Worship Night Live Paintings
On August 3, 2014, I was blessed to be part of a live painting project at a Worship Night hosted at Fellowship Bible Church. Bill Horn, the worship pastor at FBC, approached me about this project and asked me to put together a team of artists that could each complete a painting that would then combine to make a larger image. In addition to forming one cohesive composition, the negative space between the four separate paintings would form a cross shape. It was an ambitious goal and I was especially excited about the idea of working with a team of other artists.
Joining me on this endeavor was Lynda Miller, Mayci Agler, and Brad LeDuc. Lynda Miller, who teaches art education classes at Washburn University, was also my high school art teacher. Brad LeDuc is a local artist who is also a fellow art teacher with me at Washburn Rural High School. And Mayci Agler is a former student of Brad and myself who is currently pursuing her own degree in secondary art education and Kansas State University. So we actually had three generations of art teachers painting that night!
All of us got together for some creative development meetings to plan out the details of the composition and the logistics for the evening. The painting was inspired by the themes of the worship and teaching that evening: Grace, Hope, Peace, and Freedom. The bottom left of the painting, which was done by Lynda Miller, depicts a hand reaching up from a tumultuous sea. This is meant to represent the grace of God as he saves us from drowning in our own sin. The bottom right, done by Brad LeDuc, features a hand with a broken chain shackle which is also reaching out from the water. Here though, the stormy waters have been calmed. (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41) The freedom of forgiveness is seen in both the broken shackles and the still waters. Both of the bottom panels also showcase a crown of thorns, obviously symbolizing the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ through whom we experience this grace and freedom. This is also reinforced by the shape of the cross between the paintings. In this way, the work of Jesus on the cross becomes the central theme of the work, both literally and figuratively.
The top panels, painted by Mayci Agler and myself, look forward to our promised eternity in Heaven. The crown of thorns in the bottom panels have now been transformed into a kingly crown as Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the God the Father in Heaven. There is a layered cityscape behind this crown representing the physical place that Jesus has gone to prepare for each of us who have placed our faith in him. (John 14:1-4) The sky is bathed in a bright yellow light meant to represent the glory of God that replaces the light of the sun in Heaven. (Revelation 21:23) Together these two panels depict the hope we have as we anticipate our future home, and the peace that we have because of that hope. And both of these are possible only because of what Jesus has done for us.
Two artists were positioned on either side of the worship band to complete the paintings live in front of the audience. Near the end of the evening we carried our individual panels backstage and a few minutes later they were dramatically revealed hanging together above the stage. We actually accomplished this by completing a duplicate set of paintings, one of which was hung behind the projection screen several days before the event! The paintings we created live that evening were actually a second set of paintings. We are exploring options to hang the finished paintings somewhere at FBC.
All in all it was an incredible night of worshiping our Lord and Savior through music, teaching, and art. It is always an absolute delight to use the talents God has given me to acknowledge him in the hearts and minds of others. You can watch a video of the full evenings worship and teaching here. May all the glory go to God, the only one who truly deserves it!
Joining me on this endeavor was Lynda Miller, Mayci Agler, and Brad LeDuc. Lynda Miller, who teaches art education classes at Washburn University, was also my high school art teacher. Brad LeDuc is a local artist who is also a fellow art teacher with me at Washburn Rural High School. And Mayci Agler is a former student of Brad and myself who is currently pursuing her own degree in secondary art education and Kansas State University. So we actually had three generations of art teachers painting that night!
All of us got together for some creative development meetings to plan out the details of the composition and the logistics for the evening. The painting was inspired by the themes of the worship and teaching that evening: Grace, Hope, Peace, and Freedom. The bottom left of the painting, which was done by Lynda Miller, depicts a hand reaching up from a tumultuous sea. This is meant to represent the grace of God as he saves us from drowning in our own sin. The bottom right, done by Brad LeDuc, features a hand with a broken chain shackle which is also reaching out from the water. Here though, the stormy waters have been calmed. (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41) The freedom of forgiveness is seen in both the broken shackles and the still waters. Both of the bottom panels also showcase a crown of thorns, obviously symbolizing the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ through whom we experience this grace and freedom. This is also reinforced by the shape of the cross between the paintings. In this way, the work of Jesus on the cross becomes the central theme of the work, both literally and figuratively.
The top panels, painted by Mayci Agler and myself, look forward to our promised eternity in Heaven. The crown of thorns in the bottom panels have now been transformed into a kingly crown as Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the God the Father in Heaven. There is a layered cityscape behind this crown representing the physical place that Jesus has gone to prepare for each of us who have placed our faith in him. (John 14:1-4) The sky is bathed in a bright yellow light meant to represent the glory of God that replaces the light of the sun in Heaven. (Revelation 21:23) Together these two panels depict the hope we have as we anticipate our future home, and the peace that we have because of that hope. And both of these are possible only because of what Jesus has done for us.
Two artists were positioned on either side of the worship band to complete the paintings live in front of the audience. Near the end of the evening we carried our individual panels backstage and a few minutes later they were dramatically revealed hanging together above the stage. We actually accomplished this by completing a duplicate set of paintings, one of which was hung behind the projection screen several days before the event! The paintings we created live that evening were actually a second set of paintings. We are exploring options to hang the finished paintings somewhere at FBC.
All in all it was an incredible night of worshiping our Lord and Savior through music, teaching, and art. It is always an absolute delight to use the talents God has given me to acknowledge him in the hearts and minds of others. You can watch a video of the full evenings worship and teaching here. May all the glory go to God, the only one who truly deserves it!
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