"Waiting" and "Access" - 4th Wednesday in Lent

The Open Door

12" x 14"

Acrylic

SOLD

Returned this past Wednesday to painting at the Lenten series at St. Andrews, continuing my theme of "Access."  The inspiration is from a painting trip to the Southwest 2 years ago; these doors are from a photograph I took in Ranchos de Taos, close to the famous Church of St. Francis Assisi (the church  that Georgia O'Keefe painted and that Ansel Adams photographed, among countless others of us who are artists and/or photographers).

An open door is an invitation - what door is opening for you?  what invitation has been offered?  Are you planning to accept or decline?

"Waiting" and "Access" - 3rd Wednesday in Lent

The Door of Colors

8" x 11"

by Melissa Whaley

at

MUSC Children's Hospital

I didn't make it to last Wednesday evening's service at St. Andrews because my 12 year old niece, Melissa Whaley, was in the Chidren's Hospital recuperating from acute pancreatitis.  The second day she found the Atrium and had been down there with her mother 3 times before I arrived in the late afternoon.  She's a prolific artist and we've been painting together since she was 2 years old so I asked her to paint a door since my painting theme at church this Lent has been "access".  I thought it was pretty cool that she could keep layering the paints on top of each other and not get mud (I would've gotten mud...).  I didn't suggest what kind of door, or give any hints, so I think it's interesting she chose purple paper (suggesting both Lent and Royalty), has 3 purple teardrops at the top (suggesting the Trinity) and when I look to the right of the red shape at the bottom, I see the hint of Christ hanging on the cross.  That may just be the way I'm wired since I've painted at worship services for 10 years, but I do tend to read paintings through the eyes of the Kingdom.  Great job and thanks, Melissa!

Melissa Whaley, Prolific Artist at Work

(with her Grandfather Walker displaying her recent artwork)

What really impressed itself on me is that a child in the hospital, dealing with pain and only allowed fluids by IV, produced nothing by paintings of color, joy and celebration.  Melissa was diagnosed with JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis) when she was 2 years old; she's been giving herself weekly shots of her JRA medication for at least the last 4 years and wants to be a doctor when she grows up.  Melissa Whaley is one of my heroes.

The MUSC Children's Troubadors

Live music, too... these 2 great guys appeared at Melissa's door right as we returned from the Major Painting Spree in the Atrium.  They sang about 4 songs (they're really good!) and hit a home run with all of us when they sang their first song, "Sweet Melissa" by the Allman Brothers.  If you've got to be in the hospital, the MUSC Children's Hospital is a good place to be...but we thrilled that Melissa is well and at home now!

"Waiting" and "Access" - 2nd Wednesday in Lent

"Window of Light"

12" x 16"

Mixed Media

Although this looks like a door, it is actually a window slit  high up in the Abbey at Mont St. Michel, Normandy, France.  I was there last May when I took this photograph.  This is one of the photographs that grabbed my attention as I was looking at resource information for my painting series of "Access" during our Lenten Wednesday night "Waiting" worship services. 

I especially liked the warm light against the cold stone, and that was what drew my attention to begin with. When the light comes in, everything changes. Or, put more simply, light changes everything.

"Waiting" and "Access" - 6 Wednesdays in Lent

The Worship Arts Painting Team at St. Andrews Church in Mt. Pleasant was invited to paint at all 6 Wednesday evening services during Lent, and several of us are participating. The theme for this year's Worship Arts Lenten series is "Waiting"- specifically "waiting in the Presence of God" in the service, and as I prepared for the first Wednesday of the series, the word "access" kept flowing through my thoughts.  I decided to work with the theme of "access" for the series, using the visuals of doors, windows, etc. that are symbolic of the openings and opportunities that present themselves in our lives - times where a response from us is called for - do we cross that threshold or does fear, insecurity or timidity cause us to turn and walk away?

The Door of Humble Access

11" x 14"

Acrylic

As I went looking for a visual resource to use, I came across a photograph I had taken 6 years ago, and I immediately knew that this was the door to start with.  It's known as the "door (or gate) of humble access" - it's the entrance that pilgrims use to enter the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem - a low door (replacing a larger, prior opening) to keep invaders from riding their horses into the sanctuary and desecrating the holy place.   The door is so low that I even have to bend to enter (and I'm only about 5' tall).  The door of humble access - it's the right place to begin the journey.