Paul Hendricks of the Harvest Christian Church creative team reflects on art in this piece inspired by an exhibition running at the church, in Walmer, Gqeberha (PE), from August 1 to September 1. The photos on this page were taken at the opening of the exhibition which is themed “Naturally Supernatural”
“The purpose of art is to ask questions” said Lawrence Weiner, American Conceptual artist (1942-2021). Maybe that’s a modern concept. The current technological age might ask: “Why art at all?” And we’ve certainly asked: “What is Christian art? Haven’t the old traditions of art for communication used by churches of antiquity been left in the dark ages or overused in Renaissance art? And what is a Christian art exhibition? Or why do we have one?”
Recently, Harvest Christian Church held the official opening evening of the annual Christian art exhibition, the sixth since 2018. where Christian artists are given a platform to show their talent, training and perhaps pose some questions to the audience that they have themselves asked and answered.
Over recent years the exhibition has progressively changed format from a single venue at the back of the church, to a construction site post-Covid when Harvest was in the middle of a building project, to this year’s version that flows with the life of the church, leading from the one room to another across multiple venues within the church space.
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It’s where the fringe element of church, possibly with a redemptive calling, has a role to play. The recent Olympics opening ceremony statement — or should I say mockery — by the social fringe highlights the purpose of the creative fringe within the church to redeem that statement and return it to its truth.
Hebrews 8 states the Jesus Christ is the High Priest who ministers in the sanctuary that is made up of eternal theological principles. Moses made a copy or shadow of that eternal sanctuary, instructed and inspiredduring his time with God on the mountain. “Copy” and “shadow” are tools used in the creative arts, and so when I read this, I paid closer attention. Priests were then instructed to offer the gifts and sacrifices necessary, using instruments made by highly skilled craftsman. These actions were then seen as worship, as were the crafted symbols such as breads, candle, and incense holder representations of those eternal principles.
That entire representation of the desert tabernacle and the Mosaic covenant would later be replaced by our High Priest Jesus as shown by Da Vinci in the Last Supper; and the tabernacle by our souls, our hearts, and indeed our own lives. And Scripture tells us it (the Word) is to be used as a mirror to compare our lives as we align it with those same principles found within in. See James 1:23-27.
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As I browse around the exhibition, I see people’s own copies of what their time on “the mountain” in their quiet time with God made possible — in the New Covenant by the blood spilled, the sacrifice of Christ. It’s presented through art; and a gifting granted by God and practiced to a high standard. Some are at different stages of their faith and stewardship of their abilities. And not everyone gets to use this platform.
Come have a look for yourself and maybe the question will answer itself.
Exhibition is on show at Harvest Christian Church, Albert Road, Walmer, Gqeberha (PE) from August 1 to September 1
Open times are from Monday to Thursday 8am to 4pm, Fridays 8-3pm, Saturday Aug 24 9am to 12pm, and Sundays after church services.
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