ART INSTALLATIONS
COME AS YOU ARE
This art installation, consisting of eight panels, aims to express the fragile and vulnerable nature of humanity and the environment. Depicting a rocky, desolate landscape, the words of this devotion, written for the 2020 bushfire victims, resonated with my own experience of rejection, loss and depletion. The words speak of God's unfailing love to all people in all places, no matter their circumstances; their race, creed, culture, rich or poor. The words describe God's call to individuals to come to Him, just as we are. He sees and accepts us, hears, embraces and nurtures us in our individual journeys and desires to have a relationship with each and every person.
The applique method used to create this artwork, fragile in nature, has been executed using individually cut pieces of hand painted papers and placed to express jarred terrain (mankind), and an extensive sky (God's peace and presence). The rocky and desolate terrain has sharp edges, each piece is different in shape, colour and size. There is no differentiation when considered as one extensive piece, and yet the individual is clearly defined, considered and placed. The colourful terrain expresses struggle, loss, grief, turmoil and depletion.
The vast sky, in contrast to the rugged terrain, has deliberately been painted as a moving, vibrant, life-giving source which causes one to look up, look beyond, create a sense of following the clouds and enjoy their many and varied shapes. As an artist who has experienced God's loving embrace resulting in a vibrant journey, it was important that the sky contained an element of excitement. Whilst the overall pallet includes three different shades of blue in all their various tones, it suggests that God's love is vast, he embraces and forgives all. He longs to meet with us, where we are at, and extend his gracious hand of peace in our lives.
This artwork encompassing this beautiful devotion is also a prayer for God's love to touch humanity.
Inspired by a photograph from UC publication Seeds - God in the Outback, depicting the desolate landscape following the 2020 bushfires
Devotion Chaplain Jon Humphries
Graphics Pamela Elsmore
Artist Elizabeth Bishop
Title Come As You Are
Medium Applique of hand painted papers and dried leaves
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SEASONS OF CREATION
This series of panels, each measuring 1800mm long x 400mm wide, has been produced by a weekly Kalamunda Hills creative art group, Creative Endeavour. They created this installation from various experimental 'paintathons', where participants used the colour pallet provided with paint, stencils and other textual mediums to develop its colour and texture. It was a playful activity that served to bring a sense of fun, energy and expectation.
Each piece of intuitive work was then cut to shape. Some have been used as accent pieces to express flora with its vibrant colours, or burnt or baron areas often seen within the West Australian hills landscape. The leaves have been cut to specific shapes to depict movement, a sense of new growth and life enjoyed every spring season. Each textured panel has been highlighted with sky blue, depicting West Australia’s clear blue skies.
This art installation was directed and designed by Elizabeth Bishop and assembled by her and some of the artist participants. The work is displayed each spring within the walls of the Kalamunda Uniting Church as part of the celebration of God’s creation.
Artists Members of the Creative Endeavour group
Title Seasons of Creation
Medium Applique of hand painted papers and dried leaves
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