Last night was the opening of the nationally juried show “Multicultural Expressions of Faith” at the Xavier University Art Gallery. This piece, “and also with you,” was given an Award of Excellence. I was honored to accept the award from XU president, Father Graham. It was a wonderful night and well attended opening. I was pleased to share it with friends. The show displays a wide range of faith-based art incorporating many media and points of view. I was asked to be interviewed for a video documenting the show and several artists represented in the show. The interviewer asked me if most of my art is faith-based. The question made me halt for a minute. While I don’t normally use subjects that are obvious references to religious subject matter, I realized that my art always displays the fact that I live a faith-based life. I told the young videographer (who turned out to be a former student,) that my work is always faith-based because it demonstrates my belief that life is good. It was a new way of describing my work. He asked me what I would like for people to take away from my work. I responded that I believe that we live in a world that is abundant. Our world is filled with good people and places of great beauty. I want to display my optimism for all to see.
Our pastor, Dr. Larry Kent, sums it up best in his Charge & Benediction every week, “Go with Joy, Live in Faith, Believe that Life is Good, and if you find it not, help to make it so, To the Glory of God who made us.” Amen.
Words to live by…
