What I'm Reading....

...Art in Service of the Sacred by Catherine Kapikian. Kapikian is the director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary and I have long been an admirer of her work. A DVD is included in the book with wonderful visuals to use while reading the text.

The book jacket promotes this wonderful work with this: "Art in Service of the Sacred encourages congregations to take seriously the role of visual art in worship and in the broader life of the church. This rich resource explores the dynamics between art, artist, and the church. It proclaims the power of art when used as art, reclaims the presence of religious symbols in worship, asserts the importance of the aesthetic dimensions of ecclesial space, and recovers the role of visual art to engage our senses and imaginations as we seek to encounter God in our lives."

I couldn't put this book down when it arrived and have gone back through it with several times sense. It is recommended as a vital resource for the artist/church relationship. Enjoy!

It's Good to Be Green!

In my youth and then through my own children I've watched my fair share of Sesame Street and recall that Kermit the frog didn't think it was very easy being green. If you don't remember this moment you can watch it here. Carrot Top Studio loves celebrating green during Ordinary Time and thinks it's very easy to be green! Green has traditionally been associated with new life and growth. Even in Hebrew in the Old Testament, the same word for the color “green” also means “young.” In Christian tradition, green has come to symbolize the life of the church following Pentecost, as well as symbolizing the hope of new life in the resurrection. The palette is inspired by the many greens God has gifted us with. But, Ordinary Time certainly does not need to be "ordinary," and is not meant to mean that somehow we get a break from the Liturgical Year. The opposite is true: Ordinary Time celebrates "the mystery of Christ in all its aspects." Our website has new stoles in many categories including Baptism, Ordinary Time, and the "even more stoles" category. Additionally if you like a bargain, you can try to win one of our stoles on eBay by looking here!

Resurrection Symbols

I grow garlic in my garden. It is a really fun plant to watch transform...first the appearance of the long skinny green leaves shooting into the air from the bulbs that are hidden under ground where they have laid dormant for so many months, then the long snake like stem with a bud wrapped tightly at the end. When it's time for the bud to open we wtach it transform throughout the day as the tissue paper like wrapping splits open and the bloom opens up.

This reminds me of other Resurrection symbols. I think of the transformation a butterfly goes through before it emerges, the lily likewise emerging from a seemingly dead bulb (grave), and the pomegranate whose seeds bursting forth are likened to Christ bursting forth from the tomb on Easter.

How does your garden grow?

Planning for New Banners

Today it was great fun to attend a meeting for a prospective banner commission. Beginning a new commission is always exciting...the ideas are brainstormed, the goals are set, and the creativity starts to churn as you try to meet the needs of the physical space in combination of integrating art that enhances but doesn't distract from worship. This meeting had some extra bright spots. First, I don't usually get to meet my clients face-to-face. Most work is done via email with an occassional phone call. Secondly, it was delightful to learn some of the history of this sanctuary. For example, the main stained glass window was actually taken from another church building that was no longer going to have a congregation and was installed when this sanctuary was built. I think this is a lovely symbol of the Church continuing--just in another location. Lastly, this group was particularly open to new ideas. Ideas were flying...long skinny banners instead of wide ones, flags with symbols telling the story of the church hung the length of the nave, painting of the walls (and ceiling!), and processing with the worship banners on the first Sunday that they were to be used. What is working for your worship space visually? What do you dream of adding to your worship space. Try this: take a photograph of your worship space and study it. Sometimes you'll see and think of things in a different observational mode with this technique. Dream, think, pray, plan, and search for those in your community that have the gifts to meet your needs!

The photo in this post is of a commission that took much prayer, planning, and time to execute so it would be ready for Advent 2007. And the commission all began with a vision of doing something a little different from whta had been done prior in this congregation!

Three Rivers Arts Festival

For me, it's always good to be amongst artists. This year's trek to the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh, PA provided an interesting bit of installation art at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Trinity Episcopal is by itself a grand space that allows you to realize it is sacred. Artists Jeffrey Mongrain and Nicholas Kripal created several pieces that are a response to the site itself. "Our work involves creating ceramic pieces that respond to the history, congregation and architectural iconography of the church," Kripal says. Read more in the Post Gazette article here. If you're anywhere in the area Sunday is the last day....open 7-1:30.

Pittsburgh, like many cities, has wonderful old churches that reflect the culture, history and faith of the community. If you can't get to Trinity Cathedral tomorrow, but are in Pittsburgh another time you might be interested in a Pittsburgh. Learn more about the Pious Pittsburgh tour here.

Through the Eyes of a Child

Last night I had the fun opportunity of teaching an art class at my home church to 23 second through fifth graders. It's always energizing to step back to my professional roots of art education. The group was creating art that will be used in an exhibit in our church art gallery. Guess who's the curator of the gallery? ME! The gallery has the mission statement of "...to encourage artists, individuals, and the congregation to engage the visual arts in the spiritual life of the church. Westminster Presbyterian Church values the significance of visual imagery in spiritual formation and the development of faith." To me this includes the artistic gifts of the children in our community so, the children will display their art work during the month of July. I got a warm feeling when one of the little girls in the class showed me her work (shown) that was in response to Joshua 1:9-"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Before creating our art we discussed all of the places that God would be with us. This creative group came up with a wide variety of ideas including at the amusement park, to in the middle of a tornado, to while I'm at school. I particularly enjoyed this picture of God is With Me at Church. We get a glimpse of church inside and we can see church outside...a great example of the fact that the church is not the building. And, don't miss the fun detail on the left hand side of the congregants doing cartwheels! This art reflects the joy of God being with us at church seen through the wise eyes of a nine year old.

Devotion

I came across the following from the Rule of St. Benedict (AD 480-547).

Let us consider, then, how we ought to

behave in the presence of God and his
angels and let us stand to sing the
psalms in such a way that our minds

in harmony with our voices.

These thoughts on coming together for worship make me think of Psalm 63 illustrated here by Magrit Prigge an artist residing in South Africa.

Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

You might think about these questions while examining this art:

• What might this artwork's purpose be?
• Do I recognize any images? If so, what?
• What kind of lines do I see?
• What kind of movement do they suggest?
• Are there any visual metaphors in the artwork?
• Does each visual metaphor look like something in or outside of the artwork?
• What does this art mean to me?

On My Travel List

I'm a list maker. I'm afraid I go well beyond the "what to buy at the grocery store" list. I have lists of books I want to read, movies I'd like to watch, things my children should pursue this summer, gift ideas, ways that I might fund my children's college educations, vines to try, etc. etc. I love to travel. For the time being most of my travel is in my dreams....so I keep a list of all those places I will go someday when time and funding allows. On the list is the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, France. Henri Matisse used shape and color toward the end of his career to design this Chapel. I feel drawn to the simple and quiet and the photographs of this space tell me I'd love to experience it first hand.Isn't it wonderful?

Thinking of simple I'd also like to share with you one of the books I'm working my way through. The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life, by Paula Huston is about the author's search for simple living modeled after the lives and writings of the great monastic saints. Using her first hand experiences she relates a variety of practical, day-to-day measures that we might apply to our lives. Yes, it was on my summer reading LIST!

Healing Meditation Banner

Carrot Top Studio is now offering a selection of small banners on our etsy site. The image to the left is our newest creation.

This 24 x 30" art quilt would be meaningful hung in a church, retreat center or the quiet spot of your home. Use it to help you focus and center your thoughts and prayers.The images remind us of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well from John 4:1-26. The jug recalls the woman seizing the opportunity to get water from the well. Jesus uses the water as a metaphor to teach the woman. It is seen on the banner horizontally and vertically. The stones disappear visually to remind us that living water through Jesus "washes away" our sin. The woman goes to the well but receives so much more!

This inspirational banner is created out of cottons in a multitude of fabrics. The symbols are all machine appliqued. It is backed with a coordination dark blue cotton broadcloth. It has a 3" hanging sleeve that runs across the back for you to run your own dowel, curtain rod, or natural branch through for hanging (see photo).

Email us to arrange a purchase ($115 + 6.00 S&H/US) of this banner jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com!

Announcement

The green stole created for our birthday celebration is no longer available at the special price as mentioned in the previous blog post. Thank you to all our clients that chimed in.

If you love a bargain, great deals are still available for our celebration on ebay. Auctions end Thursday at 9:45 EST!

It's Our Birthday!

It's been three years since I took my faith, my quilting, art quilt, painting and educational skills and combined them to create my business at Carrot Top Studio. We love every day (I'm so not kidding as my teenagers would say). It's a pleasure to offer unique, handmade stoles and worship banners to ministers, pastors, priests, churches and wedding officiants worldwide. To celebrate we're offering stoles at $3 opening bids on eBay! These special auctions will close Thursday, May 29th.

We are also offering the green stole shown on this post for $33.33 + 6.00 S&H to US clients, 10.00 S&H to Canada and 12.00 to Europe. This offer is available to the first three people that email us at jenny.gallo@CarrotTopStudio.com. The stole is 49" long. It is embellished with a voided cross on the chest as a reminder that we are called to preach the gospel to all corners of the world. The border fabric is a lovely batik that carries many colors of Ordinary Time. It is lined with a solid green broadcloth and is interfaced for added body. Our clients and friends are wonderful....we have greatly appreciated your support the past three years. We welcome any suggestions of how to better serve you for the next three years at Carrot Top Studio. Thank you!

Trinity Sunday

This Sunday many people will celebrate Trinity Sunday. It commemorates and honors not an event, but a reality: the Holy Trinity. Trinity Sunday falls on the Sunday after Pentecost. The Trinity is a mystery. By mystery the Church does not mean a riddle, but rather the Trinity is a reality above our human comprehension that we may begin to grasp, but ultimately must know through worship, symbol, and faith. Symbols for the Trinity include three interlocking rings, shamrocks, the Chi-Rho, and an equilateral triangle. We see these in art, worship baners, architecture, and on vestments among other places.

A prayer I like for Trinity Sunday is:

Father, who sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them we come to know the mystery of your life. Help us to worship you, one God in three Persons, by proclaiming and living our faith in you. We ask you this, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, true and living, for ever and ever. Amen

For worship, Creating God, Your Fingers Trace is a Trinity Sunday hymn with the text based on Isaiah 45:7 The auther (Jeffrey Rowthorn) uses present participles to draw our focus to a God who is still working in our world.

And how would you explain the Trinity to children? You could try using a mobius strip. Children would even love making their own!

The how to:

Cut a length of adding machine tape — about 30 inches long — for each child. Show the children how to write the words "God" and "Jesus" on their strips spaced one on each end of the same side. Then flip the strip over — so the words are face down — and upside down. Then write "Holy Spirit" in the middle. Turn one end of the strip 180 degrees and fasten the two ends together securely, taping both sides. Twist the paper once and bring the ends together so that the paper forms a continuous loop (with one twist that won’t be very obvious). Tape the ends together. Now run your fingers over the paper from the word "God" to "Jesus" and keep on going. The word, "Holy Spirit" that started on the other side of the paper, is now on the same side as God and Jesus. If you fiddle with the paper, you can shape it into a triangle — and God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can all be read. What will the children say these strips tell us about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?

Pentecost

On this Pentecost Sunday it is fitting to think visually. This oil painting on wood is titled Pentecost and is by Chris Shreve. Chris states that he uses his art as a prayer, a meditation. The story of the birth of the church is familiar to many of us. The Bible is a gift that can be read and reread with new meaning and understanding gleaned from each exposure. The story is found in Acts 2 and begins with: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Relating to the art of Mr. Shreve you might consider the following questions:

• What is this a painting of?
• Is it fancy or plain?
• Do I recognize any images?
• What kind of lines do I see? How are the lines used?
• What colors did the artist use? Are they warm or cool colors?
• What does the color remind me of, or what feeling does it give me?
• What does this artwork seem to tell me about the subject?
• If I made this artwork, how would I explain it to others?

May this art draw you closer to the season of Pentecost as we explore and examine what it means to us personally.

For Your Book Shelf

I recently found a quiet Sunday afternoon (I love the Sabbath!) to sit and savor Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts by Rev. Philip Graham Ryken. This little gem draws out the Biblical view of the arts and the artists who make art for God's sake. Ryken concisely discusses how artists are called and gifted by God and recognizes how art is often misunderstood or rejected by the church. This book is full of encouragement for artists. It affirms that God loves all kinds of art (meaning types of medium) and that we as artists should have a high standard for goodness, truth and beauty.

I would recommend this book if you are considering incorporating the arts into your ministry, if the visual arts in your congregation can be improved or if you have a group (artists and non-artists) that needs a book to use as a discussion starter. The icing on the cake is Ryken's concluding suggestions for further reading. Pick up this highly recommended book to enjoy the conversational writing style. Maybe you are being called to be a catalyst to recovering the arts in the Church.

I had to chuckle as I read the newspaper this morning. In the "Living" section was an article about Crayola's new color choices that have been introduced to mark the occassion of the 50th anniversary of the 64 Box.

The new Kids' Choice colors include:

• Super Happy--A bright yellow.


• Fun in the Sun--An orangy color that means exercise and keeping fit are important and fun.


• Giving Tree--A lime-green color that shows kids are thinking green and want to play a part in protecting the Earth.


• Bear Hug--A brown hue of hamrony as kids want their homes to feel warm and loving just like a great big bear hug.


• Awesome--A bright red that means kids think school is cool and getting good grades feels awesome.


• Happy Ever After--A blue that shows that kids want to create moments for others so everyone's story has a happy ending.


• Famous--The pink-red color shows kids to believe they can become celebs just like everyday people who become stars.


• Best Friends--The shade that says spending time with you BFF is what you enjoy most.

Much of the business at Carrot Top Studio revolves around color used to celebrate the liturgical church year. So I'm going to write Crayola and suggest with the upcoming Pentecost celebration they should introduce a "Pentecost crayon". I envision firey reds, oranges and yellows on one end to represent the tongues of fire. On the opposite end we'd see a pale blue/grey for the rush of wind that was felt on the day we commerate as the church's birthday. We'll let you know when this crayon goes into production!

And now I must confess a particular fondness to Crayolas. In fact, on my studio desk sits a box of 96 crayons and if I'm in a creative dry spot the crayons can often help me through the process. Have a colorful day!

Mini Banners

Carrot Top Studio often gets inquries about carrying "ready made" banners. Up until this date we have enjoyed providing a custom worship banner commission service. We feel strongly that worship banners should be created to an appropriate scale/size for each worship space. Because worship spaces don't come in standard sizes (now that would be boring!) large worship banners are difficult for us to provide in standard sizes.

Through our etsy store we are now offering "mini banners". They are approximately 24 x 30". We envision these providing an option for customers to purchase a banner for their home, a quiet spot in a retreat center, or a chapel or small worhsip space. We are proud of our designs and craftsmanship and for someone not familiar with our products we hope this will be an affordable option for you to get to know us better.

Thank you to all our clients that took time to let us know that they desired in stock banners to be offered!

What We're Reading

Finding Time for the Timeless by John McQuiston II is a refreshing little book documenting how contemporaries practice their spiritual habits and routines. Over the years my personal routines have changed and evolved. Sometimes it has been starting the day with quiet, or being in tune to respond to opportunity, or even being able to make the mundane into the holy. This book affirms that there are other people that have similar routines as I do, but it also opens my eyes to a variety of spiritual enrichments I might add to my day.

A New Product

We have new products in our etsy shop!

One of them was inspired by Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."


Have you ever needed help focusing your mind on prayer? Some people like to use a journal but you can use the pocket on this pillow to record and remember prayers, disappointment, struggles, joys and miracles. Leave the pillow in a place where you can enjoy quiet moments.

The pillows are 9 x 12”. Each is embellished with a religous symbol and a pocket to hold written thoughts and prayers.

These pillows will make perfect gifts for a first communion, confirmation, graduation, sickness/hospitalization! A descriptive hangtag is attached to the pillow with an explanation of the pillow’s symbolism and suggestions for use.

Color Theory

This past week we closed the studio and took some time to focus on Holy week and have a little R & R. We had an opportunity to visit an old friend, a pastor, who kindly inquired about the business of Carrot Top Studio. I explained first that we have the very best clients and then mentioned that red stoles were one of our best sellers. My friend was suprised so I had to impart my theory...beyond the Holy Spirit connection (that's obvious!) red makes everyone happy. It's a color that we easily gravitate too. It can even be a color of confidence and leadership. Aren't you supposed to where a red tie when you go on an interview?

So now we're back in the studio and gearing up for Pentecost and ordinations...we're seeing red, designing in red, and stitching red!

Palm Sunday

Many varieties of plants and trees are used symbolically throughout the bible. Palm branches are most often used as a symbol of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the event that heralded his coming Passion and crucifixion.

By derivation, palms may represent the fickleness of human acclamation. Used by the Romans as a symbol of victory, they have been used by the church as a symbol of Christ's ultimate victory over sin, or of the saints' victory over death. Therefore in art history martyrs are sometimes portrayed holding palm branches and the branches were used as a funerary emblem among the early Roman Christians.

How will your congregation celebrate with palms this Palm Sunday?