Showing posts with label art and faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art and faith. Show all posts

Friday, June 1, 2012

Sunday, October 2, 2011

exhibit at gallery w

I've got a show up at Gallery W at Warehouse Ministries in Sacramento this month called "With Eager Hope." Here's a look at the title piece as well as my artist's statement. We'll be having a reception Thursday, October 27th at 7 p.m. where I'll give a little talk as well.




My artwork grew from the desire to walk with God in the garden, like Adam and Eve did, searching for that closeness wherever green things grow. Years ago, I thought I was looking for the lost garden and my heart ached to think it was gone forever; then while studying Scripture, I realized that I was actually looking forward to the time when God will bring heaven down to earth again, restoring Paradise and our relationship to Him. I’ve tried to envision what that would possibly look like, what a perfect earth would be like, but I know my imagination is woefully short.

Whether an artwork has Scripture in it or not, this is the basis of all of my work: looking for the tiny glimpse of what heaven on earth will look like, what it will feel like. I am constantly inspired by the beauty that God has created and encouraged by my faith in Him to look forward to the time when the full beauty of that creation will be revealed.

“But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. .. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children...” Romans 8:20,23

Sunday, December 19, 2010

art of christmas: katie murphy


His Purpose
Mixed media on canvas 36” x 12”

John 12:27-28 — Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

The purpose of Jesus’ birth was His death for us. In this verse, Jesus is absolutely unwavering in his willingness to fulfill this purpose set before Him. He has complete confidence in God and what He is about to endure for us.

To emphasize His confidence, I partially covered up the beginning of the verse with images and symbols of His earthly journey. No matter how troubling His circumstances, He lets God lead His life every step of the way, and glorifies Him in the midst of it all.

I thought it only fitting to also include Jesus’ command iin John 15:12. “My command is this, love each other as I have loved you.” Jesus loved with utter confidence and sacrifice, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. He loved those whom we might categorize as “unlovable.” Are we not all children of God? It may be troubling to our hearts at times to love this way, but it is what he asks of us. Jesus humbled Himself, came to earth, and fulfilled His purpose for us…are we willing, with humility and God’s consistent help, in spite of troubled hearts at times, to fulfill ours for Him?

Katie Murphy
www.justwonderingthrough.com

Thursday, May 13, 2010

imagine that...

I wrote this review for Amazon, so I thought I'd share it here, too. I've gotten to know the author, Manuel Luz, and I'm happy to recommend his book, Imagine That.

For too much of my life, I didn't understand the connection between my creativity and my Christianity; after much studying and prayer, I came to realize that art can be an outpouring of my faith and an integral part of my relationship to God. Reading this book, Manuel Luz takes the reader through much the same course of questioning, study and prayer, pointing to our Creator God as the source of our creativity.

Manuel shares his heart while digging into the relationship between the artist, the church and God, with all of the follies and joys that come with any set of human relationships, then points toward a way for understanding on all sides. In the chapter "Art and the Spiritual Disciplines," the reader learns how art can be a spiritual discipline in and of itself, bringing the artist closer to God.

"Imagine That" has become one of the touchstone books in my collection on art and faith, a book that I devoured cover to cover and that I am now leading a group of artists through as the basis for study and discussion. The questions that Manuel poses at the end of each chapter have led to some of the most profound and stimulating discussions I have ever had with my fellow artists.

I've also compiled a list of books on Art & Faith you might be interested in reading, which I add to now and again. jm