or third glance to figure out what’s going on here. If we think about repentance as a turning away and walking the other direction, this image can function as an illustration of repentance. But like real life, it’s complicated. What at first appears to be a mirror cannot be a mirror on closer inspection. The artist introduces a photograph into the photograph and a million interpretations are at hand. We feel a little bit unsure of where we are and what exactly is in front of us, but we turn and move forward in faith nonetheless.
Assurance – With our artmaking can we assure God’s people that Christ is making all things perfected, despite the apparent chaos of modern life?
"Crossroads" by Rachel Durfee
Rachel Durfee’s print “Crossroads” can encourage us to believe that Christ is “holding all things together” and that there is order despite apparent chaos. From the ground level on that interstate a driver would probably never realize the design that made everything work, but from the aerial God-like perspective, we see a signature that assures us that Christ is in fact over all things.
Passing of the Peace – In our artmaking can we offer hospitality to all of God’s image bearers?
"Please Disturb" by Candy Chang
Candy Chang is an artist who “explores making cities more comfortable and contemplative places.” Her art projects encourage people to reach out and get to know their neighbors and collectively to make their neighborhoods better. I think her public projects like “I wish this was” should be emulated or brought to our city as Sojourn opens our new building in Shelby Park.
Prayer for Illumination – In our artmaking can we ask good questions of God and the public. Can we ask for help and acknowledge the mystery of it all? Can we open up spaces for connections between God and people, people and God?
Quaker Meeting House Design by James Turrell
James Turrell’s art is largely about light. He grew up Quaker and Quakers have had great reflections on the metaphors of light, so it’s fitting that he designed a Quaker Meeting House. This worship space literally opens a connection between heaven and earth. By designing the space with white walls and the large skylight the color and mood of the room changes drastically with the weather and time of day.
Proclamation – With our artmaking can we proclaim God’s truth and retell and re-image the stories of scripture in compelling and faithful ways?
"Jonah" by Barry Moser
Barry Moser’s biblical illustrations re-image the figures and landscapes of the bible in such a way that we consider the texts afresh. Seeing Jonah barely afloat not far from the giant whale helps us understand what Jonah was dealing with and thus makes us more able to process the story’s intent and purpose. Like all good biblical art, these illustrations capture the human dimension so compellingly that we are more easily led into a spiritual understanding of the text.
Communion – With our artmaking can we bring people together to participate in actions that engage their physical senses, bringing them into a deeper reality?
"Portrait of Ross" by Felix Gonzalez-Torres
With “Portrait of Ross” Felix Gonzalez-Torres invites viewers to take a piece of candy from the large pile of colorfully wrapped candy on the gallery floor. The pile starts as precisely 175 pounds of candy, representing the ideal weight of the artist’s partner, Ross, who died from AIDS before the piece was made. When trying to cope with AIDS, patients lose weight drastically. By inviting visitors to take a piece of candy the pile shrivels away and becomes symbolic of Ross’ struggle to maintain a healthy size. The visitors then are partaking in something like a liturgical action mourning the AIDS epidemic and remembering those who have died.
Commitment – With our artmaking can we band together under Christ, putting our feet down and making a commitment to live faithfully?
"We are the Church" by Sojourn Visual Arts
We made this image to help illustrate and solidify the concept that we are the church. The process of making the image helped concretize the identity of the participants as members of our local church.
Giving – With our artmaking, can we offer our time, talents, and treasures to others in life-giving ways, and also encourage others to do the same?
Jon Rubin works to cultivate community and provide unique experiences. For FreeMobile he painted a big truck and then invited neighbors to drive the truck around for a weekend giving away their homemade goods or services. ”The project publicly acknowledges the idiosyncratic hidden talents and resources of the neighborhood” and gives people an excuse to share those talents and resources.
Benediction – With our artmaking, can we encourage and bless each other to go out in the world to live our lives faithfully?
Documentation from "Manhattan Measure" by Gene Schmidt
For “Manhattan Measure” artist Gene Schmidt measured the length and width of Manhattan with yard sticks. He laid one out at a time, never using the same yard stick twice. This was a way of getting out into the city and getting to know every inch of the length and width. In essence too, the process “drew” a huge, red cross onto the landscape of Manhattan, marking Christ’s authority over the city.
So I think there’s plenty of good work out there to be inspired by, whether or not it was made with a worshipful intent. For Christians making art though, we need to work out the implications of living creatively before the Creator for themselves. I hope these thoughts and images encourage you to do that, considering how the worship practices of Sunday may carry over into the public sphere during the rest of the week.
