Monuments From Ruins

 Great art has great power. Sister Wendy Beckett once wrote,

“Great art is something that when you experience it, it lifts you out of yourself, puts you in another dimension, and places you back down transformed.”

I've been thinking a lot about our role as creatives in bringing a sense of hope, joy and wonder in the midst of a world full of pain, despair and sorrow. Think of a song that has lifted you in a time of need. Think of a film that has enabled you to express an emotion buried deep inside. Think of a painting that has inspired you to keep running.

Art isn't just a luxury or a nice hobby. Art is powerful - an undeniable force. For some the calling on their lives is to produce great art that will bring about change in people's lives. For many this can be a frustrating, perhaps even lonely calling. I'm reminded about a book I read on Michael Angelo - called the 'Agony and Ecstacy.' That captures the journey of an artist beautifully. Moments of sheer delight. Seasons of intense despair.

My brother Steve has set up a fantastic new charity, 'Sketches for the Unemployed.' In his own words here is what it is about,

"Sketches For The Unemployed brings a collection of artists together for an exhibition from 2nd October to 4th October 2009. Anyone is welcome to come but the twist is, if you are unemployed and you like some of the work displayed you can apply to us, and we will arrange for the art to be sent out for free. There will also be art given away for free on the night."

For many, the last 18 months have seen a lot of things fall; jobs, houses, mortgages. The UK Unemployment rate is rising. People have experience great loss. Yet one thing falling can enable something better to be rebuilt. Here is an opportunity for people walking through difficult and painful experiences, particularly in terms of work, to come to an event where they can be inspired and blessed. Where they can take home some art from some of London's finest artists for free.

Again as my brother writes, "Though the economy has brought much good work to dust, our art is building monuments from ruins." I love that. What a vision for us - our songs, poems, paintings, designs, dance, films, photography, sculptures could be monuments that express the reality of the world as we now see it, but the hope of a world which is yet to come. The now and not yet. Jesus has come to bring life in all its fulness. There is a better day coming, a day when every tear will be wiped from our eyes - no more sickness, sorrow or sadness. This isn't escapism - this is the holding on to a promise of what is to come.

Our art can be an expression of this. Building monuments out of ruins.

To find out more about 'Sketches for the Unemployed' and to get more information about the exhibition coming up 2-4 October, 2009, Acquire Art Gallery, 155 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4BU then visit www.sketchesfortheunemployed.org

Hope to see you there.