Newsglance: Brave Art

by Dr Richard Evans

The lady at the front of the little gathering gave everyone a blank sheet of paper. She told us to stare at the paper, and try to identify what it was that most came between us and God. It was early in my faith journey, and I had not been to this particular church before. I had hesitated at the door, as I had many times before, at the doors of many other churches – hesitated and, often, turned away.

I looked at the paper, and in my mind’s eye I saw a door. It was a door I wanted to pass through, but was prevented by ... yes, that was it. It was fear that stood between me and God.

Fear, not of God but of people: of those already in the church, who might think me an intruder, and of those outside it who might think me ridiculous.

It was a small watershed moment on my journey to embracing Christ. Being set free - from the fear of looking stupid, of speaking up, of what people might think – has been one of the richest gifts I have received on this journey.

It is the cry of joy in Psalm 34:

I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.

It is also the words of Jesus. Again and again, particularly in Matthew’s gospel, he tells the uncertain, the timid, the despairing: ‘fear not’. Have faith in God, believe in me, follow me, and don’t worry what other people think or say or do.

When, years later, I found my own faith community, I encouraged them to conquer one of their own personal inner fears – the fear of expression through art.

I had been inspired by some friends who told me about Cityside, a Baptist Church in Auckland, whose members had created an exhibition that ran through Holy Week. I immediately thought that this could work at our church. It was a way to harness our creativity, work together on a group project and build out trust and faith together. And so in 2008, our very own Stations of the Cross Prayer Labyrinth and Art Exhibition was born.

We are a self-limiting society. We are conditioned – men especially – not to express ourselves. To be an audience passively watching a small elite of the talented and trained, whether in art, sport or community life.

But one of the things I love about the Baptist faith is the trust it places in ordinary people. How it encourages and values the contributions of every one of us.

God gives all of us talents, and very often these are undeveloped, suppressed by a conformist society, or just neglected in the busyness of life. But at the core, what prevents most of us from expressing ourselves, through art or anything else, is fear. ‘It won’t be any good’, actually means ‘other people might not like it’. But it is perfectly possible to create moving and beautiful works of art without having any particular technical skill.

As I encouraged members of the congregation to believe in this truth, amazing things happened. Over the last two Easters, revelations have come from suburban homes – paintings, mosaics, sculptures, multimedia displays, a poem, an extraordinary quilted manikin, a banner, jewelry, and an old wardrobe painted on all four sides. Children have been enthusiastic participants, and have contributed some wonderful works, too.

Not only have the works been breathtaking, it has been wonderful to watch people who don’t think of themselves as artistically talented take pride in the works they have created. The exhibition has also brought many strangers to our church. We offer the chance for people to write about their reactions, and many people do take the trouble – sometimes writing at great length. But of all the responses we have had over the past two years, the one which has touched me most was only three words long: moved and confused. I don’t know who wrote it, or whether he or she was a Christian. But moved and confused was how I felt in that little church when the lady asked us to stare at a piece of paper. My hope is that Stations of the Cross 2010 will help some people on their personal journeys, will help them hear the Spirit say: Fear not.

Stations of the Cross 2010 Prayer Labyrinth and Art Exhibition will be open to the public on the evenings of Tuesday 30th March to Thursday 1st April, and on the morning of Good Friday, 2nd April, West Preston Baptist Church, corner Gilbert Road and Cramer Street, Preston. For more information, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr Richard Evans is Lecturer in Australian Studies at La Trobe University, and a member of West Preston Baptist Church who was baptised last December.