Something happened earlier this week. I was minding my own business when I read an e-mail from a fellow brother in Christ. It was talking about being a first amendment artist. What was that, I wondered. Soon, as I began to read, I discovered being a first amendment artist meant that if my art was let’s say a painting, and if it had no other purpose, (ii.e. it wasn’t a piece of clothing or a piece of jewelry for instance), I could sell it in public, on public property, and not even need a business license. Wow! I literally had no idea. It was a thought that caught me by surprise. You see, I love to paint. I would love nothing more than to pull paint across a canvas with brushes for the rest of my life. But… I only have so much wall space. I have been involved with galleries in the past and the problem I have found is that being involved with a gallery, puts you in a covenant with said gallery. What if the gallery isn’t into the things you are into? What if some of the artists are vocal opponents to your lifestyle? What if everyone in an art association is self-consumed and boorish. What if everyone only wants to drink, eat and be merry? What if they try to push their religious views on you?
The art scene in Carson City for a Christian artist is a bit limited to say the least, or you have to partner with the world. And as we know, unless your partnering with the world is an evangelical outreach, (and that is no partnership), you are wrong. Believe me, I have been wrong, many times and I don’t want to do that again. Which brings me to today.
I went to lunch today with a friend of mine. I am confidant to say a friend, and I do not mean a close acquaintance, but rather, a friend. While discussing many things, the topic of art and cities came up. It seems, my friend, has an appreciation for buildings: skyscrapers to be exact. I too have an affinity for buildings of all sizes. my friend described what was special about buildings, and I started to weep. I have never heard another human describe the heart of what I think and feel about buildings and what they represent to me. My friend gets it. Perhaps my friend was led by the Holy Spirit to share that information with me. It awoke something that has been dormant inside of me since I met my friend several years ago.
I had a dream once at the age of 17 I had a mission. It seemed so clear what I wanted to do. Somewhere along the line I let it go. A few years back, I was given that mission again – but it was slightly different – expanded but unchanged. It was focused on God rather than me – it was for others and how to awaken them to a deeper relationship with God. I was impressed that it would be known as a place of broken dreams. It was for artists. Christian artists to come and get broken – then be rebuilt by God, and finally to step out and dream the dreams He had for them back when He gifted them. It wasn’t an ordinary place, and it wasn’t so much about talent. God’s standards are still perfection – so we strive for excellence.
It is time to begin. We have a market place for our work, so we will engage in worship and intercession using our paintbrushes. This will be the beginning, the test run so to speak. We will teach other creative people to listen to God and let Him be the source for their creativity. He is infinitely creative, and His creations live. We will sing to Him a new song, and we will sing it with our hearts and paintbrushes. If God is prompting you, please join with us in prayer for taking the arts back. Romans 11:29 reminds us “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”