traveling artist: CIVA 2011

I got to travel to Los Angeles in June of 2011 with our Director of VineArts Jessie Nilo http://vineartsboise.org/, to attend the CIVA conference at Biola University. We were joined by professional artists from all over who share a common faith in God. The conference is held to gather professional artists who are Christians from around the States & the world to dialogue aboutthe very unique position we all hold in this world….to be leaders & make a difference in our world & communities (whether that’s the marketplace, entertainment media, universities, research, cities, churches, etc.) through the talents we have been given. Author David Taylor http://artspastor.blogspot.com/ taught the "Art and the Church" track and author J.Scott McElroy http://jscottmc.wordpress.com/ taught the "Spiritual Formation" track. Jessie partnered with Scott on a special panel of artists that shared about the "Spiritual Practices of Artists" and she partnered with David Taylor with a panel of artists to talk about postive & negative experiences of working as an artist within a church and later offered a time of prayer ministry in the chapel for anyone who was attending the conference. As I sat in on the sessions & conversed with artists throughout the conference I found myself inspired, encouraged, and honored to be counted amidst such talented & quality people!

you can check out the conference tracks, speakers, sessions & workshops here: http://civa.org/resources/civa-events/2011-biennial-conference/

the Church Without Walls and the Creative Conversation

I believe art is a language that transcends all language barriers. It's able to get past the walls of cultural differences, age, race, gender, religion, politics, economic standing, education, distance, even time. Creativity is like a conversation. There are conversations going on all the time. Conversations with the artist and the work, with the artist and God, with the artist and nature, with the artist and humankind,with the artist and self. Creativity allows me to come alongside others and enter into the conversations that are already happening. I love listening to conversations. If I'm invited into the conversations this brings about collaboration. Collaboration is an invitation to the sharing of ideas and it's a huge part of building relationship. I believe humankind is a relational people. We need each other. I believe we were created that way by a creative God who is all about relationship with us. And I believe we've been given creativity as a language to relate to each other with. When we connect into the conversation through creativity and allow for collaboration, we are helping to build community together and this fosters relationship. And the walls become invisible between us.

traveling artist

TRIPS

CIVA 2011

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