Worship,
Music, and the Arts
The Worship, Music, and the Arts Ministry at Ascension
celebrates art as a gift of God and an expression of faith. This ministry
invites, schedules and manages concerts and gallery art shows, establishing
Ascension as a center for the arts in the community. The excellent acoustics,
state of the art sound and lighting equipment, organ and concert grand piano,
and unique building design makes Ascension a venue of choice for our
community’s most prestigious artists and music ensembles.
Shown here are the most recent commissioned works of art in the Ascension
gallery. Several have been sponsored by a grant from the Calvin Institute of
Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan with funds provided by Lilly
Endowment, Inc., entitled Transformation Through Imagination, through which artists from
the community are invited to collaborate with Ascension members to interpret the
Gospel through art.
Communion
ware presented June 17, 2007
Luke
7:36-50
Worship
leader Katie Adelman dedicated the set of four sets of Chalice and
Paten created by potter Farraday Newsome. Two sets depict butterflies,
a Christian symbol for transformation. Two sets depict leaves and
grapes, representing the organic nature of bread and wine. Inspired
by Luke 7:36-50, the collaborative team and artist focused on what they
felt to be most essential; gathering around the Table of the Lord to receive
God's unconditional forgiveness and sustaining love.
|
|
Baptismal
Font presented June 10, 2007
John
3:1-17
Metal
forger Michael Sobrado created this steel and glass Baptismal Font, an
artistic rendering illustrating the growth and maturity born
through daily renewal of our baptismal promises. The angled arms preserve
the pentagonal features of Ascension's architecture. The vines, fashioned from
oiled bronze, symbolize growth as the smaller leaves at the
bottom develop into mature leaves at the top. The bowl is made of 3/4 inch
molded glass.
|
|
Graphic
Design presented June 3, 2007
|
Matthew
28:16-20
Graphic
artist Dana Ball created this three-part colorful interpretation of the
Holy Trinity. The three words - Create, Embody, Transform - are visual
symbols that represent the work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This
triptych introduces Ascension's new Vision Statement: To
Create...to Embody...to Transform - encouraging all who encounter
Ascension's ministry to respond to the Great Commission described in
Matthew 28. |
Photography
- Triptych presented April 22, 2007
|
John
21:1-19
The
photography of artist Laura Siivola depicts three stages of Spiritual
growth inspired by John 21:1-19. The left photo represents our early
faith formation when we take those first, fragile steps toward
obedience. The colorful blossom in the center photo symbolizes
human potential to love others as God loves us. And the right photo
suggests mature faith that endures through life's challenges,
demonstrating the gifts of faith to the next generation. |
Carved
Wooden Mask presented January 18, 2007
|
Colossians
1:15-23
Mask Maker Zarco Guerrero responded to the
collaborative conversation with this interpretation; a mahogany carved face that
is at once male and female, sad and joyful, an expression of any culture or
period of time. Wearing the face of ancient wisdom and weaving stories of the
history of God’s people in the Southwest, Zarco’s masks unmask our strengths
and weaknesses as we become the face of God to our neighbor.
|
|
Glass
Art Neckpiece presented December 17, 2006
|
Luke
1:39-56
Laurie
Nessel, art instructor at Mesa
Center for the Arts, created this unusual and complex
necklace celebrating the joy of motherhood and the wonder of ‘being pregnant
with promise.’ Each facetted glass bead reflects light from the inside
out, causing the eye to look past the rough brown exterior to the polished
and colorful center.
|
|
Painting
presented October 1, 2006
|
Matthew 6:25-33
Local artist Jana
Peterson assisted collaborative team members to this bold and colorful
interpretation of Matthew 6:25-33. This mural size painting reflects the eastern
sky at sunrise and the familiar McDowell range of mountains. The desert valley
is filled with millions of flowers and birds. The desert lily and the
hummingbird in the foreground celebrate the detail, intricate beauty, and
miraculous care God lavishes on every living thing.
|
 |
Noah's
Ark Sculpture Dedicated 9/15/02
Member artist Jana Peterson has created
an interactive painting for
children in our congregation. Commissioned by the Arts and
Faith Ministry Team for the Children’s
Ministry program, the painting has movable animals, birds, and Noah and
his wife – designed to allow children to hear or tell the story in
creative ways. Currently hung in Fellowship Hall, the painting is the
second commissioned work of art as we build Ascension’s permanent
collection. The painting was dedicated to the Glory of God on
September 15, 2002.
More
Photos of Noah's Ark sculpture
Memorial
Garden Sculpture dedicated 5/12/02
|
|
ASCENSION’S
FIRST MEMORIAL GARDEN SCULPTURE was
dedicated on Ascension Sunday, May 12, 2002. This graceful work of art, sculpted by local artist Jon DeCelles from
white marble with silver-grey veins, sits on a boulder especially selected
to serve as its pedestal. Titled
“Ascension”, the work symbolizes Christ ascending into Heaven and serves
as a reminder that our loved ones have also ascended into Heaven to be with
God for eternity. The piece was
commissioned as a memorial for Tom Doench by the Doench family.
Statue
installation
Memorial
Garden information
|
HOME
