The curator of our church’s Inspired Arts Gallery has just hung a new show! “A Christian as Artist” features the work of sixteen artists. Each artist has also contributed a short written statement of how art and their practice of it is an expression of their faith and spirituality.
Today I’m sharing my contribution to the “A Christian as Artist” exhibition.
Artist Statement
It was late afternoon on a soggy spring day. The persistent rain meant that we had missed our morning walk. But now the sun was peeking through clouds, hubby was making dinner, so I decided to go for a walk by myself.
I meandered alone beside a Logan Creek. But I wasn’t alone. Swimming in the water beside me was a pair of Hooded Mergansers, one of my favourite ducks.
What a lovely surprise! I promptly whipped out my camera and took shot after shot.
On my way home, I whispered a prayer of thanks for the timely sighting and heard, “Thank YOU,” back.
Thank me! For what?
Then the realization hit me. Our God, who is creative beyond all comprehension, likes to have His efforts appreciated just like we do when we make things. That afternoon I felt His gratitude at my enjoyment of the ducks.
Making art for me is often an expression of admiration and appreciation of the things God has created and an act of worship of the Creator who brought them into being.”
Along with the painting, I also submitted a poem that speaks of the permission to create. Though I was thinking of writing when I wrote it, the principle of embracing permission to create (even it if feels like a waste of time) extends to any creative activity.
I Take My Walk Just in Time
I take my walk just in time
under the frowning sky
share the green with black crows and white gulls.
They graze while I ponder should I
give it up this tinkering
with words that pilfers time
from creased shirts and dusty corners?
There’s little coin to justify
hours spent and what will be its fate
on that final bonfire-trial day?Beside my path a gull so near
we could touch
smooth pearly grey
wingtips telescoped to perfect
white dots on black.Surely God the original and extravagant Creator
who thought it no waste
to paint alpine flowers
craft ocean stars
and decorate with this polka-dotted petticoat
understands the urge I feel
to build for the epiphanies of my life
little piles of words?I turn home with lighter heart
step to subtle happy rhythms—
a woodpecker rattling her way up a finger of snacks
and on my jacket the intermittent pat pat
pat of reconnaissance raindrops.© 2004 – Violet Nesdoly
You can check out the whole “A Christian as Artist” show! Images of the art along with artist statements can be viewed in a catalogue (downloadable pdf) HERE.
Violet Nesdoly 