commission4mission is organising an art exhibition for the Pentecost Festival at which the Run with the Fire digital exhibition will be shown alongside original artworks from commission4mission artists and invited guest artists.
The Run with the Fire exhibition will take place at the Strand Gallery (32 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6BP) from 22nd - 27th May, 11.00am - 6.00pm.
Including an eclectic mix of styles and media, this will be a stimulating and exciting show exploring the broad theme of running life's race with passion and spirit. Featured artists include Harvey Bradley, Colin Burns, Christopher Clack, Elizabeth Duncan Meyer, Robert Enoch, Jonathan Evens, Christine Garwood, Jim Insole, Ken James, Miriam Kendrick, Mark Lewis, Glenn Lowcock, Tracy Mcculloch, Henry Shelton, Sergiy Shkanov, Esther Tidy, Mike Thomas, Andrew Vessey, Rachel Watson and Peter Webb.
On Saturday 26th May there will be an additional programme of art talks and painting demonstrations.
A Launch Night on Monday 21st May, 6.00 - 8.00pm, will provide the first opportunity to see the exhibition and will also include music and poetry exploring the exhibition theme. Those performing include singer-songwriter and poet Malcolm Guite, artist-musician Colin Burns, artist-poets Andrew Vessey and Jonathan Evens, and performance poet Tamsin Kendrick. Refreshments will be available. Cost - £2.00, pay on the door.
St John's Seven Kings used Run with the Fire as part of a Watchnight Service and also an All-Age Service based on Olympic themes.
The Run with the Fire digital exhibition ran as a backdrop to the entire act of worship at their Watchnight Service which focused on their Text for 2012 - "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12. 1-2)
They then used both the More Than Gold and Run With The Fire DVDs in their All-Age Service to begin preparing the congregation for the 2012 Olympics and to explore what can be learnt from the concept of the Christian life as a race to be run. In this service clips from the Run with the Fire DVD were shown as words and images for meditative prayer.
St George's Barkingside have shown the Run with the Fire as part of OPEN, a fresh expression of church which includes a multi-media meditation in each of its sessions. On more than one occasion the Run with the Fire DVD has been their multi-media meditation of choice.
“The vision statement by Whojeong Lee was a wonderful gift to me, talking as it did about exploring the nature of the Holy Spirit through colour and texture. The picture takes three elements: fire, air and water to show different aspects of the Holy Spirit. He is the fire of Pentecost, the breath of life in Genesis and the Living Waters. As I thought about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, I realised that we "run" most successfully when the Holy Spirit can be seen through us. The less that people's attention is drawn to us (our faults and failings) the more they see God working through us.”
Sue Newham
“I'd like to explore different nature and characteristics of the Holy Spirit and express what I find using various textures and colors. I will initiate this process by reading the Bible and meditation and prayers and ultimately interact with Him to understand what He wants to tell to the viewers and audiences through my art works. I know that each artist's works should convey his/her encounter with Him and finally celebrate the fact that He came to us and teaches and commands us and intercedes for us in prayer.”
Whojeong Lee
“In this work I have tried to create an atmosphere which hopefully reflects my African roots. In Africa family as well as tribal life have always and still take place around open fires. It is here that meals are prepared and eaten, stories are told and discussions take place. Settlers from Europe have adopted this tradition and so community life often takes place in a boma around an open fire or barbeque, called a braai in South Africa. In my work the open fires are also burning bushes that “do not burn up” (Ex 3:2). This holy fire is kindled in the hearts of believers and is then carried from community to community thus spreading the message of salvation through the blood of Jesus. South Africa has a rich heritage of ancient, even prehistoric, rock art. This has been a valuable source for my images in this work.”
Titia Ballot
“As a result of reading Miriam Cabello’s writings, I was moved to co-create with Miriam a vision that could be common to all men, and which would hearken back to our origin as a species. I wished the paint to look as though it had been applied ‘naturally’, without artifice or academic perfection. The title is ‘Torches at Urulu’ - this painting was scripturally inspired by Psalm 18:28 (the numbers of which are also lettered above my signature in the original): ‘For Thou dost light my lamp; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.’ In this painting my concept is a primordial vision of our ancestors, of men that who have gone before under the light of stars and have been guided by the Lord on their way. Petroglyphs on the walls of the rock of Urulu signify the shapes of stars and planets, which themselves look like petroglyphs (the earthly kingdom, in some ways, is a reflection of the heavenly one). Water remains at the base of the rock from a recent rain, during which liquid runoff was deposited beneath, reflecting the light of men. There are three men, reflecting the three elements of the Olympic motto, ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius.’ The theme, ‘Running with Fire’, applies here to the bearing of the torch of faith from one generation to the next ,as much as it reflects the Olympic theme of competing and allying with fellow men in these Games which begin and end with the bearing of a physical torch. The figures are warriors, strong and fit--one carries a spear, just as the believer carries with him the sword of truth. The path to victory through life, and sport, is narrow but achievable, if one is borne up and led by the light of the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit, in the power of the One with whom all things are possible.”
Rick Delanty
“I was overwhelmed by a trip to Uluru with my mother last year, also known as Ayers Rock in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It is the spiritual land of Australia’s Indigenous people. We absorbed with all our senses the rich red ochre of the soil, sand and rocks. My mother and I ran our hands across the magnificent large sandstone rock formation called Uluru as we bravely walked the complete circumference on an extremely hot day (the 10km walk took just over 4 hours), we respected the wishes of the Aboriginal people and chose not to climb the rock. Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area. The many springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings we viewed gave us tranquilly and peace that lead to moments of solemness and prayer. The painted dark figures on the red rock face of Uluru reminded me of ancient Greek vases (Athenian black-figure painting). These images further enhanced the connection of the fire of the Olympic spirit with the red centre of Australia and Pentecost. The stars at night seemed almost reachable as they kissed the horizon, never have I seen the earth’s complete 360 degrees circumference. Uluru is notable for appearing to change colour as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year, with sunset a particularly remarkable sight when it briefly glows red. Although rainfall is uncommon in this semiarid area, during wet periods the rock acquires a silvery-grey colour, with streaks of black algae forming on the areas that serve as channels for water flow. The glowing red of Uluru is my messenger of my country and all it symbolizes. The red glow of the burning torch that so many people carry with them as they walk around the rock, from every part of the world they witness the red glow and walk speaking different tongues as the wind howls through the rocks crevices and the ancestors respond and speak to us. We witnessed the spiritual gift the land gives to all, that listen to “its dreams of cross cultural harmony”. In keeping with the passing of the flame, the fire of Uluru reflects the spiritual journey of Pentecost and of the running messenger.”
Miriam Cabello
