BECOMING PRINT SERIES

Reflections on Becoming

How do we find joy in the midst of the “hard” that inevitably comes with life: disappointment, rejection, pain, illness, grief, and death? For me the answer lies in the heart of my Christian faith. Scripture tells us that those who “overcome” the hardships in this life will receive so much more in the life to come. They will receive: a new name, the crown of life, joy as their crown, be pillars in the temple of our God, and citizens in the city of God…). They receive these things because they relied on their faith throughout life’s difficulties. Images have been a powerful expression for me of the process of working through the hard in life and a great help in reminding me of the joy and truth of both who I am in Christ and who I am becoming in Him. In these pieces, I’m processing some hard things that have happened in my life in the past. So, in some of these pieces you will see my visual experience of those hurts. For example, in “Acquainted with Grief,” and “This is what I remember most about dying,” I’m processing the experience of a broken relationship. A fallen tree, an image from a gravestone, both express how things in this world often don’t work the way they are supposed to. Traditionally, Christians have used the Psalms to express their heartfelt prayers of both joy and lament. The Psalms are a vital part of how I move forward in pain to find peace and joy in this life. I am keenly aware of my own failings and these show in the Psalm pieces of my art. I am desperate for help to live well and to honor God in my life, and the Psalm pieces express that longing in my heart. Scripture’s promises are the great hope of my life. I’m communicating that hope in the pieces titled: “They also serve who only stand and wait,” “All that’s lost will be restored,” and “To those who overcome.” These pieces share my expression of the great hope I have in Christ. Like Jacob wrestling with an angel in the Old Testament, this show expresses my determination to cling to God despite the circumstances life brings. It is my hope and prayer that the prints inspire and support you in your own journey.