Work of Your Hand

"But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our Potter; and we all are the work of your hand."  -Isaiah 64:8

I find it difficult to go to craft and art shows and not be overwhelmed by the amount of talent and beauty that come from the hands of "regular" people. I give myself plenty of time to browse around at every booth and that usually means I find something that I would like to buy from every vendor. Even if the piece does not at first appeal to me, sometimes it's the craftsmanship with a closer look, or wonder at the scale and inspiration of it that cause me to say "I like this" or "If I had the money, I would buy this".

I am a big fan of pottery and I have managed to justify many a purchase for myself, or a lovely piece for a friend, over the years. We have an unbelievable amount of talented potters in the Birmingham area- and even an awesome studio, Cahaba Clayworks, right in my own hometown. To hold a beautiful finished piece of pottery in your hand and to remember where it came from (mud) can be a real opportunity to give glory to God. Not only can we thank Him for the gifts He bestowed on the individual potter and to rejoice that this artist fostered his or her talent, we can even remember our own creation at the hands of Our Father; after all, we were mud once too.

A great piece by my favorite local potter, Susan Freeman

Taking a pottery class is an item on my ever growing bucket list. I have chatted with a few potters and have  tremendous respect for the time, artistry and skill that it takes to create a piece from scratch. For some reason, I have stood in front of a blank canvas and a row of paints knowing I had to come up with something and felt much less intimidated than standing over a pottery wheel. If there is a potter sitting at that wheel, however, it's clear to see how forgiving and cooperating the clay is to the sometimes gentle and sometimes harsh guiding of a hand. Little imperfections or the hint of something the potter does not want in the finished piece can be removed if the clay is giving. If things are really looking bleak, the potter can step back and entirely change the direction that he was going with the piece. Even so, sometimes a finished piece may look great, but can ruin in the kiln- and ruin other pieces that were placed in a close vicinity.

Now, take a look at the above paragraph remembering the idea that God is the potter and we are clay. He is trying to get the best possible result from us. He pushes us and pulls us and guides us into the men and women of character that He wants us to be. He gives us everything we need to survive the firing that we experience in this life. Unlike the clay used by the potter it is our own fault if we attend only to our outward beauty and find ourselves and those around us ruined in the end by our own problems. Our Father is the potter who never gives up.

Bryan Jordan at the wheel

I have come to love Raku pottery, a method where beautiful colors are actually formed by tossing a kiln fired piece in a metal trash can with pine straw that catches on fire. Of course, the Catholic in me can't help thinking of Purgatory and how beauty and goodness is brought out in us through the fire of God's purifying love. I have especially admired the Raku method through the work of local artist Bryan Jordan (pictured above) and his mother, Laura, and proudly own several of their pieces.

Larry Allen's great work from Cahaba Clayworks

Let me suggest that you take a closer look at some pottery next time you have the opportunity and if you purchase a nice piece (or if you get one from me for Christmas-- ha ha) think about being good clay in the hands of the Potter, yourself, whenever you admire it. Birmingham area friends- you'll get a great chance to admire and purchase work in just two weeks at the Blue Light Special Art show at Leeds' Cahaba Clayworks studio. (I went last year and it was unbelievable- and not just pottery!) Your $2 admission goes to First Light Women's Shelter, as does the gourmet soup you purchase for lunch, and all of the potters that I mentioned above will have items for sale- many marked down for end of the year sales! I hope to see you there- Dec. 10 and 11!

Partly Strong and Partly Fragile

I wrote a poem during adoration. So, yes- Jesus does care about art and He allows inspiration to hit us at any time.

A visit to Jesus-- SO refreshing!

Today the first reading at Mass was from the Old Testament book of Daniel. It was kind of long and not a little bit boring, actually. Still, one tiny line jumped out at me: "partly strong and partly fragile". I remembered that verse throughout the day, but could not tell you in what context it was used. At adoration later in the day, I decided to give the verse another look and meditate on it's context.

First off, when I tried to open my Bible to Daniel I couldn't. When I originally put on the index tab stickers (you've seen them:)

Bible Index Tabs, terrifically useful!

I apparently sealed up the first few pages of Daniel. (Meaning, I have never opened the book of Daniel in my Bible-- FAIL!) After prying the pages free, I could see the verses that the reading referenced. Daniel 2: 31-45 It was all about the dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had and tried to get wise men to interpret. No one could do it successfully and all of the wise men of Babylon ended up being put to death for it. (Crazy!) But Daniel prayed to God and poured forth the interpretation that the Lord gave him for the King. Anyway, this is where it lost me a bit, with descriptions of what the statue in the King's dream symbolized and all that...  But after I read it all a couple of times, it struck me as being pretty cool after all. I love symbols and statues, kings and mountains, avalanches and china, tile and toes-- and especially everlasting kingdoms. "Partly strong, partly fragile"- what a great line! So, I prayed and then I started writing a poem. 

The poem I came up with has nothing to do with King Nebuchadnezzar or the prophet Daniel. Its not even religious, though, in a sense, all art is religious. But that great little line made me think of Eowyn (my favorite Lord of the Rings heroine) and a bit about myself. Here's what I came up with: 

The White Lady of Rohan

Partly Strong, Partly Fragile

The lady's face is iron

Her face, a saddened steel

But her mouth is trimmed with smiles 

To break across and heal.

Her eyes avoid yours sadly

But the lady is not sad

They dance in blue grey coldness

And widely understand.

The lady's speech is confident

She laughs, is loud and strong

But her voice wanes in the darkness

Crumbling and cracking, called to song.

Her sighs, then, may deceive you

Make you think that she is weak

But the lady's frame's a tower

Withstanding trials, striving meek.

The lady's breath draws sharply

As she turns away from you

But she comes back skipping sweetly

While the stinging stabs anew.

The lady's face is iron, 

Her face, a saddened steel

But do not think you cannot harm

She is more fragile still than real. 

Nothing to write home about, but I love it when a complete thought, or poem drops into my lap/head. And this one just seemed to have inspiration interesting enough to blog about. :) 

October Baby

Independent films with their fresh ideas, story lines, production methods, and authentic performances have always captured my attention. The ability of the writers, directors, and actors to imbue much of their own personal vision, unrestricted to the agreement of big producers and distributors, into every aspect of the work is thrilling. Talent is put forth without million dollar contracts and movies are made in your own town, just around the corner, and you may not even know. I had no idea that one such independent film was in production right under my nose- a film that I can be proud of both artistically and spiritually.

On October 28^th 2011, I had the chance to attend the limited release of the film October Baby, a coming of age love story, written by Jon Erwin and Theresa Preston, directed by brothers Jon and Andrew Erwin. Shot in just 20 days with less than 1 million dollars, the Erwins chose their own surroundings of Birmingham, Alabama and neighboring parts of the state as the scenery for their first full-length project. “We filmed the movie and we finished the movie right here,” Jon told The Birmingham News, “It didn't go to any big production facility in New York or LA. We did it all right here.” Quite an accomplishment; and a joy to local audiences who clapped and cheered at the familiar sights of their city displayed onscreen. What makes October Baby unique, and a true blessing in the industry, is that this film is a look into the after affects of abortion- the affects to the birth mother, the clinic worker, the innocent victims, and the survivors. Not a light subject to tackle, especially for your first movie if you hope to make it big in the business. Thankfully, the Erwin brothers have high aspirations; in an interview with ChristianCinema.com, Jon stated, “I think that’s where we differ philosophically from other Christian film makers. We’ve been part of the secular industry for so long that I’ve grown to really love people who work in entertainment. They’re messed-up people who have a lot of needs, but I don’t want to isolate myself with Christian people making Christian movies. I’d rather engage the secular industry and not shy away from what I believe.” In October Baby, they engage the audience in such a way that is eye opening, yet not overly preachy; moving, yet funny; deeply religious, but not polarizing; a way that speaks to the fast paced, vibrant culture that we live in.

The particular inspiration for October Baby came from the true story of Gianna Jessen, a young woman who suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of the abortion she survived at 7 ½ months gestation. Thanks to Gianna sharing her story, falling on the ears of key individuals such as the Erwin brothers, we now have a film based on the shocking truth that there are abortion survivors- children who even in their first moments of breath are unwanted and unwelcome, and, in some cases, in danger. Through the fictional story of Hannah the film explores what it means to be a human person- willed into existence and loved in the mind of God from all eternity, and the desire in each of us to be wanted- in ways that no film has before.

Hannah is a young woman of 19, an aspiring actress supported by her loving family and best friend. Though living with epilepsy and asthma, Hannah’s greatest sufferings come from within: unexplainable feelings of depression, rejection, and despair, to the puzzlement of those who love her. After Hannah experiences a relapse in her seizures and is hospitalized, her doctor and parents reveal that all of her physical and emotional problems have been traced to her extremely traumatic delivery and premature birth. Unbeknownst to her for all these years, Hannah was aborted by her birth mother but survived to be adopted by her parents. Overcome with this tremendous burden and facing nothing but questions, Hannah runs from the present to discover answers and meet the people who affected her past.

Echoing the beautiful message of the film is the way in which it is presented. The Erwin brothers clearly have a knowledge and love of their trade that comes from the ground up; with many years of experience at ESPN and in music video production, they are filmmakers in tune with the modern industry. As Jon Erwin shared, again from his aforementioned interview, “I would like to be a part of a group of Christian filmmakers who want to put the craft of filmmaking and story up on a higher pedestal and make movies that are absolutely incredible. Then I think we’ve earned the right to speak to the audience.” The composition and movement of the shots were sheer poetry and beauty from the first moments to the last; evoking empathy, loss, sorrow, joy, and pain- all melding perfectly with the lighting effects and the music. A glance between characters or a sequence of shots paired with a soaring movement of music (expertly chosen and orchestrated by Paul Mills) was enough to speak volumes. The in-your-face or in-their-shoes style of filming employed here kept no secrets and afforded deep connections between the characters and audience.  The October Baby cast worked perfectly with this style and as the topics deepened and ripened as the movie progressed, so did my affection for the characters and my enthusiasm for the actors' performances.

Two faces you will recognize in this film are that of John Schneider and Jasmine Guy (of Dukes of Hazzard and A Different World fame, respectively). Both of them, and the new talent featured in the lead roles, delivered wonderful performances- bringing emotion, humor, and brokenness to the forefront in just the right moments. Rachel Hendrix as Hannah was a joy to get to know. Enjoying her lighter moments, (especially a scene employing a classic homeschooler joke), I soon admired the depth and raw emotions she showed as her character expressed the realizations of abortion and embraced forgiveness. The couple portraying her adopted parents, John Schneider and Jennifer Price, were particularly touching in the revealing of their own pain of parenting and detachment. Jason Burke, as Hannah's best friend, showed a sweet swagger and thoughtfulness, and proved a refreshing anchor throughout the film. In the supporting cast; funny men Chris Sligh (of American Idol 2007) and James Austin Johnson provided noteworthy laughs from their beat up Volkswagen van while, at the opposite side of the spectrum, Jasmine Guy passionately portrayed a clinic nurse struggling with the choices she had made. Looking into her soulful eyes you could see the pain and confusion that many in the abortion industry must feel when faced with the truth. A small, but beautiful, role went to Shari Weidmann, an actress who only through participating in this film finally acknowledged the affects of abortion in her own life. For more on that amazing story and many others from the cast and crew, take a look at the behind the scenes clips on the film's website: www.OctoberBabyMovie.net .

The movie pleasantly surprised me with its use of a police officer and, later, a Catholic priest as channels of grace in Hannah's healing. This effort brought a profound sense of ecumenism and solidarity to the film, with a particularly touching scene taking place in St. Paul's Cathedral of the Diocese of Birmingham. “But if the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed,” says the priest, as the camera moves toward a shot of the altar and tabernacle- a gesture that the filmmakers may not even have consciously realized- in a completely redeeming moment.

Small graces abound in October Baby. Tinged with humor, a sweet friendship and love story, and a few surprising plot twists, the film brought me to tears many times, expressing loss and forgiveness in scene after scene. I realized very early into watching that this was no ordinary movie. It is a film that will heal, help, and change the hearts of many movie goers. But it has to be seen and, being an independent film, is in great need of promotion, funding, and sponsorship to make its planned March 2012 national theatrical release a reality. My hope is that you will visit the October Baby website and seek an opportunity for a screening, if possible; that you promote this film and support it with your movie ticket when it comes to your city. “We wanted to give God our very best,” the filmmakers explained. The Erwin brothers and the entire team that crafted this film have given audiences a visible testament to the sanctity of life, and have given God the glory.

The month of October may have ended, but October Baby stands as a bright light on a dark horizon of hope. Change must come to this culture and young people and artists will lead the way.

The Divine Artist ~ Vision

I have been thinking a lot about how God, as Creator, is the ultimate Artist. In fact, this blog is born out of that thought. It strikes me more and more that as human beings our attempts at art; photography, music, writing, acting, all come from our desire to commune with God and put forth what is in us that reflects Him. For me, this drives my need and desire to create and gives me a restlessness, unsatisfied and unquenchable desire to do more- and be more. I am rarely satisfied with my work; but when I am, it feels truly amazing.

The beauty of God's creation in Toccoa, GA

Lately, I have been developing my love of photography (little pun there) but I seem to be more dissatisfied with my photos than with any other of my creative outlets.  No matter how good the image might look on my camera's preview screen, or on my computer, it never is quite what I had in mind. The image that I wanted to capture was perfect- the lighting, the colors and scope- and that is what I wanted to preserve. The more I chat with other photo enthusiasts, the more I realize that many of them get the same feelings. If only they had that nicer lens, that expensive filter, or the perfect weather conditions, they know their photo would turn out better. Looking at some professional work (including work edited with the awesome photo software available) it is amazing what can be achieved. Some photos blow me away at first glance and I am instantly drawn in to where I imagine that location to be. Most of my photos remind me of just how amateur and earth bound I am. Or, they remind me bitterly of the moment I dropped my camera in sand, providing photos of this caliber:

Just don't fully extend the zoom and you'll be fine

My goal in photography is capturing with my camera exactly what me eye perceives in one particular moment. It's funny to me that how the eye works is often explained through a camera analogy, and vice versa. In movies using the latest 3D technology, as Peter Jackson points out from the set of The Hobbit, two different cameras work together to mimic what each eye would pick up. Photography in particular, (but also painting, and even cinematography and acting), seeks to frame the images we view with our eyes and present them in a never ending, never changing moment. This kind of creativity really is a celebration of the vision designed by our Eternal God.

The most pathetic person in the world is someone
who has sight, but has no vision.
-Helen Keller

My photos may never do justice to the glories before me. Eyesight itself is limited this side of the Beatific Vision, "We see through a glass darkly", as St. Paul says. I squint through a lens imperfect; still, I want to use my eyes to let in the light of God's goodness and beauty, to enjoy every moment and image as if it were the first and the last time that I could see it, and to honor God by working at the gifts and skills He has given me- including my photography. I've got a long way to go!