Notice that He's wearing a cross. Susy (the artist) and I are discussing whether this is good or not. She says in "feels right" because she always imagines God and the cross together. Others have suggested that for humans the cross is a symbol of hope but for God is a symbol of suffering. It's a deep question, theologically: what is God's relationship to the cross?
-t
6 comments:
It seems to me that here our issue is not theological but artistic. Can't articulate, but this cross seems kind of dinky & necklacey. Nice cat, though! Keep the cat.
I think that the cross is too much. When you look at the outstretched arms of God you have the cross already there--it brings to mind the prayer for the mission of the church in the American BCP.
bill hicks talked about this in his stand-up routine.
The face of God the Father is so much more successful as executed than in the original concept drawing (that is posted on the COTM website)! It's His eyes making contact with the eyes of one of the adorers that does it for me. Also the more open hand position. Last night I suddenly found my self imagining God greeting me that way, as I tried to settle in for prayer.
Congratulations, Susy!
Maybe it's just me, but the cross is of secondary consideration. The main issue would seem to be depicting God the Father as an old white man.
It's not just you, Billy, this was definitely a thing we thought about. God is beyond gender, of course, but image of God as "Father" does have a long and biblical precedent. Unfortunately, there is also a long and biblical precedent of God as "Mother" that has been suppressed--I'm an advocate for using both! But for this mural I had to use the visual language that is most relevant to this congregation. Shifting that image to something more accurate (i.e. God-beyond-gender) is a long and gradual process that is more than just education or exposure: we're talking about spiritual growth and discernment...
-t
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