Artist

I am currently working as an artist. I make installations often using sound and sculpture to effect a situation and those that enter it. I work part time in a library as well as in my studio.

It is really hard to juggle studio time with work, with visiting galleries, with keeping up friendships and serving at church, but I believe that art is an intensely valuable way to communicate with the world and therefore a fantastic opportunity for Christians to speak, shout or sing to the world about our Father in Heaven and his virtues. I believe this means we will have a voice that is markedly distinct from the cacophony of other preachers in the art world, and this fantastic sense of purpose helps me continue in my work. I also love making art, I love looking at things and making things; I love playing with ideas and turning them on their head and this is also why I continue making art.

At college I learnt a lot about art history and theory and philosophy. It was sometimes really hard to work out, personally and in discussions, how Jesus was relevant to all this new learning. I was greatly helped, however, by having a small group of Christian friends in college and others at church. We talked through the issues that were important to us, read books together and chatted to older Christians. We also studied the bible together so that our view of God was ever increasing as well as our view of the world. I continue to do all these things because I still find them incredibly valuable in keeping me focused and motivated. Huge encouragement also comes from seeing my contemporaries persevering in producing art that is innovative, thoughtful and provocative; it’s great to be able to say they really are doing this.

As a student now, be encouraged to know that you are studying what and where and with whom as part of God’s great plan, so you can be sure that He will be your strength and your guide as you seek to serve him in all situations you find yourself in.