About God & Art

Lit

2011-12-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

In the winter months, I long for light. This is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder—which has a very apt acronym: SAD.

This is why December is the perfect time to reflect on Advent, which is when we look forward to the incarnation of Christ, our Light. We decorate our homes with countless lights in an effort to make the darkness bearable. But every little dot of light is really an expression of our hope for the true Light of the World.

We look back 2000 years to when Jesus came from heaven to earth, which we remember by celebrating Christmas. But that is not the end of the story. Jesus then made a way for us. He taught us the truth and showed us what the perfect light of love is like. He died on the cross to redeem us from our own darkness. And now Jesus lives in us. His light is being multiplied as we become countless dots of light in the world.

We also have the hope that there will be a time when there will be no darkness anymore, not even a shadow. In the New Jerusalem, the presence of Jesus will be brilliant and eternal. No more SAD! Maranatha!

Currently I have an exhibit at The Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank, NJ. It is called “Lit.” I am showing light painting photographs. This video premiered at the opening:

http://youtu.be/Rd-vIhWCcbI

The Flavor of Salt

2011-10-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men". Matthew 5:13

A scripture can inspire an artist in quite unusual ways. In this video you can see how this verse influenced me:

And here is what salt miners in Poland created: Please open the link below and take a look at the Wieliczka salt mine and the art made by salt miners. I love that even the chandeliers are made from rock salt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wieliczka_Salt_Mine

Tea tasting with friends - and strangers

2011-09-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

“Tea is quiet, and our thirst for tea is never far from our craving for beauty.” - James Norwood Pratt

"Don't forget to show love to strangers; for some have thereby entertained angels unawares." - Hebrews 13:2

There is something about tea that lends itself to beauty and the contemplation of beauty. The enjoyment of tea involves all senses and is multiplied by sharing it with others. Drinking tea with friends - and strangers - often seems to make time stand still, as we forget our worries and simply experience the gift of creation as it is.

Tea also offers us many ways to experience it, from simple steeping in a cup to the intricacies of a Japanese tea ceremony. And, of course, tea itself comes in so many forms and flavors: black, green, oolong, white. Each one has its own personality and evokes a different mood.

It is very important to use high-quality loose tea leaves. If you don't know much about tea, start by visiting a local tea store. You can also find great information online. If you already know about tea, be adventurous and try something new to expand your tea horizons.

Also familiarize yourself with the specific temperature and steeping times associated with each type of tea—as well as the different types of pots, timers and other paraphernalia associated with the making and enjoyment of tea.

Tea Tasting

Once you’re comfortable with tea, you may want to invite your friends to a tea-tasting get-together. Choose at least three teas that you like. They should be different from and complementary to each other. Write a description of each tea—as well as perhaps a little something about tea generally—as a handout.

To ensure a comfortable atmosphere for your guests, have everything ready before they arrive. Make sure that your seat is closest to the sink and the stove—and that all utensils are within your reach to avoid any disruption. Prepare a seat for each guest with a spot to put their cup down. Have your kettle filled with water ready on the stove, your strainers in place in your teapots, your measuring spoon placed near your chosen teas, and your timer already set for the first tea.

Rather than using a matching set of teacups, I prefer to offer my guests a selection of different ones. Their choices will be a great conversation starter!

Once everyone gets settled, pour a spoonful of dry leaves from the first tea on a flat dish and pass it around so your guests can smell and touch them. Share with them what you have learned about this tea.

Then heat your water to the right temperature, pour it into the teapot with the first tea, and set the timer.

If you are using a glass tea pot, the steeping time becomes a wonderful display as the leaves unfurl in the hot water, float, and then sink slowly to the bottom—coloring and infusing the water in the process. The Chinese call this “the agony of the leaves."

After the brewing time, remove the tea leaves with the strainer to avoid bitterness. Pour tea for your guests. Ask them to describe the smell and taste. Encourage positive conversation. Repeat the same process with the other two teas.

Don’t forget to take pictures. You are creating a happy memory for your community. You will want to look at the glowing faces later on and remember your tea time together.

Materials needed:

· Kettle or pot to heat water

· Three different teas

· Measuring spoon

· Three teapots with big strainers

· One tea cup for each guest

· Timer

. Printed handout (optional)

To best experience the pure flavor of your tea, avoid sugar and cream.

Ideas for tea events:

· Have a tea merchant come and do a presentation

· Invite a lady from the Japan Society to perform a Japanese tea ceremony

· Ask an old-timer from a Chinatown to do a Gong-Fu tea ceremony

· Have a tea expert teach about Pu-erh at a men's meeting

· Have three different paintings and ask your guests to pair them with your three teas

· Serve your own blend of tea at your gallery to those who love to linger

· Serve English afternoon tea with scones and sandwiches at a women's meeting

· If you’re in a book club, choose a tea related to the country the story is set in

· Have a picnic with the youth group in summer and do a tasting with iced tea

· Do a tea-themed fundraiser at your church

Lost in Translation

2011-08-01T03:43:00.000-07:00

My sons invited me to celebrate the Swiss National Day in New York City. Both of them have sweet memories of their vacations in Switzerland. We enjoyed the food and each other's company. This year, Switzerland is 720 years old; and I am proud to have grown up in this beautiful country. As the Swiss national anthem was performed, tears welled up in me. For the first time I truly listened to the words. What a statement of faith!

As soon as I got back home, I looked up the translation of the anthem into English. I was shocked to see it had been 'cleaned up,' stripped of much religious imagery. Was it for the sake of rhymes? So I set out to do a literal translation. Here it is:

When You enter in the morning's red glow

I see You in the radiance of the light

Thou, highly exalted, glorious One

When the alps grow bright with splendor

Pray free Swiss, pray

For your quiet soul senses

Your quiet soul senses

God in our noble fatherland

God, the Lord, in our noble fatherland

When You enter the evening's gleam

I find you in the host of stars

Thou, human friendly, loving One

In the heavens illuminated halls

I can dream with joy and bliss

My quiet soul senses

God in our noble fatherland

God, the Lord, in our noble fatherland

When You move through the fog's bloom

I search you in the sea of clouds

Thou, unfathomable, eternal One

Through the dark grey shroud

Breaks the mild, clear sun

Our quiet soul senses

God in our noble fatherland

God, the Lord, in our noble fatherland

When You drive in a wild storm

You become both sanctuary and defense

Thou almighty ruler and savior

In thunderstorm and horror

Let us childlike trust in You

Our quiet soul senses

God in our noble fatherland

God, the Lord, in our noble fatherland

The Art of Tea

2011-07-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

There is something so beautiful about tea. All senses are involved in its enjoyment, and the ritual of preparing it brings a wonderful peace to even the most hectic day.

My own tea “ritual” begins by choosing the right tea for the moment. Do I want to try one of the new teas that I brought home from China—or do I want to stay with one of my favorites? Do I feel like a strong tea or a mild one? Something smokey or something delicate? Once I’ve made my choice, I open it up and savor its earthy aroma already anticipating the taste.

I put the water in the kettle and set about choosing which teapot I will use. With more than 30 in my collection, I have a wonderful selection. I scoop just the right amount of tea into the strainer and put the strainer into the teapot. Then, just before the water comes to a boil, I take the kettle off the stove and pour the steaming water through the strainer into the pre-warmed teapot—setting my timer for the right amount of steeping for my chosen tea.

While my tea is steeping, I prepare the spot where I’m going to sit and enjoy my tea. If I’m using a glass tea pot, the steeping time becomes a wonderful display of what the Chinese call “the agony of the leaves"—the unfurling of the dried tea leaves in the hot water. The leaves open up, float and then sink slowly to the bottom, coloring and infusing the water in the process.

The timer beeps. I remove the strainer, add the lid to the pot, and pour the first cup. The aroma is pleasant, reminding me of the many cups of tea I have enjoyed before, alone and with friends. As I settle in the comfort of my chair, I blow the heat off the cup to take my first sip. Delightful! Holding the warm tea cup, I take a deep breath and let my gaze wander out the window into the open space beyond my home.

I relax. I talk to God a little. I think about whom I might share my next pot of tea with.

Discovering a Cross

2011-07-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

I take the camera with me now. Everywhere. Always ready to take a picture of a cross. There certainly are crosses everywhere, but by now my search has narrowed on crosses that are not as obvious. That are unexpected and need a little discovering. Please enjoy the slide show of the June selection below.

Marbling Revisited

2011-06-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend I wanted to start working on an encaustic banner project I have in mind, but I am still waiting for the new “hot box” I ordered online to arrive. So, while I was waiting, I decided to experiment with some marbling techniques to make paper banners instead. The photos above are samples of the result.

My love for marbling goes back more than 30 years. Lenny and I were living together on East 92nd Street, and we really needed money. I had learned about marbling before, so I bought some paper and cardboard and paint and string —and turned our little apartment into a book factory. I sold some of them to Pearl Paint, and Lenny sold the rest on the street. I can still remember him calling out to the passersby “Check ‘em out! The perfect Christmas gift! Handmade books! Check ‘em out!” I still have one of those books. See the first photograph above.

This is one of the things I love about art. I only wound up doing this because my package didn’t arrive. But now, thanks to that happy accident, I had lots of fun and can now consider marbling for my banner project. Plus, I got to recall distant, happy memories of that first year of romance with my husband.

Seeing the Cross

2011-05-31T03:45:00.000-07:00

At first, my “Daily Cross” project felt merely playful to me. It was fun to bring my camera with me everywhere and search for hidden crosses. I started in my backyard and on walks with my dog. Then I took some photographs on my trips to South Jersey and New York City. It was always surprising where I found them. And there were so many crosses everywhere! Soon my everyday life began to feel like one continuous game of “Where’s Waldo!”

But, in searching for crosses all the time, another aspect of the project began to emerge. I began to think more often and more tangibly about the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The project constantly reminds me that Jesus acted physically in the material world to grant us His life. He carried His Cross through the sweltering streets of Jerusalem. He felt real, soul-wrenching pain as He was nailed to and hung on the Cross. He suffered – and He died a horrific death. He did this for the joy that was set before Him: His creation brought to the fullness of its intended good. That's us.

Everywhere I look now, I see reminders of this great life-giving love, this beautiful divine mystery. And tomorrow I will be reminded again.

Daily Cross

2011-05-03T18:16:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Debbie Young's "Stations of the Cross” photographs (www.faithartfarming.blogspot.com), I decided to post a photograph of a cross every day for one year on Facebook. These are “found” crosses that I encounter in the world as it is: the grill of a car, the string holding together a bundle of newspapers put out for recycling, the grass growing in the cracks of a sidewalk.

As soon as my sister saw me start to post these photos, she asked if others could contribute to the series as well. At first I hesitated, because this was going to be my personal project. But then I decided to go with her suggestion and invite my friends to participate. I am already getting photos from all over the world!

These images are proving to be surprising, touching and beautiful. So please use the email alert feature here if you want to watch the series grow. And feel free to send your own contributions to me at liebmanng@yahoo.com.

I am planning to post a slideshow of the crosses at the end of every month. It will be interesting to see what the collection looks like at the end of the year—and what may be the best way to share it with the rest of the world.

The Chrysalis and the Butterfly

2011-04-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

On April 16, we held an art exhibit entitled “Sinners and Saints” at Red Bank Community Church. We hold two exhibits a year, inviting artists from around the country to participate.

We had lots of great pieces for the show. Canadian Nobel Peace Price nominee Sharon Sargent sent us some of her remarkable courtroom sketches, accompanied by descriptions of each case. The sketches were hung on a clothesline with clothespins to create a piece she called “Dirty Laundry.” The depiction of murderers and rapists on trial fit well with our theme.

The exhibit started off with a great live “light painting” performance by Eva Flatscher and her accompanist Mavis Pan. Brooke Campbell also came down from NYC to favor us with her beautiful singing.

Local artist Sheilagh Casey contributed a really fun piece she called “Christian Training Kit.“ It consisted of a box with a mirror and a stone inside. It invited viewers to look at themselves and then cast the stone if they found themselves to be without sin.

One of the pieces I did was called “A Gallery of Saints.” It was a series of photographs that I took of members of our congregation and turned them into faux icons by adding a halo of gold leaf. In keeping with traditional portraits of saints, each person was photographed with some symbolic object to represent their identity: a mop, a plate of cookies, a bow and arrow, an apple, a Bible, etc. People were a bit surprised to see themselves depicted as saints—because we know we are far from it. Yet we also know that we are set apart for sanctification because of what Jesus has done, is doing and will do on our behalf.

In the middle of the room, I put up an installation called “Chrysalis.” It was essentially two white mosquito nets sewn together, hanging from the ceiling, forming a triangle with an opening on one side. Viewers were invited to enter it and invite God to change them. Below you can find a brief video of the installation.

Near the end of the exhibit, I noticed a little miracle. Even though there were no open windows in our space—and we are on the second floor of a commercial building with only one regular-sized door downstairs—a little white butterfly somehow managed to land on “Chrysalis.” It was oddly affirming.

IAM hangover.

2011-03-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

Every year when I come back from the IAM (International Arts Movement) Encounter, my head can hardly contain any more input—and my heart is giddy from two-and-a-half-days of intensive stimulation. The IAM Encounter is not just a meeting of artists. Something happens there that is bigger than just the sum of its parts. There is a spiritual synergy—what some might call “ubuntu”—a chain reaction of sharing that taps into our collective potential.

Or, as philosopher of art Adrienne Chaplin called it during her talk, a “lift experience.”

The culture at the Encounter is one of inclusion and encouragement. Visual artists, writers, philanthropists, dancers, scientists, musicians and clergy come together to share their individual contributions to the re-making of the world as it ought to be. People talk about things like “re-humanizing” and “being generative”—which are really ways of describing the redemptive work that God is doing through people of faith.

Bruce Herman, an artist and lecturer, pointed out the contrast of artistic styles from someone like Damien Hirst (who barely touches his work) to Andy Goldworthy and Wolfgang Laib (who commit such loving attention to theirs). Nigel Goodwin, actor and graduate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, talked about the love we must show others. He left the stage to comfort an audience member who got all choked up at one point during his talk—directly demonstrating love in action. Mona Storling and her dancers related the story of the woman caught in adultery in a surprising way and with such visual force that it took my breath away.

Makoto Fujimura, the founder of IAM, shared with us his latest project: the illumination of the four gospels in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Li Young Lee read with humility poems that were saturated with love for God. They sounded like new psalms, with humanity meeting God in each line.

In addition to feasting on all these presentations, I got great joy from seeing old friends and making new ones from all over the world. IAM brings together such fascinating people! And they are so open to sharing about their journeys through the realm of faith and art. I was especially excited to meet a group of believers that are active in China.

Now I am back home, trying to digest it all. I am pregnant with vision—and bursting to create.

Gathering

2011-01-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

As believers, we are called to live our lives in Christ. So if our living, breathing and being is in Christ, then our art will be in Him also.

This means that the artwork we create does not have to be directly based on an explicitly religious topic to be “about” God and His redemptive work. It can depict a landscape or the human form. It can be representational or abstract. It can be a painting, an installation or any other media. As long as we have our being in Christ, the Spirit of Christ will manifest in our art—which means we can touch the viewer with the message of the gospel and thereby change a life.

This is one reason I believe it is important to pray before we start working. We want to remain open for God to inspire us, to drop a vision into us for our next work. This time of seeking divine inspiration is essential for the Christian artist. Sometimes, it only takes a nanosecond for us to get a completely clear vision of what we should do next. Other times, we may get a powerful but vague feeling that only becomes clear over a long period of time. But we do our best to seek—trusting in the promise that we will find.

I often walk around for weeks with several ideas for new projects forming in my spirit. If I am working on a project already, I have to push other new ideas more to the background to be called on when I feel am ready to execute them with God's blessing. But when I have finished a project and I’m ready for the next one, I walk around "gathering" for a while. I keep my eyes and spirit open to any and all input that might possibly be helpful to my next project. It might just be a certain color or shape. It might be an existing work of art by someone else. It may be some mood or idea that I'd like to convey. I might cut out a picture from a magazine or print out an article from the web.

This is also the time when I think about what physical materials would work best and where could I get them. I may start to buy and collect what I think I’m going to need for the project—even if I’m not entirely sure exactly what the project will be yet.

If this is a group project, this is the time to share with the group. By discussing the vision, everyone can start getting more inspired and make decisions about what they should do. Discussion also allow you to uncover any weak points in the vision or the work plan.

Often, the ideas that God gives us are a surprise. He will give us something to do that we could never have thought of ourselves, something completely unexpected. So, as Christian artists, we should always be prepared to gather inspirations for projects that God wants to birth in us by His Holy Spirit.

Preparing A Place

2010-11-26T13:14:00.000-08:00

Bamboo forest in Huang Shan mountains 'feels like a sanctuary'

A group of Art and Design students from Beijing who heard my teaching on Infinite Creativity contacted me. They asked for some guidance as to how to combine their faith with their art. Currently there seems to be no precedent or teaching on that subject in China. The following is my first of five emails back to them.

The most important thing to me as an artist is to arrange my priorities and dedicate my work to God daily. Whatever I do, I do it unto God (1 Cor 10:31, Col. 3:17) That way, by the time I get to work on my current art project, I have already practiced communication with God. That communication does not always have to be verbal - it often is like a mental and emotional alignment with God's will - a preparation of a place in my heart for God to lead me through the project.

Then there is the physical place that needs preparation. No matter how big or how small the space is for me to do artwork, it has to be clear of clutter, preferably dedicated to doing creative work. I like my space to be quiet, others like to play music or thrive on the bustling street noise of a city. I like to work in the daylight hours, for others the shine of the computer screen is enough. Whatever your preference, prepare a place in your heart for God, and a place in your room for your work. It should be like a sanctuary where everything is dedicated to God.

Navesink 52: A River Year

2010-11-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

This series of photographs captures a year of changing light and mood looking east out over the Navesink River from Locust Point in New Jersey. All 52 photographs were taken from the same spot just North of the Oceanic Bridge, one week apart from each other. God's creation is just breathtaking.

The photographs are on exhibit for the months of November and December 2010 at The Oyster Point hotel in Red Bank, NJ.

Wurzeln 2

2010-10-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

It is a Jewish tradition to place a small stone on someone's grave when visiting it. This tradition may have arisen from the fact that graves were once marked with mounds of stones, so leaving a stone continuously maintained the monument of the deceased. It is a way of saying "Here lie the remains of a person worth remembering." It also lets others know that someone came and remembered.

Symbolically, it also suggests The Rock of Israel-- whose love is stronger than death.

In keeping with this tradition, I created a special installation for this exhibit. I laid down 68 tiles – one for each of the Jews from Limburg, my father-in-law's hometown, who perished during the Holocaust. I also put a container with small stones next to the tiles. A chart associating each tile with the name of one of these people was given to each visitor to the exhibit. Visitors were invited to choose a name and leave a stone on that person's tile to honor and remember them.

This simple act proved to be very powerful. By providing a physicalized and highly personalized way for visitors to connect with the grim reality of the Holocaust, the installation transformed vague knowledge about a historical event into an immediate, visceral reality. There were a lot of tears. I think this installation was especially important for Gentile visitors, who may have never had an opportunity to relate to the Holocaust on such an individual level.

Wurzeln 1

2010-10-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

The concept for this exhibit came to me a year ago. It felt like God just sort of dropped it into my consciousness. I carried it with me for about a year – although I was only able to work on it sporadically until about three months before the exhibit date.

The concept came to fruition at the exhibit opening on Saturday, October 16. The title of the exhibit was Wurzeln, which is German for “roots.” And roots were the symbol I wanted to use to express how my father-in-law Lee Liebmann was uprooted as a fourteen-year-old boy in Germany.

To express this idea, I wanted real roots from the town where Lee grew up. A family friend was willing to dig up some roots from Lee’s hometown of Limburg – as well as the village of Ellar where previous generations of Liebmanns had lived for centuries before. Since roots are considered agricultural goods, our friend was not able to mail them to me. So my friend gave them to another friend, who I met when I went to Germany myself in September. I took the roots across the border to Switzerland when I drove there to visit my Mom – and then packed them into my suitcase and brought them with me to the US. The path the roots took actually re-traced the path many Jews took to freedom during WWII.

In the exhibit, the roots are simply laying on a glass table. They symbolize the lost past of the Jewish communities in Limburg and Ellar. A single red thread represents the divinely preserved connection from the roots to the family Lee started in the United States.

About the exhibit

This exhibit is a celebration of the life of Lee Liebmann, a Jewish American who was born in Limburg, Germany and was forced to flee for his life when he was only 14 years old. By celebrating this life, this exhibit also honors the larger story of Europe’s Jews—who, in addition to perishing by the millions in Nazi concentration camps, were also compelled by the destruction of their historic communities to make entirely new lives for themselves in new lands.

Blessing Doves

2010-09-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

During the opening of the 9-11 art show in Ansbach, Germany, I met up with my friend Sandra Ceas. Both of us had artwork on display at the show. Sandra was the keynote speaker and I had the honor of lighting a candle in remembrance of those who died on 9-11 and those who died in the ensuing conflicts.

One of Sandra's ongoing projects is to release white clay doves as a symbol of blessing and peace. She places her doves in unlikely spots, in the hope that somebody will find them. Each handmade dove will be an unexpected blessing to somebody. You can find information and photos about this project at www.art4him.net

Sandra gave me seven doves to take back to Switzerland. It was such a joy to set them out. Finding the 'right' place for them was special and even exciting. On two occasions, the dove was found and taken within half an hour. I had returned from my walk and passed by the same spot where I had placed the dove. It was empty now. The big smile stayed on my on my face for quite a while. And now, just thinking of it, the smile is revisiting my face.

Being Filled

2010-09-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

When I got an email from China last night, requesting the visuals I used in my presentation in Guangzhou and Huangshan, I felt very honored. My interpreter wants to use the material for a class called "Teaching with Technology and Visual Literacy." This is one of the videos I used. It illustrates Ephesians 5:18 Be filled with the Spirit.

The Greek in this context does not refer to a one-time event, but rather to a continual infilling. Therefore the correct understanding of this verse is "continually be in the process of being filled with the Holy Spirit." Oil as the symbol of the Holy Spirit flows continually from God -- filling us who are but earthen vessels, to overflowing.

This was an installation exhibited at RBCC's show called "wind. water. oil. fire." Lauren Bellero made the beautiful ceramic vessels.

God has a plan.

2010-08-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

The plight of the Jews has always moved me. Even as a child I remember occasions at which I was upset by unfair treatment of a people group that seemed so gentle to me. Growing up in Switzerland, at the border to Austria and not far removed from Germany, I heard stories of people in my village smuggling Jews across the border to safety into Switzerland. That was a relief to my "fairness-barometer." I was born ten years after WWII had ended, but quietly and with wide open eyes and ears, would listen to these stories being told. Eventually, there was a documentary made about my village and its people saving countless Jewish lives.

God seemed to prepare my heart for my husband who is Jewish. I spent two summers of my early twenties working at a Kibbutz in Israel. But I met my husband later, in America, when I spent a summer as an art counselor in a summer camp.

Then I heard stories of my father-in-law who grew up in Germany. He was a young teenager when the war began. I heard of flight, loss, uprootedness, war, death and survival.

And like when I was a child, I listened to the stories quietly, with wide open eyes and ears.

Many years later, I was impressed upon by God, to honor my father-in-law by a series of paintings about his life. That is what I am working on now.

The opening of the exhibit is set for Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 3 PM at Red Bank Community Church, 135 Monmouth Street Red Bank.

Infinite Creativity

2010-08-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

The very first verse in the Bible tells us 'God created.' He created the heavens and the earth and then - He created man. In His own image He created them. Male and female He created them.

Our God is a creative God and since He created us in His own image, it follows that we must be creative too. We are creative children of a creative God. God is the source of all creativity. Infinite creativity is flowing from Him now, as it did in the beginning, and it forever will.

When I spoke at the National Christian Teacher's Conference in China, I took the example of God letting Adam name all creatures He had made, to illustrate the importance of encouraging creativity in our children and students. God encouraged Adam to be creative and so perpetuated creativity in humans. It is our turn now to encourage others to be creative.

The response of the Chinese teachers was enormous. I set up a workshop with the following six stations:

Prayer

Drawing and Collage

Naming

Group Sculpting

Printing

Video

The room was humming with creativity. There was no holding back. Intense prayers were lifted up. All of the participants proudly shared their favorite artwork on video, partially giving their testimonies. I was left astonished at what God had intended for me to do all along. Now I saw the result - an immense release of creativity that was held back since the Cultural Revolution. It was super natural.

On A Mission

2010-07-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time that I have been walking with the Lord. And yet, getting ready now for this trip to China has put a hole right in the middle of my stomach. This must surely be excitement - or is it fear? To speak about art to groups of Christian educators seems to be too big a mission for me. But I am humbled by the call. Yes, I will go.

Deadline Approaching

2010-07-16T04:38:00.000-07:00

I have received over three hundred cards so far. Help me reach my goal of five hundred cards by the end of this month.

Call for Participation

Art for Stripes 2010

To support wounded Soldiers and other heroes returning home from the battleﬁeld,

International Arts Movement and Reﬂections of Generosity are working together to create a

CD with songs about restoration and healing. In order to make every CD

special, we plan on including original artwork inside the cover of each CD.

Our goal is to have ﬁve hundred art pieces by July 31, 2010. Selected cards will be exhibited

in Katterbach Germany for the 9-11 memorial ceremony.

Size: 4.75" x 4.75" (must ﬁt into CD jewel case)

Surface: Card stock or paper

Medium: Any medium that does not interfere with CD

Fee: None

You may submit as many cards as you like. Please put personal words of encouragement, a

poem, or anything else you think would be appropriate on the back of the cards.

Please send completed cards to:

Art for Stripes

Gerda Liebmann

1 William Street

Highlands, NJ 07732

Water.

2010-07-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

Photograph taken today of a water bottle.

During this heat wave that we currently have on the US East coast, I am reminded of the importance of water. It is so refreshing to drink nice clean water and hydrate the body. We can drink water here right from the tap - anytime - or we can buy bottled water in any store. Nice. When I move my groceries across the parking lot in the glaring sun, I feel like complaining about the heat, but images of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan come to mind. So I don't say anything. I am also remembering those who live in the 10-40 window. They have to conserve water daily. Now there is a smile on my lips as I wipe sweat off my forehead and step into my car. Turning the air conditioning on, full blast, I am very grateful to live like a queen.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Mark 9:41

What do China's Christians have to learn about art?

2010-07-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

This is a troubling title. It's a challenge I am faced with right now. I have been invited to speak at Christian Teachers' meeting in Guangzhou, China, and at a National Christian Teachers' Conference in an undisclosed location, also in China. Both are Underground meetings. The topic of my speech is: Infinite Creativity.

China has a rich art history of which I have to admit I am very ignorant. At the same time the believers in the house churches that I met last year can't wait for me to get back to them. They are hungry for anything that comes from Jesus. Isn't He the creator of everything?

The first thing that God does in Genesis 1:1 is to create. And today, He creates still. Every life, everything that is new comes from Him. He even breathes fresh life into those who are dead. The end of the story? A brand new, sparkling and beautiful Jerusalem, created and inhabited by God, will be coming down from the clouds. God is the source of infinite creativity and my goal is to connect the teachers at the conference to that source.

Sanctification Triptych

2010-06-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

I had never done a self portrait until I met a stranger in a gallery who asked me 'why not?' There was no answer that I could give her that would satisfy me. So I had to allow myself to be vulnerable. Here is the result.