Hello dear Friends and Family,
We hope you are doing well and that you know the peace and love of our generous Father this September. This is going to be a different sort of newsletter. Instead of sharing the events and prayer points of our work here, I am going to present one of my paintings (I’m a little nervous). You all have been with me on this journey into painting since our move to France. I am so grateful for your support as I start to share more of my art publicly. In a smaller world, I would have an exposition and invite you all to come, but since we are widespread and we have modern tools at our finger tips, please allow me to share with you in this space.
Early last year, The Gate Church, our partner church in Franklin, Tennessee, commissioned me to paint something that represents the state of Christianity in France and the work we do here. Inspired by a photograph by Francis Meslet of an abandoned church in France, I chose to paint this image. I call it, “La Mariée” (the Bride). Click on the image to see it in full.
La Mariée
Acrylic on canvas
In My Contemplation:
Though the roof has fallen and the ground is covered in debris, it is a beautiful depiction of God working in new ways in France. The French have a rich heritage of faith; a saint for every day, a church for every village. We honor this heritage, but, for many in France, the church represents condemnation, judgement, and rigid religious practices, and as an institution, it has been largely abandoned by recent generations.
Only with the slow destruction of what was, can God’s light and life shine through. Behold! He is doing a new thing in our midst. New life is pushing forth and a different looking church is taking root amongst the ruins.
This bride is bruised and full of holes, she stands as a remnant and a new offering. Veiled in the lace of his light, she waits for her bridegroom.
In the Composition:
God spoke to me throughout the process of this painting. To begin, I used a thick gesso to give texture to the building. I etched in some words, like carvings on the walls. Under the fallen debris, I painted words in French that the institution of the Catholic Church has come to represent to many people in France (condemnation, judgment, death). Under the plants and shrubs are words that carry the essence of the new expression of church that is seeing growth (joy, life, hospitality, etc.) Some of these words remain visible, but most are covered.
I painted using a black and white reference so that I could chose my own color palette. I like to use bold colors to bring a certain feeling to the image. I wanted the church building to have a representation of different skin tones, to show the bride is a living body.
In the Community:
I had the privilege of showing this painting, while it was still in process, at an exposition in June with my art association, a group of around 20 French artists that meet weekly to work on projects together. I was able to share the deep meaning of the painting for me, as well as speak about my faith in Jesus, with the other artists. They, in turn, shared about my painting with their friends who visited the exposition.
I also brought the painting to the group for critique which gave way to many one on one conversations with some women in my group. One lady spoke with me in depth about faith in France and how it is a very private thing. She thought it was wonderful to think about people praying for France from other parts of the world.
Another woman asked me, “Don’t you think that people will think the church is dead in France if they see this painting?” I asked, “What do you think about the church in France?” She then shared with me some of her story, her parents had been very religious and she left the Catholic Church in her teens because she found it to be too rigid and condemning. She never looked back. I spoke to her of the grace and love of Jesus and that is the true message of the Christian faith. We had some really great conversations.
When I had completed the painting, I shared it with our Bless Church community. I think it is amazing how God connects us from one corner of the world to another. The painting is going to hang on the wall at the Gate Church, pointing to France, to the church and the work He is doing. I wanted them all to know that they are a part of that work!
Thank you for letting me share with you. If you are interested in seeing the painting, it will be hung in the Gate Church in their missions gallery. If you are interested in a print or getting a copy of it, please let me know by responding to this email or contacting me directly.
Peace friends,
Joanna
