World Canvas Project: June 2012

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Heaven of the Heart

photo © Genesis+Art Studio

BANGOR, NORTHERN IRELAND. Our fifth prayer canvas began at our workshop Heaven of the Heart held at the Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church in Bangor. Twenty four artists joined us for a day of creative and art exploration. We concluded our time together by offering painted prayers on the World Canvas. The canvas will be part of our workshop and worship service at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico the end of June. The original canvas has been completed and is being prepared for its final home at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Prayer Canvas

The World Canvas Project began its journey when I was the Artist In Residence at Luther Seminary. The prayers on the World Canvas Project are collectively woven together in color and word. Threads of individual petitions give rise to personal and communal creativity, hope and reconciliation. The finished canvases will either return to Luther Seminary or in the communities where new canvases have begun. Along with many congregations and communities, the World Canvas Project has been part of the East Belfast Mission and the Skainos Project in East Belfast, Northern Ireland; Holden Village, Ghost Ranch, Presbyterian Church of Ireland, The Minnesota Without Poverty, Luther Seminary, Global Missions, United Theological Seminary and the Summer Institute in Spirituality & Art. A second, third and fourth canvas has traveled to Mosul, Iraq; Andhra Pradesh, India; Palestine and Israel; Guatemala.