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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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October 2006 |
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God-ArtTasmanian Artist, Marianne (Maz) Gill-Harper, has published a glossy coffee-table style book entitled 'Logos'. Sheelagh Wegman spoke with Maz about her calling to become an 'Artist-Missionary'. LOGOS is a collection of her paintings with written reflections that focus on biblical content from Creation to the New Creation. Maz calls this 'God-Art' and has kindly allowed Tasmanian Anglican to reproduce one of these works on our cover. It is called 'Logos'. Sheelagh Wegman: Maz, what started you on this path of using the visual to evangelise and glorify God? Maz Gill: I still vividly remember the exhilaration of the moment when, as a seven year old, I first knew what I wanted to do with my life. My teacher was a Miss White who had recently returned from the mission field, and she obviously made a strong impression on me. SW: It was some decades before you were able to realise this ambition. Did you feel frustrated at not being able to develop your artistic talent sooner? Maz: Enormously so!! But with the blessing of hindsight I can understand that God's timing is perfect. There have been many other experiences, 'other lives', you could say, but looking back I can see them as preparation for my present calling to use my Art in this way. SW: Has Art always been important in your life? Maz: It has always been my passion, but I was raised in a culture where Art was regarded as having little importance, just a nice hobby perhaps. At about the age of 40, when family commitments allowed, I began painting watercolour landscapes. In order to justify the time I 'wasted' on such a pastime, I used to inscribe a scripture verse on the back. At 47, however, I finally had my chance to begin an Honours Degree in Fine Art. SW: You taught Art at Calvin Secondary School for ten years and the Introduction to 'LOGOS' has a very brief overview of Christian Art over 2000 years. But the church of today seems to be wary of nurturing our visual sense. What happened? Maz: In earlier times, only the elite were literate. Visual imagery was essential to teach and encourage people in their worship. The Celtic church set apart and ordained skilled scribes and artists whose whole task was to copy the Gospels and illustrate them lavishly, giving glory to God as well as being a teaching aid. God created us as sensory beings, but since the Reformation, parts of the church have been mistrustful of the visual arts, due to certain misuse of icons prior to that time. We now think nothing of spending vast amounts of money on sound systems, but the visual has continued to be neglected. This is a pity, as today we live in a society that places more and more emphasis on the visual. It could be argued that we have generally undergone a century or so of dismissal of this aspect of creativity within the church. SW: Something for further discussion, perhaps! Since retiring from teaching, you have been setting up the 'Jesus Space' at the regular Health and Spiritual Expos held throughout the State. What's happening there? Are people really interested in psychic and spiritual matters? Maz: There is such a hunger for meaning. These New Age Expos attract seekers. Many have had Roman Catholic and to a lesser degree, Anglican backgrounds. They range from the genuinely bewildered, the disturbed and the grieving, to those simply clutching at straws, desperate for a way to make sense of life, to know their future or else they are just coming for their regular 'psychic fix'. I take large paintings and use them as conversation starters about Jesus and the claims He made about Himself. My aim is to get them to understand that they can know the resurrection of Jesus as fact, and then they may wish to enquire further about what He said. SW: How do people react? Are they hostile to Christianity? To do this must take a certain boldness - have you always been a brave person? Maz: Perhaps in some ways, but this ministry has taken me out of my former comfort zone. I have merely taken Jesus at His word, that we can ask for what we need to witness about Him. The gifts of faith and boldness I have received are totally from the Holy Spirit! As regards people's reactions, they vary according to their life experiences and knowledge, (or lack of it). Most are open, but a few can be a bit hostile. I sometimes find myself apologising on behalf of Jesus, for hurts inflicted by the church. Some folk need challenging, some may need healing or even deliverance. All need to know of Jesus' deep love for them and how to enter His Kingdom. SW: So how do you deal with all that? Do you just talk or do you hand out leaflets? Maz: We try to meet people where they are at. Anyone wishing to help in the 'Jesus Space', must understand that we must behave with humility and respect at all times and not convey a 'holier than thou' attitude. It is vital that we remember the old adage, 'There but for the grace of God go I'. Generally we do a lot of listening and praying for God's guidance in our conversations. Books are given free because Jesus is free! There are about 18 titles on offer by such Authors as Philip Yancey, Lee Strobel, John Dickson, Ravi Zacharias, and 'The Message' New Testaments. The 'Alpha' Pamphlet and my Art Cards are also useful for those who may not like to tackle a book. SW: How do the other stall holders feel about the 'Jesus Space'? Maz: I think they have been pretty gracious as, after
all, we are actually refuting all that they stand for and
believe. We do take care to build good relationships with
them and a lot of our deeper dialogue is with some of them.
Quite a few attended my talk, 'Three Parables Unpacked', at
the September Expo in Hobart. Most New Age adherents
acknowledge Jesus as the 'Christ consciousness', but do not
understand who He actually is. We are happy to remedy
that!
'LOGOS' is a very startling book, well worth having. As
well as the scripture based reflections, most paintings also
have an explanation with an image detail. 'LOGOS' would make
a good gift for a 'seeker', for personal devotional use, or
for those desiring to understand a little more about Art
with spiritual content. |
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