Learning to live what we learn.

From our lecture Intersections: Finding Our Common Ground
photo © WJC

STORIES FROM THE ROAD

WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE, USA. We were honored to be part of the Center for Justice and Sustainability Summit at William Jewell College the past several months. We worked with the college over a five month period that included an art exhibition of our work titled, Intersections: Finding Our Common Ground at the Stocksdale Gallery. We also lectured and facilitated several workshops, including working with William Jewell students in our studio. The lecture and art workshops explored the intersection of art, spirituality and reconciliation. We are grateful for what we learned from our time with students and faculty and their commitment to social justice. Click for more information about WJC Center for Justice & Sustainability

Art of collaberation

Dar al Kalima workshop photo © 2013 George Anderson

STORIES FROM THE ROAD:

Untitled, 2013
Tempera on paper
76.2 cm x 304.8 cm (30 in x 120 in)

BETHLEHEM, PALESTINE. This tempera painting is a collaborative work created 4 January 2013 by twenty Muslim and Christian artists at Dar al Kalima College in Bethlehem, Palestine. We gathered for a day of creative, artistic and spiritual exploration and concluded our time together by offering painted prayers on the World Canvas. Dar Al Kalima is located in the West Bank and was created and founded by the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Palestinian Christian. Dar Al Kalima College promotes ideals of tolerance and respect for the thinking and beliefs of others. It encourages active communication between educators, theologians, journalists, musicians, and artists from Palestine and the rest of the world cultivating the region’s renewal and sustainability in a time plagued by destruction and unemployment. 

The Gate

The Gate © Genesis+Art STudio

FROM OUR STUDIO:

The Gate, 2013
Acrylic on Canvas
76.2 cm x 76.2 cm (30 in x 30 in)


Intersections: Finding Our Common Ground
Being trapped by the same way of thinking or safe, tried and true ideas of the past can become the walls that cut us off with a false sense of security. Perhaps what walls do most is separate us from the possibility of participating in relationship. Over and above our diversity, seeking relationship with one another can lead to growth and inspiration and together, lead us into new territory. Holding creative tension in this meeting place offers an alternative from extremes and prevents us from rushing to judgment and demanding a complete resolution to things before we have learned what they have to teach us. Light comes from elsewhere as we remain in this creative tension, drawing out the unique bit of heaven’s mystery in each other to form a new beginning. Through the use of archetypal shapes and symbols we seek to create a visible sign of invisible grace.

Intersections: Finding Our Common Ground

Finished exhibition at our Genesis+Art Studio  

FROM OUR STUDIO:

We recently completed a new body of work for our exhibition that begins at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. The exhibition titled: Intersections: Finding Our Common Ground will be in the Stocksdale Gallery until the end of March.  From there the show will move to St. Paul’s Monastery, Benedictine Center for Spirituality and Art in St. Paul, Minnesota and will be on exhibition through the month of May. If you are in Kansas City or Minneapolis, we invite you to spend some time with our work. We would like to hear from you.

Art making at Dar Al Kalima College

photo © George Anderson Photography

STORIES FROM THE ROAD:

BETHLEHEM, PALESTINE. Our trip to the Holy Land was layer upon layer of experience that will require a lengthy time to process. In addition to visiting ancient sites, experiencing the contemporary culture of Israel and Palestine, we were met with heartfelt hospitality. We also had the privilege to lead an art workshop with the art students at Dar Al Kalima College and our group from Bethlehem Lutheran in Minneapolis. This tempera painting is a collaborative work created 4 January 2013 by twenty Muslim and Christian artists at Dar Al Kalima College in Bethlehem, Palestine. We gathered for a day of creative, artistic and spiritual exploration and concluded our time together by offering painted prayers on the World Canvas.

Dar Al Kalima is located in the West Bank and was created and founded by the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Palestinian Christian. Dar Al Kalima College promotes ideals of tolerance and respect for the thinking and beliefs of others. It encourages active communication between educators, theologians, journalists, musicians, and artists from Palestine and the rest of the world cultivating the region’s renewal and sustainability in a time plagued by destruction and unemployment.

A time of sabbath for those in ministry

photo © ghost ranch

FROM OUR STUDIO:

Ghost Ranch has a long tradition of supporting those in ministry with rich respite and continuing education. In 2013, we will dedicate two special weeks to helping support those in all fields of ministry (ordained and lay).

Heaven of the Heart: Creating a Space for Sacred Imagination
What connects our spirituality, creativity, and living out our vocation? How might an intentional engagement with our creativity and our spirituality increase our ability to lead and live as people of faith? In this workshop you will push back the boundaries of familiar distractions and enter a Sabbath time in which to explore the intersection between creativity, spirituality and creative leadership. Using hands-on exercises, personal reflection and imagination, see how your creativity can form sacred community.

Join us at Ghost Ranch for our workshop Heaven of the Heart: Creating a Space for Sacred Imagination October 14–18, 2013. Ghost Ranch is situated on 21,000 acres located in northern New Mexico, stands proud as an ecumenical and interfaith education and retreat center of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). For more than half a century people have come for spiritual development, to discuss issues of peace and justice, to work together in creation care, to paint and write, to hike and ride horseback, to research rich and globally renowned archeological and fossil quarries, to see where Georgia O’Keeffe painted or simply to rest and renew their spirits. For more about our workshop or to register click on Heaven of the Heart. Hope to see you.

Summer 2013 at Ghost Ranch

photo © ghost ranch

FROM OUR STUDIO:

Join us at Ghost Ranch for our workshop Beyond Words: The Color of Prayer July 1–7, 2013. Ghost Ranch is situated on 21,000 acres located in northern New Mexico, stands proud as an ecumenical and interfaith education and retreat center of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). For more than half a century people have come for spiritual development, to discuss issues of peace and justice, to work together in creation care, to paint and write, to hike and ride horseback, to research rich and globally renowned archeological and fossil quarries, to see where Georgia O’Keeffe painted or simply to rest and renew their spirits. For more about our workshop or to register click on Beyond Words: The Color of Prayer. Hope to see you.

Beyond Words: The Color of Prayer. Too often we rely only on words, which have limits. Using art as prayer we are invited to explore the mystery and revelation of God from a place where there are no words. How might an intentional engagement with our imagination and our spirituality lead us to see the divine in (and connect with) one another? By gathering a group of all ages and engaging its collective wisdom, we will seek to inspire one another in prayer and art to make a visible sign of invisible grace.