Contemplative Artists Guild

This month’s art includes artworks by Mel Ahlborn, June G Paul, Claudia Smith, and Melissa Strickler..

Click artwork to enlarge.

A good omen for 2025?!

I started taking images of the view from our deck in approximately the same place to document the changes throughout the year. Here is a picture of a spectacular, rare, rainbow at 8:31 in the morning on January 6. Below is a screen grab of some of the shots taken followed by the same view just 5 minutes before the rainbow appeared! It was an awesome experience. The rainbow eventually made a full arc and was long lasting. –Nancy

Mel Ahlborn

The imagery was inspired by the opening lines of Francis Thompson ‘s poem “Hound of Heaven’’.

http://www.houndofheaven.com/poem

June G Paul

This is a recent colored pencil drawing that I did while praying and contemplating over such things as tombs for the poor and tombs for the rich, sheep pens, inns and stables, open doors, closed doors, life and death. What do you think? How does this drawing speak to you?

I think I threw it out after taking the picture. I was thinking it wasn’t good enough to share but the more I see it when I scroll through the photos on my camera, the more I am drawn to look at it. Could it be that there is going to be a breakthrough? A door I haven’t knocked on? There seems to be no handle on it. Why? Can it only be opened by the other side? What is going on on the other side? When will whatever is being prepared and made be finished? What if the door is only hinged and not locked? A swinging door…does it swing both ways? Should I push it to see if it’s just a hinge? What if it’s simply a curtain?

What do you think is happening with this?

Claudia Smith

Both my painting and poem were created almost simultaneously: a stroke of the paintbrush and a stroke of the pen. I have had offers to buy it, but I have been reluctant to let it go. I did produce a “Dreams Have No Color II,” which I submitted to ECVA in 2019 for its Universal Christ—Call to Artists. In addition, its image was used by The Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross in 2020 for its 124th annual gathering invitation. Eventually, I did sell the second version.

Although this is an older painting and accompanying poem, they are a strong reflection of me as an artist. — Claudia

Dreams Have No Color
By Claudia Smith

She keeps her dreams tucked deep inside a secret private place;
Their sweetness lies there waiting to wrap around her
Like the fragrance of spring honeysuckle.
Her dreams have changed over the years;
As her body ripened so did they: from dolls and dresses
with yellowed lace, to wishes so special, they hurt.
She tries to keep them in neat white piles,
Like her mother’s linens; but like hollyhocks along a fence,
They blossom in rainbow profusion and disarray.
When the week has been razor-sharp and too heavy to carry,
She lets them whisper in her ear; their breath is warm
Against her cheek, making her chest ache with wanting.
It suits her best to dwell on them at night against her pillow;
The darkness and the measured beat of her sister’s sleep
Make them more believable.
Plucking each one as if it were a ripe berry
Whose juice stains her fingertips,
She savors them until her eyes tear.
She wonders if “dreams-come-true” only happens to girls
Who have fair skin and wear expensive shoes;
Her throat is tight from daring to dream with
Calloused bare feet, against rough sheets.

Melissa Strickler

Alisa Clark

In She Shines Radiant Red, I capture Mary’s passion with vibrant red hues and LED lights, creating an ethereal glow. This piece alludes to Christ’s sacrifice, portraying Mary as a spiritual vessel, reflecting her profound devotion to God despite knowing her son’s fate.

She Glows from the Inside Out depicts Mary contemplating the journey from the annunciation to Christ’s birth. A lamb, adorned with a red splash, waits at Mary’s feet while symbolizing Christ’s sacrifice and our atonement. White LED lights glow from within, emanating warmth, mystery, and wonder, encapsulating Mary’s inner reflection, devotion, and grace.

She Lights Up the Night bathes Mary in a soft blue LED glow, symbolizing her faith and purity. This piece radiates her power, lighting up her surroundings even in darkness. Mary embodies calmness and serenity amid the troubles and uncertainties ahead, her ethereal glow a beacon of hope and faith.

These three assemblages collectively explore different facets of Mary’s spiritual journey and the profound emotions associated with her role.

She Shines Radiant Red captures the intense passion and sacrifice intertwined with her devotion, using vibrant red LED lights to symbolize Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. In She Glows from the Inside Out, the focus shifts to the contemplative and mysterious aspects of her faith, with a lamb symbolizing Christ at her feet, and warm white LED lights emanating from within, highlighting the wonder of the annunciation and birth. She Lights Up the Night completes the narrative by showcasing Mary’s serene strength and unwavering faith, as a soft blue LED glow symbolizes her purity and ability to radiate calmness and hope, even amidst darkness. Together, these works portray a nuanced and layered depiction of Mary’s spiritual essence, each piece illuminating a different dimension of her story and her enduring influence. –Alisa

Q&A

QUESTION: Why did the church decide not to have an arts registry? Would a good email conversation as well?

ANSWER: It’s an important question with a rather simple answer. The Artist Registry was not the ‘church’ and the church did not decide to not have it; the Artist Registry was a program created by a volunteer organization, ECVA. Several (soon to be former) board members are a part of this group, including Joy Jennings (who has served as president and exhibitions director for the past many years), Jeanne Weaver (who served as newsletter editor for many years), and myself.

The Artist Registry is not continuing because, after several requests to membership, there is no one interested in volunteering to keep it going. The same people have served, some for decades, to volunteer time to offer visual arts programming. And with no new interest, we made the difficult decision to be grateful for what has been accomplished and to cease operations. —Mel

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