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Saturday Thoughts on the Visual Arts
By Dan | August 23, 2008
So today I’m heading with my wife to Fort Worth to bring them a mural that they commissioned from my wife. It’s a great image of Jesus in this dance with little children and is based on a drawing the former pastor there had seen.
Right now it’s in four canvasses that overlap which should bring another really intriguing visual element to the project. We’re looking forward to seeing it all come together and if everything actually gets put together at the church today, I’ll try to post some pictures so you can see her work.
As I was thinking about this project it made me think more about the visual arts in worship. There is an increasing use of visual arts through media in many churches. It’s nice to see a greater appreciation for this element of our people. As a couple of speakers at the Echo conference noted, visual media today is in many ways the “stained glass of the 21st century”.
We certainly find an appreciation of the visual arts in the Scriptures (e.g. Ex. 31:2-4). I love the emphasis God places on bringing beauty to the place of worship and to everything that represents him.
So here’s a question I’d love to hear answers to- what visual elements most impact you at church? Now or in the past. Whether it was at a certain time of year, one service, or something that you see in church every week.
Topics: Uncategorized |
August 23rd, 2008 at 7:34 am
Where is it going to be?
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:57 am
I think I get the greatest impact from some of the art which changes from season to season (maybe the rest blends in). For instance I love the Easter banners at our church. They’re beautiful, and also hold a lot of symbolic meaning. I also notice an impact from the lack of decoration at times. Every year at the Maundy Thursday service they strip the alter at my church. It always leaves a huge impression to see that almost empty alter with the black draped cross at the end. It makes such a big statement for me.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
We were given paper cut out into the shape of a hand then encouraged to write on it hurts that we were holding back and trying to handle on our own.After we finished writing,we were given the opportunity to tape them on the glass windows that were from floor to ceiling all along the front and sides of the sanctuary, symbolizing us handing them to God.When all were finished,the sun was starting to go down and the hands “appeared” to reach straight up into the heavens.There was not a dry eye there that day or I’d venture to say a person that didn’t know God’s presence.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I love hearing when people do things really well and in new ways like the hands you mention. I’d never heard of this technique before. What’s also interesting to note is that not all visual elements we bring out need to be high tech. It takes work and coordination, but some visual elements, e.g. these hands or even the stripping of the altar, are completely low-tech, but still engage this element of our 21st century people.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Oh, I should also note that the murals will be going up at the church, Christ Lutheran, in Fort Worth, TX. We weren’t able to get pictures Saturday as the church is going to take some time to build a nice frame and covering for the work before they put them up. We’re glad they’re going to take the time to ensure they’re protected for the future. We’ll get pics from them hopefully in the next few weeks and then I’ll definitely post something