Update from Gary
Wow what a weekend in NYC,
Via Affirmativa held its first art slam in NYC this past weekend and it was a superb time. Friday evening we hosted a gathering of around 35 fellow art makers in a gallery in “The Village” on Bleeker Street.
The evening included three short films made by recent and current students from the Tisch School of Arts. Then we had several singer songwriters perform new pieces of work. I shared a few thoughts on excellence in the arts. The evening concluded with a fabulous 45 minute jazz session with Victor Lin on Piano and Tyler Schwartz on the Alto Sax. They brought the house down.
Saturday morning we reconvened and watched the Liviu Mocan Film followed by a conversation on excellence. Then we heard from Allen Wolf who is currently in LA. Allen has just finished his first feature length film called “In My Sleep” (check it out here). It was exciting to hear his passion and pursuit of excellence. After Allen we listened to Corey Mills from Minneapolis as he shared about the journey of forming a dance and theater company (check out Spark Theater). Then Lauren Fanklin shared about her experience as a Cellist in Russia for the past year lastly, Elizabeth Webb shared about her journey in NYC from acting to Film making.
The morning was a stimulating time as we explored the meaning of becoming Kingdom of God oriented art makers. Saturday afternoon we divided up into small groups and worked on our art. Jonathan Cowan and I spent the afternoon in Washington Park drawing and talking and painting (and unfortunately listening to a very bad harmonica musician singing over and over “come on baby rock my boat.” By the end I was hoping his boat would sink or at least take on water).
Saturday night we had a BBQ feast at the home of Judith Ferrenbach in Brooklyn. On Sunday morning a few of us met for breakfast and we saw that as group there was a sense of ownership in the movement and so the idea of Via Affirmativa is moving ahead and I’m sure in the next few months the dialogue will continue. Michael Wisniewski has developed an intriguing concept for a VAF film on excellence. Stay tuned.
Gary Bradley for the NYC gang
September 27th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Sorry this is a little late. Wow, what a great weekend! (in NYC) It was very inspiring getting together with everyone and it gave me a lot to think about. It was wonderful to see art from everyone as well. What influenced me, or I should say hit me the most, is the constant struggle between being all that God has created us to be through our artwork and working our regular “job” to survive. I am sure all of us would love nothing more than to make a great living at doing what we love to do without any distractions. But at the same time I also know that God has placed me at my “job” for a reason. But I feel sometimes as if I am going to burst at the seams if I can’t find more time to create.
Another thing holding me back is fear. As a model/actress I’m scared of being pushed into doing something I don’t want to do. Not that I ever have. But it gets difficult and tiring to explain to my agent why I wont be on a particular show, because it’s too sexual, or why I wont wear a certain outfit on the runway because it exposes too much. Or dealing with slimy agents who continuously hit on you even though you have told them a million times you have a boyfriend. I feel as if sometimes it takes so much effort to stick up for my beliefs.
Thankfully, I still have other ways to express myself. I help Elizabeth, my roommate on the Ruby and Lilly video projects. Or assist Michael, my boyfriend with his photography and videography. Or even just taking my own photographs and painting.
This weekend really got me thinking that I have no need to be afraid when I am put into these circumstances. I have done o.k. so far. I may not be a supermodel but at least I can say God has always given me the strength to say no if needed.
It was also very interesting to hear that many other Christian artists are having difficulty dealing with their motivation after becoming a Christian. I used to have a very fierce motivation that became tunnel vision in pursuit of my goals. But I was living for myself. I feel as if I used to go 100 miles per hour and now I feel sometimes as if I am puttering up a hill. What used to drive me now is gone. I felt as if I was the only one who had felt that way. It was very encouraging to know that I was not alone in this struggle.
Since the VAF Art Slam all I can think about is creating. I have been taking photographs like crazy for a project I am working on to show at next year’s VAF conference. I spent the weekend with Michael taking photographs to update my model portfolio! And I’ve been helping Elizabeth shoot the next Ruby & Lilly project.
Thank you so much to everyone especially Gary for putting this all together and for everyone’s encouraging words. I hope to see all of you in Colorado next year!
Gods peace, Anna Christine Barthman