Because we live in such a prosperous country, it’s no wonder that people feel they don’t need to rely on a God. Everyone, even Atheists, has a God of some sort. Whether it’s a car, money, power, a new 3D TV (which by the way I want! I don’t care what people think, 3D technology rules and makes the video entertainment experience even better…but that’s a rant for another blog post), personal comfort, comic books (which should be a problematic idol for everyone because comics are AWESOME), we all have something that we go to, to find our identity. Artists can EASILY find their identity in their art. Creating art usually brings a few things:
- A sense of fulfillment
- A sense of superiority
- Praise (from friends, family, fans, etc).
Micah 4:5 says: ”For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god; but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”
There is no intrinsic value in the art itself. The only reason that art has value is because it’s given value by those who hear it’s message. That’s why, as artists, it’s important that we convey the right messages. That doesn’t mean that we have to paint pictures of Jesus and crosses, it only means that we have to ask the question, “can we in good conscience put God’s name to what we’re doing?”
The above images were used in a Christmas art auction for the International Arts Movement (http://www.internationalartsmovement.org/). Funny story: a woman purchased the piece in the black frame, and it was hung high on the wall. The moderator for the evening called me over to get it down for her because of my freakish height. Because I grew so fast over a single summer in high-school, coordination is not my strong suit. While taking down my piece, I managed to knock another one off of the wall, shattering the glass of the frame that it was in. What I’m trying to say is that competition should beware…I play rough.
The Story of God - Charcoal and wax on pine wood - 24”x54”
The idea was for it to be a big sculptural shape with Bible imagery emerging from it to give a sense that God forms and shapes everything. There is a star at the top to add the cross image without drawing an actual cross. Also, since it’s the only element that’s separate from everything else, it gives a feeling that sometimes God can seem distant, but He’s always there. The idea behind the wax is two-fold. The first is that it’s poured over the image to look like something was spilled, representing Christ’s spilled blood. Secondly, it makes the image hard to see, which means that you have to get really close to it to understand what you’re looking at. It’s a lot like getting to know God, you have to intentionally get close to Him and study Him to find out who he is.
art shooooooooooooow!!!!!!!
101 N 1st Ave, Phoenix, AZ Suite 190
Runnin’ through August 2011
Album cover art for the new album by PAWL called “Archetypes”.
Charcoal on wood panel with digital colors.
New work. Illustration for an article in 944 magazine about all of the inventions that people buy for other people as gag-gifts, but end up actually being pretty useful.
This title is brought to you by my cat who just gripped my leg as if he was falling out of an airplane that was filled wit catnip and those weird cat-tree play things (trying to illustrate that he REALLY wants to stay on this plane) when in reality, he’s laying solidly on an oh-so comfortable mattress.
Anywho, the point of this post is to talk about fund raising frustrations. I never thought I’d say this, but I hate being bored. My whole life I thought the complete opposite, I would’ve been happy with a job where I just sat and stared at a wall. I’m not sure where this fire in me to be so productive came from. Maybe from God…or maybe just from my realization that I was getting close to 30 and hadn’t really done anything of value. Either way, it’s here.
Boredom is especially frustrating when I have SO MUCH to do. However, there’s nothing to be done at the moment. I need to build a team of people to commit enough monthly support to me so that I can live for at least a year in New York for my ministry (for those unaware, New York is not a cheap place to live). When it gets to be this time of night I can’t really call anyone to set up meetings and I’ve already sent out a butt-load of letters so now it’s mostly a waiting game to see what comes back.
The thing I’m struggling with is this faith aspect. I’m supposed to have faith that if God wants this to happen, then it’s going to happen, which I believe! But I’m still trying to put forth as much effort as possible, mostly so if it doesn’t happen then I know that it’s not because of laziness on my part. I think that I’m at that moment where I’ve done my first portion and God is saying “OK, you did all that stuff. Now sit back and let me work some magic.”
That “sitting back” thing is the part I’m having trouble with; BUT, if I believe in God and that’s what He’s saying, then who am I to argue? He’s been doing this slightly longer than I have. Also, if there’s a being out there who created everything we know and has been around for as long as everything has been around, then urging people into being part of my ministry is probably not a big deal to him.
So…keeping faith, sitting strong, and struggling the whole way through. That’s a small image of the next 17 weeks of my life.
Any recent faith struggles from anyone else? Any advice on what you did to really trust God?
I probably haven’t shown it very well over the years, but yes, I am Christian.
I know what you’re thinking, “but what about when you would black-out from drinking?” and “what about never ever, ever, ever, ever talking about Jesus to anyone?” and “what about not knowing anything about the Bible even though you went to church for 25 straight years?”
Ok, I get it…jeeze…Well now I’m a Christian for the right reasons. The first 25 years of my life I went to church because my parents told me to, so I quit for a few years. Now I’m going because I choose to believe in what the Bible says about God being sovereign, Jesus, the cross and salvation.
My art-school brain actually had a stream of logical thinking after claiming faith in these things:
BRAIN-THOUGHT #1.)Saying that I believe the Bible is true and that God, the Creator, is sovereign over everything and that he sent his son (who is also wholly God…still working on that one in the ol’ noggin’) to die for all of us so that we don’t have to worry about sacrificing goats anymore to atone for doing things that God says goes against his design, is the most important thing in the world (i.e. Heaven and Hell).
BRAIN THOUGHT #2.)The only next logical step is to make the most important thing in the world the focus of my life.
BRAIN-THOUGHT #3.)What’s with all of these doors being opened for me to become a missionary in New York using the artistic gifts that God has given me?
BRAIN-THOUGHT #4.)Oh, I think I’m supposed to become a missionary in New York using the artistic gifts that God has given me.
So that’s what I’ve done. I’m now in the process of becoming a missionary in New York, looking to make art and talk to peeps who will listen to what I have to say…which will probably be full of stuttering and incoherence, but hopefully someone will get something out of my ramblings.
