I was given a challenge several weeks ago to come up with an artistic creative element to do during a church service.  I remembered about two years ago, I had seen some motion sand art created on a light table with a camera mounted above it.  As I started fantasizing about doing that myself, I started bringing in other objects like colored glass and string.  I’m not sure when I mentally poured the sand out, but my idea was to use the light table with 3 dimensional objects, bringing an altered art concept to the table.  Here’s a video of the motion art, however the music isn’t perfectly synced on the first song.  Video is obviously not my strongest art form.  ;)  [the video will not play on mobile devices]

3D motion art to Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) & Stronger

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gCC_lAKPfM

So what does this have to do with my ‘no retail shopping’ challenge?  A lot.  When I started the challenge almost a year ago, I said I would need to be able to shop at work if I was told to do so.  I had to get all of the supplies for this project, including the light table.  Of everything needed to create this, I bought 2 things, one of them outside of the challenge, but it was for work.

The light table. I bought the light table used off of craigslist.  Not only did we save hundreds of dollars, I met a really cool artist, Milan, and he gave me some of his art ‘scraps’ to use for the project.

Laser transparencies. This is the one thing I had to purchase, for work, but not without looking at other options.  I had every intention of creating the lyrics on graphics using an acrylic transfer process.  Throughout the challenge I’ve blogged about the timing on things.  If you’re not in a hurry, you will be able to save money, think of creative ways to use what you have available and not collect more material goods in the process.  This is the prime example of running out of time.  The acrylic would have worked, and it would have stylistically fit in better, hoever I ran out of time.  Cha-ching!

Media. I used many types of media for this, all borrowed or donated.  I chose the song Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) mostly because it’s one of my favorites, but more so for the image of grace, given freely by God as a gift to us.  My idea was to use scraps, random objects and different textures to create something beautiful.  Trust me when I say this process took a while, but it was good.

Stained glass was my first choice, although I had no experience using it.  The Wrights gave me this giant bin of stained glass over a year ago and I finally got to put it to good use.  The crosses were easy to cut, but the hearts were a whole different story.  I gouged my finger making these, and the scar will probably be better than the scrap metal dumpster diving one from 4 years ago.  I was more worried about cutting myself during the service on the waves for the flood.  I stacked the glass into piles, making it easier to work with, but the unexpected bass levels ‘leveled’ my glass.  I practiced many times and did 3 services without any accidents.

Tissue paper, fabric and ribbons brought in more color and texture.  These are also good for movement.  Somewhere in the middle of the process, I decided to cover the board with some cream-colored tissue paper to tone down the stark white and add a nice paper texture, as if it would be an actual painting.  All of the fabric and ribbons were borrowed from my neighbor Carrie.

Objects and other media were brought in to create scenes.  The sun (which brought in first on the stage performances) was made out of a glass light lens and molded wire.  The tree was made from wire like that found on bread wrappers.  The earth was made from torn tissue paper.  The dichroic glass was donated, the key was in my ‘fodder box’ and the lock was inside a bookcase we purchases for the church future resource center.  The beads and giant cross were borrowed from Shannon, who has a room full of supplies that would be considered heaven for any project like this.

The chains were used to show our freedom, as used in the song lyrics.  The little peace signs represent the peace we feel once accepting God’s grace.  The broken hearts used to show how God can pick up the pieces and make it into something beautiful.

This was a great worship moment for me personally, and I hope for many others.  This is just the beginning…