Shalom Series ~ Bread for Beggars

I’d like to highlight an ongoing collaboration with Pastor Jonathan Bourman at Peace in Aiken, SC. We’ve done 2 of 3 pieces on the theme “Peace” based on scriptural references. This is a great example of ways that works of art can be used to engage congregational life and outreach. I’ve copied his text here from 2 blog posts at http://www.peaceinaiken.com/

February 20, 2019

For quite some time, Peace has had a vision to communicate through art its mission to bring real peace to real people. In the interest of that, we nailed down three Scriptures that we wanted to enable people to “see” through art. We chose Luke 2:13-14 when the angels proclaimed, “Peace on earth”; Mark 4:39 when Jesus commanded the storm on the Sea of Galilee “Peace. Be still.”; and John 20:19-20 when Jesus said to the disciples after his resurrection, “Peace be with you.” Next, we commissioned artist, Jason Jaspersen, to begin doing the work.

Jason went to work. Using archival paper and India ink, he drew for us an image of the angelic announcement at Jesus’ birth. The piece is 22” tall and 60” wide.

The artist writes about the piece:

I made this ink drawing to put you in the middle of events from Luke 2. It’s designed to work as a continuous loop. Notice also that characters appear several times in the same space. This simultaneous action is a visual storytelling method borrowed from medieval Europe and India. It allows one place to host different points in time.

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I encourage you to think about the piece in a number of ways.

1) It moves from the angelic announcement to the birth of Jesus to the flight to Egypt, but it doesn’t stop there. See if you can find the cross and the empty tomb, which finally resolves the whole piece.

2) Think about the way the artist organizes the storytelling. He’s trying to set a center for the entire piece. What is it? And why?

3) Decide to come back to the piece. I see new things in the piece every time I go back to it. There is a lot of subtle messaging that is faith giving when you think about it.

4) Remember that Christian art is not merely décor. It’s messaging. I say that because, finally, this piece isn’t about aesthetics as much as it’s about sharing Jesus and his identity, the Prince of Peace, with us. God came to us in Christ. He is our peace. This piece is for him and for his glory, and it’s my prayer that it will help you as it has helped me think on that truth ever more deeply.

The artist created this video from this piece and features the music of Koine. Enjoy!

“Stand there” and look around at this link: https://www.facebook.com/JJJaspersenStudios/photos/a.832785263412396/2827920317232204/?type=3&theater

December 8, 2019

For quite some time, Peace has had the vision to communicate through art its mission to bring real peace to real people through Jesus Christ. In the interest of that, we nailed down three Scriptures that we wanted to enable people to “see” through art. We chose Luke 2:13-14 when the angels proclaimed, “Peace on earth”; Mark 4:39 when Jesus commanded the storm on the Sea of Galilee, “Peace. Be still.”; and John 20:19-20, when Jesus said to the disciples after his resurrection, “Peace be with you.” Next, we commissioned artist, Jason Jaspersen, to begin doing the work.

Jason has since completed the second of the three-piece set. Before I comment more on that piece, I would like to comment on the setting in which it hangs. We designed our building to be an expression of our faith. The hallway in which the pieces hang represents our walk of faith. The walk ends with a sight of our true destination, heaven’s worship at the cross of Jesus. We get to heaven’s goal by walking on earth with Jesus. It’s like Augustine, the Church Father, said, “Where do we go? To Christ. How do we go? Through Christ.” We are born into him by baptism. Thus, we have the scene of Christ’s birth. We then hold to him in life always trusting, even in difficulty. Thus, we will have the scene of Jesus calming the storm. Finally, we die with him only to be resurrected by him. Thus, we have Christ’s resurrection as the final piece of art. We have now received that piece and have installed it in celebration of our fifth anniversary as a church.

This brings us to some very brief comments about the piece itself. The artist writes about the piece:

It must have been exhausting. The disciples had gotten used to following Jesus. But then he was brutally executed. But then he was suddenly alive again! Stories of his appearances were moving like fire in a drought. Were they just stories? He appeared to most of them in this very place for just a few moments, just a few days before. Life went on with rhythms of food and sleep. And then…some saw him right away. Some woke up, not sure if they were still dreaming. This time Thomas could trust his senses. Jesus said “Peace” and calmed unseen storms. This charcoal and gold drawing shows a moment frozen in time. It offers the viewer a chance to contemplate the disorienting ways Jesus enters into our dark moments…to look around and find ourselves in that encounter.

Put yourself in the room at this link: https://www.facebook.com/JJJaspersenStudios/photos/a.832785263412396/2852313904792845/?type=3&theater

I encourage you to stop and take it in. Here are some suggestions for you as you do:

1) Notice the gold. Yes, that is real gold in there. It suggests an encounter with the divine.

2) Notice all the different reactions to the same event. How real is that? Which one do you most identify with right now? Why? What stories from the Gospels do they each remind you of?

3) Notice how much work the gospel has to do in us. Everyone there, spiritually speaking, has some aspect of Christ’s resurrection to take in. We all still do. Peace is always the result.

Finally, I’d like to know what catches you in the piece. I’ve been drawn to the sloshing cup. It reminds me of what world-shaking news I’ve got in my bones. What grabs you? Why? Your turn.

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