Easter Project 1: Adam vs. Jesus

So the basic idea behind this one was to visually represent the differences between our life in Adam, and our life in Christ. We bought OGB particle board from Home Depot. It's about 8 bucks a sheet...very cheap. Then we traced my friend Dave, and jigsawed out the figures, leaving a foot or so on the bottom as a stand.


We sanded the sharp edges a bit, then we painted the wood a primer white so the images would have a smoother surface to stick to. Got the paint off of the "returned paint rack" at Home Depot. That rack is a true treasure-finding-spot. Use it.


Then we hit Flikr and some amateur photography sites with creative commons licenses (so that we could use the images legally) and found pictures portraying pain, hurting, hunger, death etc...The images were in some cases placed for content, and others for form/shape.
The Adam chest shot:


And then pictures of new life, hope, joy, peace, light, etc...Again form was considered. Notice the sunrise that becomes a ribcage/inside edge of the arm.
The Jesus chest shot.


That's all. As a sidenote, Wal-mart does some pretty good/cheap finished photos for these sort of things. The images come out better than most color printers, and have a nice matte sheen. Lastly, I thought I would include a picture of my favorite Creative Team contributors.

(From right to left:) Kristine, Liz, and Dwight.

Easter is coming...

We've got some good stuff lined up and being created now for the Easter services...Remember to bring your friends and family this weekend!
DZ

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DZ

LS Element "Worry" Part 2

LS Core Values Paintings

Below are the Core Value Paintings from Living Stones; truth, mission, worship and community. these are displayed every week at Living Stones large group gatherings.






HOW'D WE DO IT:
The canvasses were primed tan, then painted with discount returned paint from Home Depot the light brown color. We then traced and cut out a butcher paper stencil for the "splatter". With the stencil down, we spray-painted the outside with black and dark brown fading out. Then using leftover light brown paint, added the drips. Then projected the main images on the canvas and painted them white.

We used eye-hooks and hanging wire to put them up on the wall. That's it!

Luke Series Launch: The Doves

Doves on stage...


Doves in the foyer...


More doves in the foyer...


Large wooden dove hung over the drums center stage.

LS Element "Worry" from Feb 10th. 2008

from luke 12... 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. WHAT'D WE DO:
Pretty simple. We bought some lilies, some opened, others closed. Strips of paper with "consider the lilies" printed on them and submerged in the water of the vase. Lighting drew atttention for pre and post-service crowd. Not subtle, but a good fit for the evening.

Reggae

Two nights ago I was attending my dear friend Tim's birthday party. Tim is the guitarist for Anchordown. I met a woman attending the party, who told me over chips and dip that reggae music makes her "happy". As she said the word "happy", she put her hand out. Laying it flat she swept it across the space between us as if she was petting the back of an imaginary dog.

Last night, Anchordown led worship with my favorite gathering, Living Stones. After the 5pm service, a man approached me and said;

"I finally bought an Anchordown CD, and it's been in my truck for the last 2 weeks. I know you probably wonder whether what you do has any effect, but I wanted to tell you that every time I listen to your album, God brings me back down, back to where I need to be."

As he said that last phrase, he put his hand out. Laying it flat he swept it across the space between us, as if petting an imaginary dog.

His kind remarks were deeply affirming, and yes I do wonder those things. I didn't realize it at the time, but his words would stay with me the rest of the evening. It's a statement that sounds weird, and the two options are certainly not mutually exclusive, but I think I would rather have God bring me to where I need to be, than be "happy".

The deepest happiness (or joy as I prefer to use) is found in and through Him (Romans 5:1-3). Reggae or rock, merely 2 options out of millions including polka, mowing the lawn, and feeding the hungry, can only be means by which God authors that connection with Him, thus causing joy. I guess that makes sense, because human happiness, blades of grass, as well as music, were His original ideas.

DZ

Traitor Joe

Art made by Christians (music, print, digital etc...) reminds me of Trader Joes. Let me explain.

Trader Joe's essentially sells products that are healthier versions of things we all know and love. This morning I had "Trader O's", a somehow more natural version of Cheerios. They don't taste that great. It's not that they're bad, they just aren't as good as the original.

I think art in Christian circles is a lot like that. It's supposed to be better for you, but often, it doesn't taste, look or sound as good.

I know about a dozen causal reasons, but the observation still stands.

DZ

Emotion and Truth

Music and emotions are strongly tied together. No one questions that, but why is that true? Why has God linked auditory sensory with our emotive response? Emotion rooted in truth can be life-changing. Memories are heightened, decisions are sured. And yet, the danger is always lurking that the object of our worship will lose out to the means. To put it another way; worshipping worship itself.

An example: God can feel far away. This is spiritually and physically impossible as He is omnipresent. And so the clashing of truth and feeling. BUT, there may be some truth in the fact that we are not living in the Spirit and so have squelched His desire to move in our lives.

More on this later...

DZ