Chris Lucas writes…
Defining Mona Lisa — a personal reflection
This week is ART WEEK. Art and creativity comes in all shapes and forms. I can put a cake together, create a gorgeous room by putting a paint brush in my husband’s hand, then after the new colour has graced the wall, push and pull some furniture, change the position of ornaments and urns and finally, throw a few new cushions on the lounge suite. I’m not a wonderful arty painter but I have contributed something to art week, the first acrylic canvas I have ever done. It started out as “Queensland’s Glasshouse Mountains”, but I call it “Somewhere in Zimbabwe”.
As a child I loved dolls. I still love dolls. I have several dolls in my possession I had always hoped I could pass on to my daughter. Unfortunately I have a problem. She hates dolls. In fact when she comes to stay, she hides them away in a wardrobe so that she can’t see them “staring” at her. When I became a mother, I loved having my own real life doll and treated each of my three children as such until someone once wisely said to me that I couldn’t put them away in a china cabinet but needed to nurture and release them so that they could become who God created them to be.
This brings me to art. The medium you use artistically can vary from canvas, clay, paper, metal or something else. To create a canvas image, brushing is required or for a sculpture, some chiselling. Diamond cutting is an art, the science of changing a rough stone into a faceted gem, requiring specialised knowledge and skill. An uncut diamond shows nothing of the fine optical qualities observed after it has been in the hands of a skilled diamond cutter.
Motherhood is a form of art. Each woman brings her special experiences and values, a style of her own birthed from her unique personality when raising her child. A mother creates the most extraordinary important artwork of her life. I didn’t learn about mothering by reading a book; there wasn’t a manual. There are no ‘do’s and don’ts’ that apply across the board. When God reached out to me, I responded and He changed my life. He began a work of art within me which permeated into everything about my life. It changed my vision, it gave me a new perspective on mothering and it is an art form like no other. As a mother, you are working with a person, a little person who has his or her own needs and drives, regardless of what you want.
When you see my painting on the wall, you may wonder why I submitted it. I did so because my greatest work of art is a living work, in the form of my children and grandchildren. They are my gems, who along with my husband John, form our family. One of God’s masterpieces is the family and I am grateful that I have been given the privilege of expressing my unique art form as a mother. The honing, brushing, polishing and chiselling of my unique mediums has been satisfying.
MONDAY 4th
Community Worship
PRIOR APPOINTMENT!
Visit the chapel anytime Monday through Wednesday for a self-guided time of prayer and reflection. Follow the instruction with the display.
TUESDAY 5th
Community Worship
11:15am-12pm
Facilitated by Mark Pierson
...a special art-themed community worship
After Dinner Mints
Nathan King
Nathan has been a singer/songwriter since his mid teens and has been the lead voice for the band Zed and now has a solo career. He has toured widely with international musicians, recently returning to NZ. Nathan is also known for his worship songwriting and has often been involved in events such as Parachute Festival and the Noise conference.
WEDNESDAY 6th
Carey Prayer in the Chapel
12:40-1:00pm
Praying for the college, community, country and people.
PRIOR APPOINTMENT THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
"Things don't depend on miraculous events, so much as miraculous changes of heart."
ART WEEK
4-8 August 2008
As you move around the college this week you will find a range of different artwork that students and staff and a number of others have submitted for you to enjoy.
Celebrate the diversity of talent that’s amongst this community and beyond. Track down the artist and interact with him/her on their creation.
MISSION OF THE WEEK
Mission of the week for the Centre For Intercultural Studies this week will be Wycliffe with displays and information. Make sure you take a look some time during the week from Monday.
WAYNE WRIGHT CREATIVE MINISTRIES SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship is a grant of up to $5000 to be used in 2009 in creative ministries. If you are interested or know of others who may be interested please contact Rachel for an application form and details (rachel.murray@carey.ac.nz ).
Application deadline is Friday 26 September.
CAFÉ THEOS
Monday 11 August
1.00 – 1.30pm
Come hang out in the dining room as members of the staff discuss/debate the moot: Allah is God.
BYO lunch and enjoy! There will be brief opportunity for questions.
“ASHES”...a morning of gut busting sport!
Tuesday 12 August; 9:30am
“Strap on ya sneakers, whip on ya jock strap and meet us all in the dining room at 9:30am for a bit of morning tea, then the competition will begin!
Volleyball, table tennis and indoor bowls but I also hear rumours of giant chess men, croquet, coin rugby and many other secrets we can’t tell you now!
There’ll be prizes for the best dressed, most wet, and you know what. So come along and get involved in a bit of sport to start ya day (good for the brain!). The we will have hamburgers for lunch. Yea man!”
From your friendly and enthusiastic, Jared Diprose!
NB: Usual Formation Tuesday activities will be cancelled for that week with the exception of Speakers Corners at 9am which will still take place.
Thanks to the Student Association team for overseeing this morning.
WAREHOUSE STATIONERY REMINDER
Do remember that by showing your Carey ID card at Warehouse Stationery next door you are entitled to a 10% discount. However please ensure that you pay for these at the time. These purchases should not be put on the Carey account even if the staff there ask this. Thanks
RECYCLING BINS
Please a reminder that the big blue lidded wheelie bins outside the kitchen (any recycling ones inside the kitchen) are for recycling only...not for food scraps! Not fun for someone to wade their way through to sort it otherwise!
CAREY E-NEWS
Each month the ‘Carey e-news’ goes to ~200 people particularly beyond Carey but also to a number currently connected. If you’d like to receive this e-news on things happening at Carey please email Rachel on rachel.murray@carey.ac.nz with ‘subscribe’ in the subject line—you’ll get the next one in August!
TECHNICAL ISSUES
We are very aware that there have been a number of problems with internet access in the Library over recent weeks. This has been a problem that affects general internet, careyonline and is also affecting the staff network. It is proving complicated to resolve entirely but there are outside people working on this. Please continue to bear with us.