By now most of the world has been in various stages of lock down, quarantine, social distancing, and re-opening throughout the last few months due to the impact of the global pandemic of COVID-19. The year 2020 has shown itself as a very interesting year that has tested, stretched, challenged, and brought us all to varying levels of uncertainty, flexibility, and deconstruction in all aspects of our lives. Every nation and community has been affected in some way. The pandemic seems to have shown light on deep rooted political and cultural differences, social, economic, and racial injustices, and the desperate need for humans to be and do better with each other. For some it has decimated lives and economies and brought loss, fear, panic, despair, and even anger and hatred. For others it perhaps has only inconvenienced, yet brought a chance for personal respite, self re-evaluation, and the opportunity to lend a helping hand to their fellow humans, encouraging others and spreading hope and light and love at a time that could be very dark and difficult, confusing and chaotic, and filled with endless questions and what-if scenarios for our futures.
Technology and the internet with its' written media, social media, video and live stream platforms have become the pathways of communication and connection during this time of uncharted territory in our human history. Now, not only individuals are encouraged to reach out on-line to each other but businesses, organizations, schools, churches, artists/musicians and all various interest groups are reaching out via the internet to communicate, learn from each other, conduct business, worship, collaborate together, and continue meeting "virtually"...even as (for some) things are re-opening to meet in person. This has opened up all new possibilities and created new opportunities and avenues for how we connect, communicate, and do life as humans throughout the world that could very well launch us into a new future (even with all the uncertainties of how our "new normal" will look).
As an Art Minister I've been having many conversations (utilizing technology) with other Creatives about the important role of creativity at this time. People all over the globe have been turning to the Painters, the Musicians, the Singers, the Writers, the Filmmakers, the Poets, the Dancers, the Actors, the Artisans (Potters, etc), and the Technology Audio/Visual/Graphic Designers of our world to help, entertain, distract, lead and remind us that we're not alone during this incredible time of world-wide joint experience. For such a time as this! Creatives have been called to speak the language of creativity (through whatever medium and genre our talents lean towards) and to use that creative voice to be the bridges of peacemaking, hope, and love between people of all races, cultures, and backgrounds at a time when actual travel (local and global) and in person connection and conversation is so limited.
For me, along with conversations I've been having with other Creatives and also being able to hold safe space for many people to share and connect, at this time... it has been a chance to continue creating paintings that speak of the Conversation that God is having with us and our part in it. Many of the paintings I've created in my studio at this time have been about the Paradox of Peacemaking...(much like the Parable of the Good Samaritan in the Bible, it is all about being a loving presence within the conflict that is presented to us) by not giving into Fear and Hatred, through Humility, Grace, and Mercy allowing God to help us be Love and Healing to each other. I have appreciated how my paintings are speaking to people at this time...human to human through Creativity. I am so thankful for what I get to do as a Traveling Art Minister. For such a time as this.
coffee kintsugi
c.2020 Lisa Marten
24”x30” mixed media painting on canvas
Original SOLD. Pre-order/Pre-pay Prints Available.
This painting is about intentional time spent holding safe space for each other through conversation. When we connect and relate to each other by listening and learning, sharing and collaborating, our eyes can be opened to truly see the beauty in each other and ourselves beyond our circumstances and problems, our struggles and fears, our pain and our sorrow. I use the imagery of conversation over coffee as a representation of this safe space being held and the time spent in meaningful relationship with each other that can help to bring healing to the broken places within us.
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, shining even more beauty on the pottery than what had been seen there before.