Exploring the Intersections of Art and Spirituality

How did this come about?

This project came to fruition because of a love for the arts (i.e. studio art, photography, music, etc.) and gathering people together. The question that I asked myself was how Art (and other forms of creativity) informs the discovery and growth of spirituality. This question became even more relevant in the midst of a pandemic, where our physical and mental well-being were maxed out.

So What?

The hunch I have is that art is a vital tool for the development and exploration of well-being and spirituality. It not only brings us closer to ourselves but also our Creator; allowing us to use our bodies and minds to explore the depths of our realities. If you are interested in that hunch take sometime to explore the examples below and sign-up for our most recent iteration. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT PAST GROUPS HERE

Cultivation through Creation

Creature's heART - Fall of 2022

 Cultivation is the act of growing and developing a quality or skill. The hunch is that the cultivation of spirituality can occur during the act of creation. In Creature's heART, we will be creating and exploring different art mediums in a group setting. Each session will focus on a different Fruits of the Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control). The focus is intended to create a direction for exploration in each session. The group setting we meet in allows for discussion on each session's focus. Following the session, there will be time to share what we have created. This class aims to discover and explore different art mediums and our spiritual gifts and introduce new practices of spiritual exploration while meeting our neighbors with a similar passion for art. 

Session dates and times: September 18th (4-6 p.m.), October 2nd, 16th, and 30th (4-6 p.m.), and November 13th (4-6 p.m.).

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Parker Lucas at plucas@firstpreswaco.org.

Bones are funny, rigid, and supportive...

With a focus on being weight-bearing and providing support for ourselves and others; we delved into pottery. Local Artist Barbara Francis (website here) came by and taught us the intricate techniques of making a pinch pot. Clay was everywhere as the creative process took hold and allowed for intricate designs and different kinds of coffee mugs, trinket holders, and even a succulent pot. All of our creations were meant to hold the weight of things that are near to us.

Absorbing and assimilating

With a focus on absorbing and assimilating, we looked to the functions of our digestive system. A system that receives input and discerns, without our help, what to retain and what to release. This natural function is similar to how we take in information and experiences, and we go through a process of constantly deciding what to retain and release. This process is identical to the act of watercolor in which the paper absorbs the part of the pigment, and what is left on the surface can be moved around or blotted off to create texture. With the guiding hand of Cheryle Chapline (Website Here), we spent time working with watercolors and exploring the things we retain and release. Check out some of our work from this class below!