Just
what is "Christian Art"? In
the purist of terms, a piece of Christian Art is a work
physically created by one who identifies himself or herself
as a Christian, and who acknowledges that such work was
inspired by the Holy Spirit and dedicated as a form of
worship to God. That
leaves it wide open as to choice of subject
matter. Currently
there are very few well-recognised "Christian artists" in
Australia, however, those who do exhibit, and are known as
Christians, are being more widely known. Most
ancient works can only now be identified as "Christian Art"
if the subject is a recognised Christian icon or depicts an
event in Christian history or clearly symbolises a Christian
theme. Today most Christian Art is unrecognisable as such,
unless the artist ensures that his or her work has a title
which places it clearly in that category, or else it is
accompanied by an artist's statement clearly identifying the
work. The obvious downside to this fact of modern Christian
Art is of course that, as time passes, its categorisation is
lost unless the title or statement always accompanies the
work. This cannot be ensured. Does this mean that modern
Christian Art will lose its significance in the years ahead?
Perhaps so. Does this mean also that the old symbolism is
the only subject matter that will guarantee the author
perpetually correct identification of the work? Maybe so,
but that will, according to contemporary Christian artists,
like Pro Hart, not stop artists depicting any possible
subject matter to reveal in art form the feeling of the
heart that this work is an inspired act of Christian
worship. If
that is so, then presumably those who attend a "Christian
Art" exhibition will not be able to see beyond the dimension
of the work itself to the spiritual input of the artist and
his or her God. Not so, say Christian artists. A
committed Christian artist will tell you that no such work
is commenced before all necessary prayer is undertaken to
prepare both the artist and the canvas for the work of art
and the work of worship. One also gets the feeling that more
time can be spent in prayer than with the brush throughout
the creation of the artwork. The
humble dedication of the piece to God is the finale to the
art, which can then be truly called "Christian". But that is
not where it ends. That is where it begins. The Christian
artist has not only created a work dedicated to God to be
hung in a room just to match the decor or complement the
view. The work is part of the artist's Christian
Ministry. Many
a Christian artist throughout the centuries, such as the
great Michelangelo, created their greatest works so that the
peoples of future times would see Christ in some way through
the gifts the Creator had given them. Rembrandt, Rubens and
Da Vinci all did the same. Some
Christian artists knew that the artwork itself, and not how
it was created nor to whom it was dedicated, would be all
that survived the passing of time. So the subject was
carefully chosen with this in mind. Others knew, however,
that the Holy Spirit of God would remain with their work
long after they were gone, and would somehow continue to
fulfill the purpose for which it was created. One
way to guarantee that a Christian artist's work never loses
its impact as such, is to ensure that when these works
appear in the artist's own exhibition, the artist's profile
includes a clear reference to the Ministry behind both the
art and the artist; or to make certain that the one who is
to own a piece, well knows before purchasing, that what is
being acquired is much more than an expression of the
artist's creative gift. Another,
increasingly popular method of approaching this art form is
to show in Christian only Art Exhibitions. In that way, the
visitor is already prepared for the artists' ministry. Many
times has someone come to an advertised Christian art
exhibition looking for Christ in the artworks and been
astounded when He reveals Himself in a painting of a bowl of
flowers or in a sketch of a dying gumtree. Many
a Christian artist feels that art is "the gift"
that God has given them, and from this belief often
arises an artistic passion and an almost
uncontrollable drive to reveal God in ways that
match the proliferation of speeches of Christian
evangelists and the books and articles of Christian
authors. Pro Hart, probably Australia's most
popular contemporary artist is, it seems, driven in
this way, if the amount of art he produces is any
indication. "I don't consider myself anything", he
has often said, "It's only Jesus in me. I truly
believe in my heart that God has allowed me to
reach this place of success to honour Him. All this
fame puts me in a great place and position to bring
glory to God." But
Christian Art exhibitions are not only for the professional
artist. They are a ministry in art form for everyone to be
part, and more often are an invitation to anyone who feels
moved to create a work in this way, to do so, and to offer
it for display in such an exhibition, even if such a person
has only ever created a single work. Christian
art, when driven by people with the fervour of Pro Hart,
viewing from history the enthusiasm of the likes of
Michelangelo, will increasingly become an integral part of
the Christian ministry in Australia as it continues to grow
in these times when many in our nation are looking to things
such as art to soften the harsh realities of our
time.
("Bowl of Roses" by Georgina Kinch-Lawson)
And just so there's no doubt about his commitment as a
Christian artist, Pro Hart (a member of the Gideons), and
his wife Raylee, give away hand-painted copies of the New
Testament. Each of their five children is also an artist in
their own right and each is a committed Christian using the
common family gift of art as part of a growing ministry.
There is a growing, non-denominational and ecumenical
movement calling together people with similar gifts in
music, performance and art to further spread the Christian
message in Australia, through means which are far less
threatening to some than the more traditional
methods.
("The
Joggers" by Pro Hart)
Georgina
Kinch was born and educated in Sydney, New South Wales,
Australia. Georgina's
artistic career began at the age of ten years when she won
both first and second prize in a local art show for two
traditional landscape paintings. As
the years passed Georgina's yearning to be a fulltime artist
drove her to quit the legal profession where she acted as a
managing law clerk and move to Queensland to study with a
former student of Sir William Dargie. It was there that she
developed and refined her "Max Meldrum" style of subtlety of
colour and use of light and shade. "A
Gastronomic Delight in Pastels" was the description of her
first major exhibition in Mosman, Sydney in 1985, its
success being a springboard for Georgina to move to Paris,
France, then on to the small town of Chatenay-Malabry, the
home of D'Artagnan the Musketeer, where she lived and
painted her favourite subjects of chateaux, forests and
fields of flowers. The magnificent Musee D'Orsay proved to
be another potent source of inspiration for Georgina. Georgina
keenly promoted both local and overseas artists by holding
many successful exhibitions at her "Georgina Kinch Gallery"
where she regularly conducted classes in the "Meldrum"
method of painting. ln
1991, Georgina was invited to hold a solo exhibition in New
Zealand where every one of the thirty paintings exhibited
was sold. This is a rare occurence for any artist. Sellout
exhibitions in Bowral, Sydney, "Peppers"in the Hunter Valley
and Auckland, New Zealand have led to her works being
featured in National magazines such as "Country Style",
"Interiors" and "House & Garden". Commissions for
still-life paintings of fruit, flowers and vegetables keep
her very busy, her topiaries being in great
demand. Georgina
has become a specialist in oils, acrylic, gouache and the
beautiful and luminous medium of pastel. Her style has
evolved from French Provincial to a stylised
Realism. A
fine selection of reproductions of her paintings is now
featured on beautiful glossy-print Greeting cards and gift
paper which are regularly updated with her latest works.
These cards are collectors' items in themselves. Georgina
Kinch-Lawson's paintings are included in private collections
throughout Australia, New Zealand, France, Switzerland,
Holland and the United States. Her works will continue to
appreciate in value. She
now combines painting with a hectic family life and a
greater application to her Christian ministry. Georgina,
like Pro Hart in Broken Hill, firmly believes that no matter
where she is geographically, God can and will use her if she
continues to commit all of her art to her Christian
ministry. Georgina, an artist today with regular national
and international clients, initially believed that she had
to move to where the market was for her product to be more
readily sold. But God told her to stay where she was. Now
she says that if you are obedient to what God is calling you
to do, God can bring the market to you or else create one
right where you are. She has learned the value in the
Christian ethic "grow where God planted you." A
simple marketing tool like the Internet has dramatically
increased her international market while she continues to
enjoy the lifestyle of country Australia. Georgina continues
to see that God has a reason for wanting her to stay where
she is. Like
many artists, Georgina is naturally gifted and she regularly
reminds herself of the words in 2 Timothy 1:6 to "..keep
alive the gift that God gave you.." This keeps her
continuing to produce works despite a busy life as wife and
mother, but there is no doubt that to her Christ is first,
art is second. Georgina
knows that God's gifts are not all the same. She does know,
however, that her gift is art and to be able to express in
artform her love of fine cuisine, nature's produce and her
country surroundings. She knows God wants her to reach
people, and if He needs to do it through their senses, He
will. Georgina
prays in the spirit before, during and after painting, and
before each painting is delivered to a client, she prays
again that her work be anointed and that it may minister to
all who view it. She has had many non-Christian people
comment to her on how in a deep sense her work affects them;
comments such as "..there is just something about your work
that draws me to it" or "...when I look at your work my
heart feels so peaceful." Georgina is firmly convinced after
years of hearing such comments that our Creator is reaching
out to others through her artwork. Her
passion for Christ is so evident when you speak to Georgina.
"I want so much to share the fact with people that my
exhibitions are spiritually based", she said, as her last
exhibition was opened by internationally acclaimed
Australian evangelist Eddie Coe. "That evening was so
blessed", she states with girl like effervescence, "Many
persons were ministered to that time by the Holy Spirit.
Many unsaved people had their first real taste of the
anointing of God. One lady suffering from cancer shared how
she so desperately needed to hear the words that were spoken
that night at the opening, where people came to hear about
art but instead heard about Jesus." To
be a Christian artist does not mean only painting
Christ or other icons of the faith. "What it does
mean is that you paint with a renewed perspective",
she says in the humble but vibrant lounge room of
her Taree home in which hang two of her grand
examples of inert subjects brought magnificently to
life. "God is in everything, whether it be the view
from a kitchen window or sitting on a rock in a
rainforest marvelling at His creation, or a simple
rosy red apple. Each thing is such an individual
creation, never to be repeated. I try to help
people to appreciate the ordinary: a cabbage
sitting on a kitchen table; a pot of flowers; a
bowl of lemons."
Soon
after returning to Australia, she fulfilled a life-long
dream by setting up her own art gallery in Paddington,
Sydney, and was thrilled when eighteen of her works were
sold on opening night.
Georgina's enthusiasm goes beyond her own personal desire
to minister with her art. She is keen to encourage other
artists to use their gifts for purposes far and beyond the
sale of a painting. "May I encourage all Christians, who
have some gift in the area of art, to join me in praying for
your work and let the Holy Spirit of God lead you so that
others may sense from your work your desire to give glory to
God in a way that perhaps you have never done before."
"Cabbage
on Pine Table"(by Georgina Kinch-Lawson)
A founding member of the Godfest Christian Exhibition and
Art Prize, Georgina has again seen how God has provided her
with yet another wonderful opportunity to develop and expand
her gifts and to share them to untold numbers of people into
the exciting years ahead.
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