Genesis - Origin of Creation - Light Drawing

This was the first part of our long series through the Book of Genesis - This week the message focused on God and his creation. The artists of DOMA decided to represent creation through light - more specifically, long exposure light drawings. It might seem like a new idea, but it's been around almost as long as photography. Recently it had been brought back into the mainstream with commercials like Sprint's new campaign. (see video) But, perhaps Picasso was the first to bring it into the mainstream when he was photographed for TIME magazine. (Featured Below)



From a conceptual point of view, drawing with light is not too far off from the sort of way God chose to bring existence into being by simply speaking it. Along those same lines, light drawing is a continuous movement that can only be seen once captured by the camera's lens. A memory of line, a creation of light. Here are the artists both in waiting and action:



It was the first time we had ever done anything like this, both for a creative element in the church as well as the artists themselves. We spent the first night practicing in freezing temperatures in a 100-yard tunnel north of downtown. The process is simple, a camera is placed on a tripod (very important) in a dark place and the exposure time (amount of time the lens is open to allow light in) is set anywhere from 15-30 seconds. (a longer setting can be used but is not ideal because of the amount of light that is exposed) Flashlights or colored LED keychains are then used to draw imaginary shapes or words in the air.



After we were frozen to the core, we decided to call it a night. We then returned the next night, more bundled up and with somewhat of a hold on the process to create elements and words with our flashlights.



Now that we had countless hours of light play documented in photos, we printed a few dozen of our favorites and hung them with clothespins on twine in the foyer, sort of like a darkroom development line.



Here are a few more photos for you to enjoy:

The Jonah Fishbowl

This project was for a short series we did on the Book of Jonah. On each end of the stage was a fish bowl on representing Reno and the other Nineveh. Each had a goldfish, Reno with stones and Nineveh with sand (and cloudy water). Each also had a backdrop of a skyline of their actual landscape.

Here is a photoshop mock-up of the project:



Here is a photo of the $0.25 goldfish at the store, we bought 20 and 19 survived and all were given away after the services.

The Birds of the Air and The Lilies of the Field

These pieces were created for a series within the book of Luke that deals with worry.

This piece was created for a part of the passage dealing with the birds. It shows them not sowing or reaping or storing up in barns and yet our Father in heaven feeds them.

Here are some photos:



The second element to this series was created to go with the image of the lilies of the field. We placed a vase of lilies and some candles in the foyer outside the sanctuary with the words "do not worry" and other elements from the passage.

Here are some photos:

Three Part Canvas

This piece was created to go along with a message on Luke 8. It was a three part canvas painted on plywood. The imagery in the piece goes along with the images in the passage, much more subtly. There are seeds being scattered, birds of the air eating them up, a lamp on a stand, a mother and her son, etc.

Here is a preliminary sketch:



Each piece represents a different part of the trinity. The bottom represents the Father in it's antiquity and wisdom and bold lines. The middle represents the Holy Spirit ith it's free flowing lines and bright colors. Finally, the top represents the Son with it's physical characteristics and vivid imagery.

Here is a photo of the final piece:

Resurrected

For this project we created an image to go along with a message on the resurrection. A box was constructed of plywood and 2x4s to hold sand as the base. Lights and 'blood' stained linens were placed on top of the sand.

Here are some photos:

NOW Baptism

For this project we took our baptismal and decorated it and prepared it for this giving project. The church is in the process of building a larger facility as part of the NOW project. People were given an opportunity to give and put their gifts into the baptismal as a symbolic act.

Here are some photos:

Luke Doves

The beginning of our Luke series started off with this project that featured hundreds of folded doves, hanging from the ceiling in the hall and some scattered on the stage in the sanctuary. A large doves was painted and cut out of plywood and hung center stage. The idea was the dove representing the holy spirit and how it descended on Jesus during his baptism.

Here are some photos:

Light Box

For this series we used a light box and displayed it in the foyer outside the sanctuary. Each week the images would change according to that week's message.

Here are some images:

Jesus Sheet

This project was done to go with a message of Jesus' return and carrying your own cross. The overall idea was seeing Jesus in a new way.

A large frame was constructed out of 2x4's and a white bed sheet was stretched across it and stapled to the sides, like a large mock canvas.

The images were sketched on the back with chalk and then during the performance were painted from the back as the paint bled through the sheet and appeared on the canvas before the audience. For the first two images, the canvas was on it's side, after a while the rest of the canvas was filled in and then turned 90 degrees to reveal the face of Jesus.

3-4 artists painted from behind as the sermon was being preached.

Here are some preliminary images:





Here is a short time-lapse video from YouTube:

Hypocrisy

This project was created to go together with a message on hypocrisy.

Luke 11:46 - And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

An action figure was purchased and painted and given a large ball of 'burdens' with ropes and chains. He was attached to a base and given a small plaque with the verse.

Here are some images: