New Books

Okay, I just got back from Hearts and Minds bookstore in Dallastown. And my bookshelf is expanding to the point where, well... I need another bookshelf. I want you all to know that any of the books in the "Arts Library" (in my office) are up for lending. You can find the list of available books to borrow in the sidebar to the right.

Here are the four books I just purchased and can't wait to sink my teeth in to:

• Bearing Fresh Olive Leaves~Alternative Steps in Understanding Art by Calvin Seerveld
• It Was Good~Making Art to the Glory of God, a collection of essays by various famous people (artists, pastors, musicians, songwriters, writers, etc.)
• Creativity and Divine Surprise~Finding the Place of Your Resurrection by Karla M. Kincannon
• Releasing the Creative Spirit by Dan Wakefield

Also, I believe I've purchases almost every book in my collection from Hearts and Minds ~ so you can get your own copy there too. If you want to preview any of these books, stop by my office at LW and take a gander, it's free of charge!

Grace & peace on the journey ~ deAnn

Creative Origami

Sometimes we need a little giggle...this is not spiritually deep in any way...just something light and silly. I've never tried origami, but I bet mine would look much like the green guy's snowball.

Enjoy laughing along the creative journey ~

Change is Good

Yes, over the past several days the look of the Vertical Creativity blog has changed it's image a few times. I think I've landed on one that is uplifting and light and creative. I hope you like it too.

But don't grow too attached to this look - chances are it will change in a few months...change is good. (I believe that is a trait of a creative person, or at least, that is the excuse I'm going to claim.)

grace & peace on the journey ~

Stitches ~ A Common Thread

Do you get creative with silk and dye?

Do you have a unique basket filled with balls of yarn next to your sofa.

Maybe your sewing machine lives on your dinning room table?

Maybe felt is your thing? I bet you stitch felt circles onto everything you can find, right?

No matter how you create beautiful textiles with fabric, yarn, thread, dye, stitch, for function and fashion, art and expression, if you attend Living Word Community Church or knot (pun intended) ~ let's get together!

Contact deAnn (info in the right sidebar) because there is a common thread among us. Let's see what kind of amazing tapestry can be created as we come together in His name.

Courage to ...

"What makes for great art is the courage to speak and write and paint what you know and care about."
Audrey Flack

The Lazy Daze of Summer

Summer is officially upon us. Actually we are one whole day into this lazy season of life.

Lazy. I suppose there was a time when summer was considered a lazy pace. But that hasn't been the case in my life time since grade school a hundred years ago. Summer is as busy or busier for me now as an adult. So, when, then, is our "lazy season?"

I am a person who has grown to appreciate and need solitude amongst my days; a time to quiet my spirit, intentionally enter the presence of God and listen to His voice. And I'm talking about serious intentionality here - not the quiet of driving to work with the radio off or washing dishes without the noise from the T.V. No, I'm talking about personal time of silence with God. And I'm really in need of one of these special days...

Silence and solitude pretty much goes against the grain of our American culture. We are a nation of get 'er done! and FAST! We squeeze every drop of life from our overworked bodies and strung out minds then we often have nothing left to give. Where then do we expect inspiration and creativity to come from? For me, and for most people I talk to, our busy lives block all creativity that bubbles up from from within us. God and all His creativity are waiting for us to slow down, sit before Him and allow His Spirit to flow through the God given creative channels that He's provided each of His children.

But...we are too busy. Do you need a lazy day? Yeah, me too - so put a date on your calendar, a day for just you and God and listen for His voice, how is He inspiring your creative voice? What do you sense He's saying to you? How will you express what you hear? Maybe you'll need paper and a pencil? Or a cheap canvas and a few tubes of paint (no brushes needed - He's place 10 on the end of your hands). Got clay? Maybe a sculpture is growing inside you (get great clay at Michael's near the Kohl's in York.) Pick up your musical instrument and play the notes that cross your heart...

Read these words of Thomas Merton:

Music of Silence

"Music is pleasing not only because of the sound but because of the silence that is in it; without the alternation of sound and silence, there would be no rhythm. If we strive to be happy by filling all the silences of life with sound, productive by turning all life's leisure into work, and real by turning all our being into doing, we will only succeed in producing a hell on earth.

If we have no silence, God is not heard in our music. If we have no rest, God does not bless our work. If we twist our lives out of shape in order to fill every corner of them with action and experience, God will silently withdraw from our hearts and leave us empty." From No Man Is an Island.

May you cultivate little pockets of silence into your busy life so that God can speak and inspire your creative voice to create something of beauty...

grace & peace on the journey...

Fused Glass Artist: Michael Novak

Here is the first "Divine Intersection" post where we feature a local artist and hear about how their creativity intersects with their journey with Jesus.

This month: Michael Novak ~ here you will see a smattering of his amazing fused glass work and below you can read his story.

A beautiful fused glass plate.

A stunning fused glass pendant he made (and I now own!).

In his words...by Michael:

When I had to stop working because of my illness, I initially felt a real sense of identity loss. I loved my work, the people I worked with and the challenge of my job! Who was I now in God’s kingdom? My hospitalizations gave me the opportunity to share God’s grace with the many people I would come in contact with at the hospital. But what about the time when I was not in the hospital? I continued my daily time of reading and prayer, but I felt a lot of “empty” time when I was not conversing with The Lord. Then I found myself having more conversations with Jesus during the day. They would be conversations of thanks for things that were going on. When I was confused by what was going on, we had conversations offering peace and less anxiety from current happenings. Then I realized it was turning into many conversations during the day over many topics. Maybe because I live alone, and don’t talk to many people on a daily basis, these conversations became a way to share my life with my Lord. He knew my sense of identity loss and at some point I felt the push to try something else to fill my time. I had done copper foil stained glass for several years, but because of the advancement of my illness and medications, my hands shook too much to be able to solder the way you needed to. I still loved the beauty of glass, but was frustrated by the inability to do it as I had before. At about this same time, I had seen a couple of craft shows about “kiln-fired” glass, and the beautiful results available. We had many conversations of thanks and how could I possibly try this new “old” technique. I read some books and borrowed time in a small kiln to get a feel for it. From that point on it was just a continual time of trying new techniques, having good and bad results and continuing conversations with my "mentor."

I call my studio work "by His hands." I truly feel that my inspiration for new designs, trying new glass colors and techniques and having some favorable results have all come from my relationship with my business partner, Jesus! How can you go wrong with a designer that designed the world, a research partner that knows all the techniques, and your inspiration that comes from all the colors in the universe! Everyday I take my cue for the day from God, put the glass pieces together and put them in the kiln and wait to see the incredible magic that the Lord does to that simple glass while it is "in His hands."

If you are interested in seeing more of Michael's work, contact him at: mnovak52@comcast.net.

Thank you for taking time to read about an artist's Divine Intersection.

Divine Intersection

Once a month I'd like to highlight an artistic dabbler; someone who shares their story and how their creativity intersects their faith journey with Jesus; see the art created from this Divine intersection and how they personally experience God in the process.

Keep an eye out for these special posts ~ it's an honor to enter into the story of His people, God's masterpieces, and hear how they create beauty in His name.

If you are interested sharing, please email deAnn (contact info on the right). We'd love to meet you and hear about your Divine Intersection.

Grace & Peace on the journey...

Conversations with Eugene Peterson

This is totally worth thirty minutes of time to hear Eugene Peterson's brilliance as he talkes about the importance of writing and the need for storytellers.

Autonomy of Art

"Once you stop the painting (song, pottery, writing, etc) and show it to somebody, it no longer belongs to you."

~ talking about the autonomy of art, this quote is from Dave Matthews from the MHD show Storytellers featuring the Dave Matthews Band.

Really think about that...interesting, huh?

Writers Wanted

The third issue of Inklings is hot off the press! You can pick up a copy at the Common Grounds Coffee Bar at Living Word.

Inklings is a compilation of short stories, reflections and poems written by people of LW. If you are interested in submitting a piece for the next issue (in August), please contact me, deAnn. How to info is on the right sidebar --->

I love to write and love even more to encourage others to write. I'd like to see more guys submit their work, we only have a few who currently do.

Also, by fall time, we'll be opening a writers group to both guys and gals and it will meet 2x a month. Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this.

God used words to communicate the Word to us. I believe He can use our words to communicate to our hearts and other's hearts as well. What's holding you back from picking up the pen? Or plunking the letters on your keyboard? Follow His lead...and write.
Grace & Peace ~ and enjoy the creative journey ~ deAnn