The Fringes of God’s Greatness:
The FBC Art Show 2010

by Beth Dunston

On August 29, 2010, the First Baptist Church Special Studies Bible Study class played host to a unique event which collected and displayed the work of church members and other local artists and craftsmen. The Art Show was inspired by the bestseller Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent, the inspirational story of the friendship between an art dealer and a homeless man. After the class began discussing the book, Kim Williams, class moderator, said the class was inspired to reach out to local artists, a venture which unearthed talent and creativity in unexpected places.

The FBC Art Show attracted over 47 local artists. Some were well-known in the local art world, including Stan West, J. Don Faulkner, Charles Widener, Marilyn Teague, and Wayne Hensley. However, many pieces were produced by area children, including a carefully sculpted nativity set by Tanner and Tyler Bryant, and a series of digital works by Lylah and Selena Mattingly. An eye-catching series of chalk pieces, created by the FBCW Big Picture Youth in response to Job 26:14, “These things are but the fringes of His greatness,” caught a common theme of the event.

Lee Bryant, local businessman and Special Studies class member, mused that “all artists are spiritual in some way.” Many artists agreed that the act of creation is a spiritual experience. Local painter Sam Aday, said his works are created “out of memory.” Other artists paint landscapes which only exist in their own minds, such as the idyllic works of FBCW member Mike Ward.

Other artists gain unique inspiration from their natural environment, as shown by Charles Widener’s artistry. The raw materials for Widener’s work include twisted briar roots, squirrel bones, and sassafras stumps, which the sculptor transforms into wildly creative sculptures and smooth bowls carved out by hand.

Art is always deeply personal. Cortney Moses’ intimate piece of photography chronicled the death of her grandmother. Her hanging sculpture, Creek, one of the centerpieces of the Art Show, presented Moses’ vision of what Jellico Creek looked like as it wound around her family’s farm, sculpted in tobacco stalks delicately woven together to create a piece as ever-changing as a creek bed.

The most surprising and satisfying pieces were from church and community members who had never before exhibited their art. Who knew Chuck Dupier was so practiced in the fine art of pen-turning? Or that Donna Mauney created beautiful jewelry, or that Hayley Harris snapped professional-quality portraits? Or Janice Adkins produced such gorgeous smocking? Whether it is an imaginary dreamscape, a portrait of grief, or the work of a child, the sharing of art is one of the most intimate forms of fellowship.

Sam Aday marveled at the turnout. “I didn’t know there were this many artists in the area.” Josh Prewitt, a first time exhibitor, was surprised by the size of the event. “I didn’t realize it was going to be this big,” he stated.

The children who attended were inspired by what they saw. They were given the opportunity to create crayon drawings, which were hung from a clothesline for display. Another outlet for artistic inspiration was the Graffiti board, which asked guests to write or draw ways they could “make a difference.” The two white canvases now filled with thoughts, suggestions and pictures from an entire community, will hang in the Special Studies classroom.

The class encouraged guests to bring canned goods for the Food Pantry and aluminum cans for recycling with funds going to the Benevolence Fund, highlighting other ministries of First Baptist Church.

The Art Show highlighted established, undiscovered and budding talent in a wide range of artists and pieces. The fact that so many church and community members who had never before shown their art brought their craftsmanship to the CLC is a reminder of our church family and community’s trust in the unconditional love and acceptance of FBCW as a fellowship of Christian believers. It highlighted the power of love, of faith, and of the privileged and divine gift of emulating God through the act of creation.