What's On the BookShelf This Summer?

Do you have a shopping weakness? Thank you to those of you who answer "Carrot Top Studio stoles!" But I'm guessing there are a variety of responses in the crowd. My shopping fetish is for books and periodicals. When I say shopping I use the term lightly though because I imposed a rule for myself a decade ago when the bookcases were collapses under way too much weight....reading material from there on out was to come from the library unless it was something that I would read repeatedly. This is what's in my stack of summer reading that pertains to art and worship and the connection to our faith:

 

Scribbling in the Sand by Michael Card explores Biblical foundations of Christian creativity. You can listen to Mr. Card sing the song composed by this same name here.

Creative and Christian: Biblical Principles by Leen La Riviere can be read all at once, used as a devotional or a small group Bible study.

Water, Wind, Earth and Fire by Christine Valters Painter. A book of meditations, prayer, and readings all connected to nature and centered on St. Francis of Assisi's "The Canticle of the Creatures."

Art That Tells the Story by Christopher Brewer. Based on the Bible this just off the press title interlaces images, text, scripture, reflection and cultural artifacts.


So my "shopping" will hopefully help me strengthen my soul and deepen my heart for my passion and acknowledgement of the importance of the connection with art and faith. What books or visuals are widening your mind this season? 


....BTW I'm not always serious....just for the fun of it, I'm also getting caught up on my Harry Potter so I can see the last movie while it's on the big screen! 

A Bevy of Banners

The original design.

How do you create 30+ banners that will be shared as gifts for sister churches more than 8000 miles away from your own? Carrot Top Studio was approached by the Malawi Partnership from Pittsburgh Presbytery with just such a prospect. The challenges included designing a visual message that represented both Pittsburgh, PA and Malawi, Africa, creating many identical banners that would travel easily, and doing the project as financially frugally as possible...all in six months!


First, our studio designed the banner as seen at right. The official description is: The Holy Spirit (the dove) and our faith in God (the Bible and cross) bridge the partnership between the church in Malawi (baobab tree) and in Pittsburgh (three rivers) as we work together to be mutually encouraged by each other's faith (Roman's 1:12). The bridge and the rivers together also make the shape of a sun. Artistically the sun can be used to represent the 'son' who died for us all.

Mass production!

It was agreed that the most frugal way to create the banners was in the tradition of an old fashioned quilting bee. Carrot Top Studio was able to then step out of the project and turn it over to very capable hands. A lead seamstress was identified and the word went out to sewers in the community of the Pittsburgh Presbytery. One of the wonderful things about this gathering was that it allowed people that are passionate about this partnership but weren't planning to travel to have a creative way to participate and be supportive. Why else should churches create in community?

• sharing a common interest and goal allows everyone to be accomplished in the project,
• the work atmosphere promotes creativity and Christian fellowship,
• everyone brings their unique talents and abilities and this fosters a positive learning environment.

The banners needed to not take up much suitcase space or weight. As you can see here their 3 x 5' size folded into a neat little package!

The partnership travelers have now traveled half way around the world and back home again to Pittsburgh. I am just starting to learn their stories of what it was like to be mutually encouraged as we all walk together in faith. And there are now banners in the partnership churches....a visual reminder of friendships and our faith to be used when the people in Malawi gather together to draw closer to God in worship.  

a detail....with scripture in Chichewa and English

Presentation of a banner in Malawi

So why do we share all of this? Because sometimes banners (or even a single banner) seem like too big or scary of a project. Let this example of one person having an idea and networking with others that had specific talents show you how a goal can be well met. I write this to encourage you!

*an interesting fact...when the Malawians visit Pittsburgh they are enthralled by the vast amount of bridges this city has....so it was doubly fun to use the 'bridging' theme in this design!*

Ordinary Time Greens

Swiss chard and chives are just some of the
'shades of green' growing  in my garden.

We're in the midst of the season after Pentecost--also known as Ordinary Time. It's the longest period of the church year and because it emphasizes Christian life it allows for an immense amount of symbols and visuals in worship. This is a time of growth. Where our studio is located in Pennsylvania we are in the midst of the growing season in the garden. Our raspberries are coming in, the small tomatoes are red, the larger tomatoes are heading toward their full size and there is an endless array of green all about. As we see the gardens and the produce at the farmer's market change  we have an appreciation of why the liturgical color for this season is green. It is a season of growth, new life and building up of the church, and therefore a time of hope.

See the entire picture of this stole here.

Ordinary Time certainly doesn't need to be 'ordinary'. How can you celebrate the mystery of Christ during this time? We saw this green batik fabric that has been dyed on a soft pima cotton and knew it was perfect for Ordinary Time....so many greens within the one piece of cloth! We've turned it into a stole embellished with a tree of life cross--a symbol told of in Genesis and the Book of Revelations. Using this cross also causes us to think of John Calvin's description of the tree being a symbol and memorial of the life received from God. What do you see and how do you embrace this time of growth?