Friday Morning

Our first full day of conference began with a meditation by Matt Heard. Again, I confess to being less than present but I remember Matt using Authenticity and Hope. Loyd, I think you mentioned how Matt’s talk impressed you, perhaps you or someone else can post on that meditation.

The second event was the Vignette by Jerry and Gloria Jean Pinkney. Jerry is a Caldecott Award winning children’s illustrator and he shared his creative process with us, not only by describing it but by showing slides from drawing to finished work. For me this was one of the most inspirational and worshipful times there. Just being invited into Jerry and Gloria’s process was so enriching. I felt affirmed and challenged in my own process.

One of the striking things Jerry said was that to ‘find the doorway into the picture’ he searched the images in his mind, images by other painters, to find what his inspiration was. He shared some of those artworks and photographs with us and led us from there into his sketch and his final watercolor. I was challenged to remember that I don’t create from nothing, rather I must draw from what exists around me. He mentioned surrounding himself with the inspiring works and not using models but rather inhabiting the characters to bring forth the tension in the scene. The question he asks himself is “What will guide the reader into the climax of the story?

To see the wonderful images from The Old African while his wife sang, “Wade in the Water” seemed so fitting. It’s what I felt like I was doing – wading in the water, ready for immersion.

The second Vignette was Susie Ibarra and Mako Fujimara. I loved the sound of the water spraying on the paper combined with the brass drums. Mako took off his shoes, for what I’m sure was practical reasons, but I was inspired to think of art making as holy ground. And many times throughout the conference Mako challenged us to be under the authority of God while we create and I think he would consider this analogy true.

I felt that Susie and Mako cut their time short in order to make up lost time from the late start. I wondered if Mako was feeling the pressure of both artist and producer (of the event) and the desire to give our coveted keynoter Daniel Libeskind all the time he needed. I sensed this, as someone who works with audiences and has make the weather, the time, the next act, how they are responding, what their needs are much more of a priority than my offering as an artist. I wish we could have been in a space and time where Mako and Susie could have been fully given over to their art. Nonetheless I was moved by Mako’s use of ground precious minerals and so privileged to get a glimpse into his and Susie’s work.