The Faith and the Arts Committee (formerly the Visual Arts Committee) of Central UMC believes that God calls us to express our love of him in every way possible. We also believe that there are diverse ways of experiencing the Divine. We see the visual arts as a medium which can motivate dialogue, encourage understanding, and provide comfort to creators and viewers of art, all of which may serve to stimulate and enhance spiritual growth.

Church Street Gallery

The visual arts gallery of Central UMC will provide our church community with opportunities for evangelism, education, spiritual growth and reflection. Initially we will seek out local and regional artists for submission. There will be at least six shows a year which will help the members of Central and our larger community experience and connect more deeply with God. This gallery will enhance our observation of the liturgical seasons of the Christian year and the various ministry areas of our church. Overall the gallery will broaden our conception of the Divine as it adds a visual dimension to our church experience.

What We Do:

Create visual displays to enhance Central UMC’s worship services
Curate the Church Street Gallery outside of the sanctuary and chapel
Serve as a visual arts resource to other groups in the church
Seek to beautify the interior of the church building

*Join us for our next Faith and the Arts Committee meeting

We meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 3pm in the conference room of our church. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AN ARTIST TO JOIN US. If you have any questions, please reach out to Hugh Meyer at popmeyer3@gmail.com.

“Beauty is always available. It is there to be attended to, and art is our human response to whatever we see as beautiful. Not the kind of beauty we might call pretty or decorative–it can be strong, shocking, confusing, boundary-breaking, thrusting forward in experimental ways–but beauty that most often reflects glory, the glory of our God who created us with the capacity for recognizing, responding, and receiving beauty through the work of artists.”

**–from the Foreward by Luci Shaw to For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts by W. David O. Taylor**

Congregational Art Exhibit

Central’s Faith and the Arts Committee will be hosting its fourth congregational art exhibit in November and December. We are looking for a variety of art, including ceramics, photography, fiber art, paintings, and metal work. This exhibit is open to all Central family members. Full information can be found under the Faith and the Arts tab on Central’s website and at the church reception desk. If you would like to participate, please contact Mary Ann Wansong (wansongma@charter.net) or Alexandra Holland (alexandra@wncnature.com) by Wednesday, October 25. Works will be on exhibit from November 1 – January 9. We’d love to see your best talent on display in the Church Street Gallery!