Exciting news! Boise First United Church of Christ, my progressive church home, has a new artistic development!
The Fireside Room, a smaller meeting room where I remember years of meetings and observing Lent next to the fire, is now a gallery space for my art!
Here’s a peek of some of the works that begin the rotation:
Good Friday Woodblock
Good Friday Woodblock. Ink on carved basswood with African mahogany frame. Original $375
Good Friday Woodblock is a carved work of Christ’s crucifixion on a somewhat gruesome gnarled tree, in the darkness of that horrible day.
This woodblock actually has a woodblock print on paper made from it, across the room, Good Friday Print (not pictured.) I like to think of the Print as symbolic of the world’s understandings, reflected from the actual event, like the Woodblock.
Here are some more Lenten pieces in the collection.
Meditation/Prayer
Meditation/Prayer. Ink on carved basswood with African mahogany frame. Original $399
Meditation/Prayer was intellectually born in this room, and shows two figures in contemplation, seen from above, surrounded by the Holy Spirit as they are in community with one another.
And here’s another piece intellectually born in this room.
Lenten Dragonflies
Lenten Dragonflies. Ink and collage and pyrography on carved basswood. Original $375
Lenten Dragonflies shows Christ’s painful thorns with stark, bare wood like the cross, but the dragonflies?
Why? Dragonflies begin in murky water, before they hatch, and their delicate bodies and wings bring them to their next expression in the skies!
The dragonflies in collage and in pyrography (woodburning) symbolize new life and rebirth, and they are perched quietly on the thorns of Lent, whispering of the coming of Easter!
Lastly, the piece above the fireplace!
Easter Meditation
Easter Meditation, ink and fire on carved African mahogany. Original $499
The Easter season will be with us soon! So Easter Meditation complements the room’s much-needed new furniture that was recently donated to the space.
Easter Meditation contrasts the bare wood of the cross of death next to the shocking joyous colors of Easter morning resurrection!
The different, yet unified, colors represent the diverse backgrounds and spiritual understandings of people in our church, all unified by following wise teachers of inclusivity and love of all of God’s creation like Jesus.
Conclusion
I’m so happy to have this space to share the work I’ve created over my time as Artist in Residence!
Each piece indicates if it is for sale, and the prices are very reasonable for the materials, preparation, and labor that went into them. Take home a reflection of faith from our community!
Thanks for supporting the arts!
– Gretchen Weitemier