Artist In Resident Program

Chaos Theory tells us that sometimes as tiny and insignificant as something happening in Wuhan, China sets off a cascade of unpredictable events that change everything. Did it come from God, the same God who used a tiny, insignificant little baby we would come to know as Jesus could change everything for everyone? Who could have known that tiny embryo would shift time and space to bring forth life, death, love and a global influence all in an instant. Mary Jane Miller was an Artist In Resident Program when she did the work focusing on Art and Humanity.

Art and Humanity

In September and October 2019, I was in Vaughan Park, Auckland, New Zealand through their Artist In Resident Program. The proposal was to paint a series called On Holy Ground. The term of the scholarship allowed me two months to paint an idea and series of icons about God’s love for creation. My wanted to meditate on God’s love that circulates the globe without chaos but with unity.

I did these four images during the Artist In Resident Program, three months before chaos was to circulate around the globe. Motherhood and Mary represents the divine love through which we are all divinely connected. The breath we breath, the air that flows and the space we occupy is given equally to everyone. How can the human species think it can take anything we want from Mother Earth without consequences? The unseen tiny virus woke us up big time to how change comes with chaos.

For me, the most powerful and ironic of the four images was what I call, The Blood Lines. The red lines portray the systematic trade routes used for air travel and transport. Who could have known the folly painting those long graceful lines of red. The series of serendipitous brush stokes in red showed the order before chaos was about to unfurl globally? How could I have known that the image would feel like a prophecy by March of 2020?

Our planet has been given a unique ecological stillness for humanities benefit and growth. We are being forced into to ask who and how we are with our selves and one another and the created order. This well orchestrated global chaos, inviting us to see the unseen, in an invisible organism showing how to change. Do not clutch. Breath in any beauty, thankfulness, wisdom, laughter or grace you can find.

Jesus said more often than anything, “Do Not Be Afraid”.

The balance innate throughout all of creation took billions of years to organize. Humanity is ruining the health and balance on Earth in less than 1,000 years. It is interesting that the virus has stopped humanity, locking ourselves up in the very houses we made and sustain. The natural order is not locked up or effected, only humanity. Our flow of money, banking, consuming, shopping, shipping, creating, travel, etc., were stopped. Do you think humanity has loved the Earth and her creator abundantly? “Let the whole Earth praise the Creator.” Look Now and see the part we each have been playing within her created order.

“Let the Whole Earth Praise the Creator”

There’s a lot wrong and broken with the world – climate change, raging fires, horrid leaders, political insanity, migrations of immigrants, eco disasters, hate run amok, etc., etc. Our societies manufacture for ourselves mindlessly without consequence. Now we’re living through a transition, and change comes with chaos.

From the vantage point of 67 years, I am anxious about how long this may go on and wonder what it’s going to be like on the other side of this astounding situation. Age and time allows me to see the door to the other side and it is wide open and beckoning. Perhaps I will be first to die. I will try to say ‘ADIOS’ with all the dignity I have lived with up till now. Blessings on you and this sacred time of chaos and enjoy the reflection.

I believe there is nothing insignificant about God’s love and tolerance of us. “All will be well and every manner of things will be well”, Julian of Norwich. Let our response to the creator be acceptance and faith without despair.