Visionaries: Christianity and the Visual Arts

Christianity and the Visual Arts

Journey to Christmas: Catalogue Essay

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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: Barbara Niczynski

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“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: Marcelien Hunt

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“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

  1. And it came to pass in those there went out a decree… that all the world should be taxed.
  2. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
  3. 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

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“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

 

Journey to Christmas: Geraldine Wheeler

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“O come, O come, Emmanuel”, Gouache stencil painting on black paper, 78cm x 72cm

Artist: Geraldine Wheeler

Artist Statement:

This was a response for Advent 2013 to the Brookfield Centre for Spirituality’s request for works of visual art on themes relating to John the Baptist’s call “Prepare the way of the Lord.” The work emerged for me as the counterpoint to “Jesus Falls” which I did for a Visionaries “Contemporary Stations of the Cross” exhibition in St.John’s Cathedral, 2008. In that, I placed the figure of the fallen Christ in the Queen Street Mall (Albert Street junction), the view looking up the mall. Most of the surrounding people took no notice of the fallen figure, just going their own ways. “O come, O come…” is set looking down the mallfrom the spot where I placed the fallen Christ figure, as I saw the mall in December 2012, with a choir singing Christmas carols. Such a song is a prayer for the place where it is sung and the wider world, “O come, O come, Emmanuel.” (See together in Song 265.)

“A Chi-rho page: flannel flowers”, gouache stencil painting on black paper, 47.5cm x 40.5cm

“A Chi-rho page: jacaranda and poinciana”, gouache stencil painting on black paper, 47.5cm x 40.5cm

“A Chi-rho page: jacaranda and poinciana”, gouache stencil painting on black paper, 47.5cm x 40.5cm

“A Chi page: Christmas”, gouache stencil painting on black paper, 47.5cm x 40.5cm