An open call to all members and people interested in joining Visionaries to come along to our upcoming Northern Group meeting. We gather from 9.30 – 12.30 for conversation, art play and mutual support. More details at http://mailchi.mp/72c4a1804cee/may-workshop-reminder.
Mondorla 2018 Art Prize Launched
2018 Mandorla Art Award launched
The 2018 Mandorla Art Award was launched on March 30 in conjunction with the Bible Society of Australia celebrating their 200th anniversary. It took place in Wesley Church in the city with an exhibition of 12 of the finalists from last year.
The Award is Australia’s only thematic Christian art award with themes defined by a quotation from the Bible and all participating artists invited to interpret this in their own way. The privilege to co-celebrate with the Bible Society was important as the aims of both organisations are bound with the same values.
The theme for the 2018 Mandorla Art Award, is taken from Revelations 21:1-2 and provides artists with an opportunity to reflect on what that will mean for us and offer the rest of us a way in which to imagine what is to come.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev 21:1-2
Rev Professor Bill Loader offered us a way of understanding this text and concluded with a dare to artists:
Dare to hope! Dare to dream! Dare to imagine! Dare to depict and portray!
Prize money for the main award’s overall winning entry is $25,000 sponsored by St John of God Healthcare, with the two highly commended awards being $5,000 each. The People’s Choice is for $2,000 and is sponsored by the New Norcia Benedictine Community. The main award’s overall winning artwork is acquisitive and all other artworks are for sale.
All submissions must clearly demonstrate a direct relationship to the theme, Revelation 21:1-2.
More information on the theme, application process and the opening exhibition will soon be on the Mandorla website www.mandorlaart.com.
About the Mandorla Art Award
The Mandorla Art Award for contemporary religious art is Australia’s most significant thematic religious art prize, attracting some of the country’s finest artists since its 1985 inception. For more information, visit www.mandorlaart.com
About St John of God Health Care
St John of God Health Care is a leading not for profit Catholic health care group, employing 9,300 caregivers across 13 hospitals, pathology, home nursing and Social Outreach and Advocacy services in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific. For more information, visit www.sjog.org.au
Lent to Easter 2017 Exhibition
Join us for this year’s Lenten Exhibition:
Lent to Easter:
Reflection and Prayer
Exhibition by artists of Visionaries
“Temptation in the Wilderness” by Geraldine Wheeler
VERA WADE GALLERY
Saint Andrew’s Uniting Church
Corner Ann and Creek Streets, Brisbane City
March 1 to April 21, 2017
Viewing hours – Sundays 8 am to 11 am and
Monday to Friday (except public holidays) 11 am to 2 pm
Artists
Marcelien Hunt, Joanne Lane, Marion McConaghy,
Susan Pietsch, Cees Sliedrecht, Geraldine Wheeler
Journey to Christmas: Catalogue Essay
Catalogue reflections
Journey to Christmas
The Journey to Christmas theme is interpreted by the artists of Visionaries for this exhibition in a range of different ways. Some make reference to the biblical story, particularly as told in Luke’s Gospel, chapters 1 and 2, featuring Mary and Elizabeth, Mary’s pregnancy and the journey to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The Chi-rho pages hark back to these pages in mediaeval Gospel books (the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospel) where these Greek letters are decorated on pages at the beginning of Matthew 1:18. The journey of the wise men (Matthew 2:1-12) is also referenced. The opening of John’s Gospel, with reference to the Word made flesh, is central for some of the artists.
For some artists, reflection on this story is linked with parallel events in today’s world. Some of the works refer to the artist’s own particular journey towards Christmas and thinking about the mystery of God’s action in the incarnation. Several of the works make reference to past Christian traditions and how these may be brought into the present and used for reflection about our times. Questions facing the world and the church today come to the forefront for a number of the artists as they express issues and concerns. Every artist is aiming to express more than simply making an aesthetically pleasing image.
Much is intertwined in our lives as we move through Advent towards Christmas. Looking at, pondering and enjoying these works can be part of the Advent to Christmas journey for each one of us.
The artists of Visionaries offer these works (paintings in a range of media, drawings and a paper-cut) as a contribution towards the spiritual journey of viewers during Advent to Christmas, for reflection which may lead into prayer and new God-given insights.
Visionaries artists also thank the minister, congregation and particularly the people who organise the Vera Wade Gallery of St Andrew’s Uniting Church for the opportunity to hold this exhibition.
Geraldine Wheeler, 2016
Journey to Christmas: Marion McConaghy
“Maranatha – Joyful Hope”, photoprint and oil pastel on canvas, 74cm diameter
Artist: Marion McConaghy
Journey to Christmas: Sue Oliver
“The Word became flesh”, oil on canvas, 30cm x 60cm
“Waiting”, mixed media on canvas, 36cm x 75cm
Artist: Sue Oliver
Journey to Christmas: Barbara Niczynski
“Unravelling”, acrylic on canvas, 60cm x 90cm
Artist: Barbara Niczynski
Artist Statement:
The artist thinks about God as engaged in a journey towards the incarnation and so pictures an unravelling. “When I consider the wild, untameable nature of God, the enormity of creation, what effort the unravelling of the Godhead it must have been! God reduced beginning redemption as one cell in a human being. We think of Jesus suffering on the cross, but I think his suffering started at that point of laying aside his power for us”.
Journey to Christmas: Graham Moss
“Just follow the light”, Watercolour and ink, 75cm x 55cm
Artist: Graham Moss
Journey to Christmas: Marcelien Hunt
“All the world should be taxed (Lk 2:1-2)”, oil on canvas, 50cm x 50cm
Artist: Marcelien Hunt
Artist Statement:
Luke 2: 1-3
- And it came to pass in those there went out a decree… that all the world should be taxed.
- And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
- And all went out to be taxed…
2000 years later upon Advent the world is again being taxed. This is the taxing of all peoples across all nations by refugees. As God led his people out of Egypt, this exodus of Syrian refugees is an issue each should decide where and why they stand where they do. Do you face the crowd with your back to the world or do you turn to face the journey with Babe safely in your arms?
Journey to Christmas: Jennii Gould
“Journey to Christmas”, acrylic on canvas, 61cm x 85cm
Artist: Jennii Gould
Artist Statement:
This painting expresses the grief and sense of aloneness that I feel at Christmas.
I have used the following symbols to convey this narrative:
Gold – God
Dove – The Holy Spirit
Christmas – The Holy Family
Myself – figure front left
Clothes – red and green for Christmas
The Path – Church colours for November and December
Grief – purple cheesecloth
Aloneness – single person
Overall tone of the painting – Bright and colourful like a Christmas decoration