Arts and Music at Redeemer

“The Loud Silence”, acrylic on canvas, 15″x5″, ©Jessica Figueroa 2007

Jessica is a Pacific Northwest artist, and she says this about this piece:
As I began to create this piece with the theme of silence in mind, the more I thought about it, the more I had to put myself in a place where I could physically feel on a personal level, truly silent. I found that solitude outside in nature, away from competitive calendars, sounds, activities and constant devices that keep us from the need for stillness in order to reflect.

In the presence of the Creator, in his nature that surrounds me even the rocks cry out his beauty and glory. While in His present silence, I realized it was very loud between us.

His truth rang pure and piercing, and John 15:1-16 became increasingly crystal clear in the still solitude of the outdoors. As fall has ascended upon us quickly this season, the leaves are falling from the branches, stripped of they’re eye catching colors. I could hear the very real message, the true vine is the Father and the gardener; he cuts off every branch that does not bear fruit, pruning all that do bear fruit, so it becomes even more fruitful. Remain in him and he will remain in me. By remaining in his love, he can train our growth, and we can bear even more fruit as his disciples.

This painting is an abstracted representation of a personal, experienced silence challenging me that as we prepare to go into the dormant winter season, while there might not be much left to admire about the bare, leafless branches that no longer demand my visual attention there in lies a paradigm shift requiring me to focus on my own branches inwardly. I am reminded of the need to consistently seek his love for new growth in order to bloom for God’s glory, preparing me to be ready to bear new fruit in any season of my life.

Jessica can be contacted by writing to jessbartlett@hotmail.com.

Suburban Fall, ink and acrylic on panel, 24″x24″, ©Jeremy Fahringer 2007

Two paintings comet to us from Philadephia, Pennsylvania artist Jeremy Fahringer. He says this about his work:

Abstraction is a process of memory and expression. It takes elements and
ideas from observed reality and results in synthesized composites of imagery
and emotion. I paint with muted and monochromatic palettes, building up rich
colors by a process of thin glazes of acrylic paint and ink.

The image and object is a record of time, of creative and destructive
process. The silky smooth gesso surface built upon wood and Masonite panels
allows gravity to interact with thinned paint, leaving drips and blended
edges as traces of the process. Addition of layers of heavily thinned color
veils and subsequent erosion by water and sanding reflect the effects of
time on memories and the process of recording history. This results in murky
deep atmospheres populated by concepts, landscapes, and mark.

Silence is a place of reflection, of challenge and turmoil brought by
erosion and new creation, renewal.

You can see more of Jeremy’s artwork on his website, and you can contact him by writing to jeremy.fahringer@gmail.com

“Silence II”, mixed media, 24″x18″, ©Jane Emens 2007

This is one of three paintings that Seattle artist Jane Emens will exhibit in the gallery. She says this about her work:

All pieces are mixed media (oil pastel, acrylic paint, pencil, spackle, matte medium) on canvas. Building up layers of materials, I create a textural surface with veils of color much like the surface of an ancient mural or stained wall. As I work, I try to release my conscious mind and let images appear from the inner gaze. The goal is to provide a quiet space that draws the mind toward contemplation.

Jane can be contacted by writing to moonpath@earthlink.net.

untitled, oil on canvas, 14″x14″, ©Jill Eggers 2007

Jill Eggers is an associate professor in the Department of Art and Design at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. Three of her paintings will be in the exhibit, and she says this about her work:

I have been working with exploring realms of consciousness that
access ideas of God or spirituality through silence and meditation.
A 30+ years meditation practice has led in the spiritual life to
recognition of common truths and validity to all spiritual practices/
religions and belief systems.  A 30 year artistic practice has led
from representational work to more abstract modes of working that
explore consciousness as subject matter and attempt to enter the
’spaces between’ linear thought and ‘objective’ reality.

“Well”, wood panel, wood veneer and colored foil, 15 3/4″x12″x3″, ©Michelle Draper-Lorton

Michelle is another Northwest artist, very active in the Diocese of Olympia. She says this about “Well”:

Silence becomes a place from which all things are possible.  ”Be still
and know that I am God” is a command, not a suggestion.  From
Stillness, the knowledge of who God is and what God longs for can
emerge.  ”Well” is a response to experiencing depths of stillness in
the context of sorrow — from which God spoke.

“White Birch”, oil on canvas, 36″x36″, ©Renee Cooke

Once again, Northwest artist Renee Cooke’s work will grace our walls.  About “White Birch” she says:

“In the still of the night, where it is cold and dark, there is a mystery
that lies within the tall white birch trees. It unfolds to the imagination,
where quietly, silently, we ponder it’s complexity. And for a moment, we are
disconnected from all that is electronic, but totally connected as one with
the universe.”

Renee can be contacted at reneemonet@comcast.net.

“Homage to CDF”, cut paper collage on board, 9″x12″, ©Laurie Joan Aron

Laurie’s artwork comes to us from New York City and this is one of her two pieces that were accepted into this exhibit. She says this about her work:

My pictures are both called “Homage to CDF”. CDF is Caspar David
Friedrich, an artist of the early 19th century who created, in
painting, scenes of intense silent reverence using emotionally charged
natural settings. A lone tree, twisted with age, a lone figure at a
moonlit beach…these were his subjects, simple, but radiating a sense
of power greater than man.

Most of my art, which is cut paper collage, is inspired by art
movements of the past. In these pieces, I’m working in a modern,
abstract mode to recapture the silent reverence that Friedrich so
eloquently captured in painting.

You can see similar work of mine at
http://www.manhattanarts.com/Gallery/LaurieJoanAron.htm

Please contact me at 212 866 7499 or by e-mail at ljaron@mindspring.com

“Be Still And Know”, textile painting, ©Faith Alexander 2007

This entry is from one of our parishioners, a very active member of our Ecclesiastical Arts Committee, Faith Alexander. I’ve dubbed it a textile painting, sort of a painted quilt/wall-hanging. You can contact Faith at fcalexander@earthlink.net.

Faith says: The title “Be Still and Know” is taken from the Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” A figure floats in a bubble of calm amid a busy stream. Warm washes and bits of bright color represent the frenzy of what the outside world calls ‘holiday season’ while Advent blue and purple sustain a meditative atmosphere.

Yesterday was a very busy day of getting ready for “Silence”, the next exhibit at the CR Gallery. While the arts committee worked on getting the space ready, most of the local artists dropped off their work in the morning. It was really great to finally meet them and see their beautiful work in person! Unfortunately in all the buzz and excitement, I forgot to take pictures of all the activity yesterday.

I am really looking forward to this show. (I look forward to all the shows I’ve curated, but the excitement just keeps growing with each new show.) We had a great response from all over the country, and a few from other countries too. Narrowing it down to what we could fit on the walls was a difficult. We’ve had to expand the gallery space in order to accommodate all the wonderful art that the jury accepted, and that involved a lot of drilling into poured concrete. Not fun, but luckily I didn’t have to do that myself. :)

I’ll be posting on each artist individually in the coming weeks, but to give you an idea of the fine caliber of work we’ll be exhibiting, check out these links:
Jeremy Fahringer, Bridgette Guerzon Mills, Andrea Pratt, Dayton Knipher, Kathy Thaden, and, well, me
(There are more artists, but I unfortunately I don’t have websites for all of them.)

I’m leaving tomorrow to visit with family in Southern California for Thanksgiving. When I get back, look for more information about the show and the artists.

Hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Peace,
Angela

We’ve posted some photos from the reception, some taken by me, some taken by Darel’s wife Ann. Everyone had a great time, and Darel gave a fascinating talk about his work. The exhibit will be up through November 16th.

–Wade