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.
