Stories which are directly related to my work with OM and the Inspiro Arts Alliance (formerly: “OM Arts”)
In 2014, at the OM Arts, Incarnate School of Art and Mission in Italy, I began a personal tradition. I spent two weeks with the students (out of the three month program) as they worked, building a community of Christ following artists. My role was observer and mentor, coming along side them as they created […]
When I applied to be a part of the OM Arts, Incarnate School of Art in Mission in 2016, I expected to have a role as a member of the staff. However, the leadership came to me and let me know that they wanted me to come the first time as an actual student, going […]
As I returned from this OM Arts trip to Prague and the Czech Republic, it was interesting to take a step back and think about how God has been working in this country, and in the people we have had the privilege to work along side of. This was my third trip back to Prague. […]
I created this piece, “The Dance Warrior”, several months ago, but it was just brought back to mind because of a visit from a very special friend… I spent three months at the beginning of 2016 at the Incarnate program in Italy, working intensely with more than 25 other artists from 11 different nations all […]
terracotta clay, 6″ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 There are times when you hear […]
Well, I made it. Sixty. Not surprisingly, my Facebook page filled pretty quickly with birthday wishes from around the world. Most were short, but some reflected people’s memories and wishes. Sara Ying was one of the fellow artists who left me a photo: What particularly moved me about this image, aside from the fact that […]
What is there in a piece of broken clay, a simple sculpture, shattered on the floor? On Wednesday, around 3:30AM local time, another devastating earthquake hit the area around the Gran Sasso mountain in central Italy. Early counts put the death toll around 159 and rising. The region is no stranger to earthquakes. In 2009, […]
One experience from my time in Italy which I will never forget was the depth of the community, and freedom to open ourselves to each other to hear people’s stories through their art. The vulnerability, honesty and truth which flowed through each person’s unique artistic expression, like a clear stream out of the broken stones of our […]
One of the concepts we spent a lot of time wrestling with during our time at Incarnate was the idea of Hope. What is hope? What is the anchor for our hope? How is hope related to our faith? On one occasion when we went into the town, I thought I might pick a spot along […]
One of our major assignments over the course of the Incarnate 2016 program was to create a series of five visual art pieces following a common theme, for the final exhibition. Each student had to develop their own thesis, plan the pieces in the series, and describe how they related to what God was speaking into their lives through His word.
One of the things which particularly impressed me during my stay in Italy with the Incarnate 2016 school was the heart of the Italian staff at the Centro Evalgelico. The center was built around 50 years ago, outside the small town of Isola (or more properly, Isola del Gran Sasso d’Italia — “The island of the Great Rock of Italy”) as an Evangelical retreat center.
unpacking — sifting through bits and pieces, discovering pearls; buried among the socks – words and gifts