What Are Your Greatest Needs as an Artist?

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Permalink Reply by Thomas Clark on November 5, 2009 at 10:25am

There have been a lot of great thoughts brought up and it would difficult to add anything to the conversation. However, one word I haven't seen is passion–-without passion an artist is inert. Passion not only brings life into our art it ignites thoughts and emotions in those around you.

As Christian artists, what distinguishes us from other artists should be a passion that is indescribable, that is not conjured up but bursts forth naturally from our communion with God. This passion creates community because others crave it and want to marinate in it. Now, how does the Grove convey that passion and spread it in an organic fashion that causes a spark and ignites the community so that it is not just a painting on the wall but is interactive, challenges and encourages us as artists. Is it marketing, programming, a great looking website, artist funding? All those are important, but it first must come from authenticity, prayer and community. I would encourage everyone to pray for the Grove Center for the Arts, that God would empower all of those involved (and you included) to convey His heart and passion, not only in our art but in our relationships. Through that, I believe the answers to Joey's question will spring forth and the Grove will blossom.

Here is a link to an art house in Atlanta, that I believe, had a clever way of including everyone's passion that, in turn, became a great piece of marketing and encouragement for all the artists involved: http://www.arthousecoop.com/sketchbookproject/

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Permalink Reply by bill hopen on November 7, 2009 at 2:02pm

APPLAUSE I love to sculpt, and I do it for myself, but.... a work needs a place to go, a gallery, museum, collector, a church, a park fountain..a place where it is appreciated- wanted- looked at and enjoyed....or else...the creation feels incomplete, my life, my effort feels purposeless....of course I need sustainance, to feed my family and monitary reward is also some sort of applause...but I try not to equate the two or get confused about what my purpose on earth is about, its about art, not money. As an artist I am here to express beauty and meaning in the experience of life. Most times that about the spirit, but expressed in physical form of the human figure. I've been blessed to have worked fulltime over three decades as an artist and raise 6 children by this work....life is good.

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Permalink Reply by Christine Lee Smith on November 20, 2009 at 10:36am

+1 - IMHO, not so much for buying art (I'm not sure how I feel personally about selling art for worship - not making assumptions that anyone else is recommending that directly - just a personal statement), but seeing the church understand that churches can (and should?) have an artist on staff.

You have a teaching pastor, a youth pastor and a worship pastor - what about a creative pastor? So much healing can take place through creative expression, and many creative people don't know that they are truly artists and have a difficult time coming to that understanding, and thereby the healing that can accompany it.

So the one thing for me: understanding, and thereby financial support, in the local church for artists as co-ministers to the body.

Denise Weyhrich said:

Financial support. (obvious answer but needs discussion.) The financial support for Christian visual fine artists to continue doing what we are called to do without compromising their mission is the hurdle that I am constantly witnessing. In the fine visual arts people seems to enjoy our gifts, yet rarely, if ever, do they return it with purchases or donations. I do realize that supporting contemporary fine artists difficult, but the good financial years were equally difficult for most individual contemporary christian artists. Neither the church knew what to do with these non-traditional arts for unless they were "performed" in front of the church service or created traditional worship liturgical items, they have few places to exist. Both as an artist and curator, we arts missionaries spend every cent we can afford, yet do not have any income. The choice is often give up and go back to the paying job, or compromise our art to an acceptable marketable art in mass production. There should be a place in between that can support the fine arts as a mission and truly treat them as missionaries. -that is my take, not whining just stating the facts. thanks for asking!

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