Art and Spirituality in 3 ways

 

1) Telling the Story

Drawing out the story of the Prodigal Son from memory. It can be as detailed or as stick figurey as you want.

After the young people have drawn the story you can ask the following questions.

i) Which part of the story did you choose to draw and why?

ii) If you were one of the characters who you drew what would you say about the picture (you cannot criticise it artistically)

iii) Who does not appear in your drawing and why?

iv) Is there anyone who does not star in any of the group’s drawings or any scenes not drawn? (Is the mother shown, the servants, the friends? Were they mentioned in the original story?

 

2) Reading the picture.

You might have heard of Lectio Divina, the technique of Holy Reading, where you prayerfully read the Bible and ask God to speak to you through the text. It does have a visual counterpart, Visio Divina. Both of these are things which can be used for individual but Visio especially is something which can also be done as a group.

What follows is the group approach. You can use this image which was painted by Deacon Jon and you can use this across Zoom or in printed form as you need.

In Visio Divina we look on the image and use it as a channel through which we ask God to speak to us. God speaks in many different ways, and we each hear God differently. Some receive words in full sentences, some passages of scripture, verses of song, images and for some it is feelings. As such we need to be quiet and attentive, make time and space and silence for God to speak into, at least until we are familiar with the “sound” of God’s voice and how we are spoken to by God.

PRAY TOGETHER

Begin with a brief word of prayer.
Be still, be silent.
“Please guide our thinking and guide our seeing. Speak with us we pray. AMEN.”

FIRST IMPRESSION

Look on the image.

Let your eyes wander over the painting. To what do you feel most drawn? Is it the colours or details which stand out to you? A particular brush stroke? Is there anything which surprises? For a moment, think of the very first detail of the painting which stood out to you. Slow your breathing and ask God to speak through that detail.

After this take the picture down, stop screenshare etc.

Share as a group your first impressions.

VIEW (put the picture up again)

Try not to focus on any one part, let your eyes drift around the image.

Focus on what the painting is making you feel. Uncomfortable? Hopeful? Sad? Happy? Does the image provoke questions in you, does it connect with any memories? Does the painting make you think of anything in particular, Bible stories, other artists, times or seasons?

Again take the image down and invite the group to share responses.

 

TRAVEL (put the image up a final time)

In your third viewing of the painting, begin by looking at the top left corner, look upon the faces as you pass. Now slowly let your vision track left to right to the right-hand corner, then down, then to the left, then up. Travel through the image in a loose spiral until you reach the point you feel is the centre. Rest there for a moment but then ask yourself “Where paint myself into this scene?”
Now, ask yourself What emotions does this image evoke in you?
What can you hear as you are “in” this picture?
What does the image stir up in you, bring forth in you?
Does this image lead you into an attitude of prayer? If so, let these prayers take form in you.

This time leave the image up and ask the young people what their responses are

LISTEN

In silence mentally take a step back from the image and once again view the whole. How are you being spoken to through the practice of looking at the painting. What thoughts are beginning to solidify for you. Is God trying to tell you something?

RESPOND

What are you going to do based on your experience? Print the image and pin it to your fridge? Save the image to your computer? Find other works in the series? Go and read up on something? Pray for someone? Are you going to go through the steps again later to see if something different comes to you?

Ask the group what action they are going to take.

 

The Methodist Church collection of Modern Art and the Jesus Mafa image library are excellent sources of images for this exercise.

 https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/reflecting-on-faith/the-methodist-modern-art-collection/

http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-processquery.pl?SID=20200720772846044&code=&code=act&LocationCountry=Cameroon&SortOrder=Title&=phrase

(just check that the above images are labelled as Jesus Mafa under the artist)

 

3) Everyone an artist

This activity is a challenge for the young people to recognise the creative spirit within themselves. I mean it is literally a challenge, or possibly a series of challenges.

i) Create an image of you as you see yourself, a collage, a cartoon, a drawing or painting or even a word picture. Then do the same for how God sees you.

ii) Using whatever you can find in your home create a cross and photograph it. After you have done so, ask yourself “Why did you use the objects you used?” and “What does looking at a cross made from the items of your world make you think and feel?”