This series of work was created
because of question in my heart: Why do I have a hard time getting Bible
stories to come to life?
Before this, I was creating a series
of faces of well-known people and celebrities where each was based on a “value
word” that was obvious in their life. Grace Kelley was “grace,” Mother Teresa
was “charity” and so on.
Those faces so that became the focus
of my artwork for several years, creating more than 14 in that series—some were
fine art mixed-media and some were digital (graphic design). In the last few
months I wanted to create more face themed art but did not want to continue
with that series.
I started mulling the question about
Bible stories over. I would like to draw the Bible characters, how would I know
what they looked like? What if the characters in the Bible had real life models
for the art? What if I knew the models? What if the models were friends or
close acquaintances? If people I knew something about would be the models that
would add a whole dimension to it that was missing in my own life, the aspect
of knowing and to be known. Those relationships could speak to the aspect of
“being known”.
Why do I have a hard time getting
Bible stories to come to life? Because I don't really know any of those people.
I don't know what they are like, what their preferences are, I can't anticipate
what they will say, or see their sparkly eyes.
There is something poetic about the
face and the lines, it is the identity most people recognize as being someone
we are familiar with. There is a disconnect when we hear stories, from friends,
about people we aren't familiar with. Hearing something like this: “well, you
had to be there” because we don't know the person and can't immediately
identify what made that story special. Even one degree of separation can be the
difference between a meaningful and engaging experience or just a long story.
There is something to being known
that allows those around us to fully participate in the stories and understand
what is being communicated. Through moods and expressions, or verbally, it is easier for me to enter the stories of
those I know well.
For this series, I was interested in
my feelings about characters in the Bible and how I don't always connect to
them. It isn't the same, when I read a story in the Bible, as when I read a
letter from a friend. I connect with one and the other is sometimes sort-of
greyed out or lackluster—when in actuality the stories in the Bible are
fantastic. They are loaded with imagery and layers of meaning. There are tons
of symbols, interconnected relationships and lineage linking one person to the
next. If I take the time to know the characters, they exit a role and become
people, I start to see the things that make them special and human.
The closest thing I could identify
that might fill that same role would be substituting someone I know for someone
I'd like to know. Someone living and familiar to model, to generate the sense
of connection and to draw them as the model. I connect to Abby, if Abby were
Salome I know her mannerisms, her preferences and her voice...I can visualize
what Salome would be like in life and this character becomes a person.
“(Abby as) Salome”
Abby and I are cousins. She's 11
years younger than I am but we've developed a friendship that is legendary.
She's quick to crack a joke and has a million friends.
Salome was the wife of Zebedee, she
learned that greatness is found in servant-hood. She was the mom of James and
John. She was concerned about her son's getting the recognition and status that
she believed she deserved. She prepared Jesus' body for burial.
“[Beth as (Pharoh's daughter)] Bithiah”
Beth and I are sisters. She's a year
and two weeks older than me. We couldn't be more different in how we approach
life but we are both Christian. She is mom of four, constantly smiling and
shaking her head these days.
Jewish lore says her name was
Bithiah and she was banished from the kingdom for rescuing Moses—later marrying
and having three children including Miriam. She is the one who, while bathing,
noticed the floating basket. She had no way of knowing that her son would hear
from God and someday bring Egypt to it's
knees.
“(Grace as) Zipporah”
I met Grace through a small church I
was a part of for a few years. A young woman, and singer, from a family of
musicians. She's full of life. She and her family have traveled the world
performing their music.
Zipporah risked it all for God. She
was the wife of Moses—meeting him after he fled Egypt. Zipporah saved Moses'
life when God was angry with him. She lived a nomadic life first as a
shepherd's wife and then as the unofficial first lady of a refugee nation.
“(Heidi as) Hannah”
Heidi and I met through a series of
young adult group activities at a large church in the area several years ago.
She now travels the world spreading love as a teacher and missionary.
Hannah was not able to have children
for a long time and wept and prayed before God, after talking with the priest
she went home. Soon after became pregnant with Samuel, who had a special
calling. She never stopped praying.
“(Tai as) Joanna”
Tai and I met in college and were
roommates for two years. She has been a youth pastor and minister in the
Methodist church for years. She smiles all the time and loves her family
deeply.
Joanna was rich and influential, her
husband worked for Herod Antipas, he was Governor of Galilee. She met Jesus and
was healed. She then began giving all she had freely, to his ministry. She
provided for the disciples and their work.
“(Claire as) Elizabeth”
Claire and I met through a mutual
friend, who she later married. Claire laughs all the time and she recently had
twin girls. She is soft spoken and very caring.
Elizabeth was descended from Aaron,
the high priest. Her husband, Zechariah, served as priest in Jerusalem. She was
the cousin of Mary, mother of Jesus. This couple would raise the fore-runner to
the messiah while they were fairly old. They were unlikely to have a baby in a
many ways. She remained faithful through her disappointment.
“(Shana as) Michal”
Shana and I have known each other
since high school. She and were often youth leaders for the groups we were in.
She is always thinking.
Michal was promised to David. Saul
was her father. Her sister, Merab was first promised to David but Saul married
her to someone else. Michal was used to keep David close because Saul had every
intention of killing him. She was then married to another man while David was
in hiding. The last thing we hear about her is that she thought David's worship
style was undignified.
“(Petra as) Merab”
I met Petra in a Bible study while
working at my last job. She's a part of a small close-knit church in a small
town near here. She has two children and raises them on her own.
Merab was the first princess of
Israel. Saul was her father. She was first promised to David and then given to
another man in marriage. She raised a family in relative obscurity. Later
losing 5 of her sons to Gibeonites” vengeance because of Saul's effort to
exterminate them.
“(Lisa as) Abigail”
I met Lisa through my sister, they
are long-time friends. Lisa has become a part of my extended family through the
years. She likes to nickname people and is always looking for fun things to do.
Abigail is described as sensible and
beautiful. Abigail was married to Nabal.
David and his men protected Nabal's shepherds and sheep, but refused the men
provisions. Abigail was wise and intervened and spared her family. Nabal ended
up having a heart attack and dying anyway. David then asked Abigail to marry
him.
“(Jackie as) Esther”
Jackie is a fellow designer and
artist in a community near hear. We met through a small church a few years ago.
She has a little boy whom she adores.
Esther took the place of a banished
queen. Esther was shrewd and kept her Jewish heritage hidden from King Xerxes.
She saved her people from genocide, risking herself for the greater good. She
had a unique influence and used it wisely.
