Lenten Series
The Lenten series came about in the 2024 season of Lent. I was asked by Fountain City United Methodist Church in North Knoxville to paint a piece to coincide with a Lenten Study the church was using.
Each painting came from a one-word prompt from the study, which was Lent in Plain Sight by Jill J. Duffield. The one word prompts were as follows: dust, bread, cross, coins, shoes, oil, coats, towels, thorns, and stones.
These works gave me an opportunity to explore and be playful, as it was up to me to think of a concept and how I wanted to show the theme in my competition. In essence, painting this series allowed me to connect with my spontaneity and creativity in a fresh way.
While these works are unique in that they represent the season of Lent in the light of a chosen bible study, they also opened my eyes to the depth, growth, and range in the art I am able to create. I am very proud of this series because these paintings are strong together, yet can stand alone, and it felt truly special to connect to the church and community in this way.
Concept & Process
The overarching idea of Lent in Plain Sight is that the building blocks and symbolism in faith can be found all around us, not just within a church, mosque or synagogue.
Everyday items can serve as profound symbols of the divine, as highlighted by Jill J. Duffield’s exploration of the familiar objects Jesus might have encountered on his journey to Jerusalem. It was important for me to think outside of the box when choosing how to tell the story of each prompt.
Dust & Bread
For “Dust” I wanted to use a small color scheme of blues and golds to paint a celestial hourglass. The imagery of the hourglass speaks to the lives of humans having a beginning and an end on this earth.
In “Bread” I focused on the microcosm of the crumb inside a baked loaf of bread. Bread can be very complex, and making bread can be as varied as one baker is from the next. It was not intentional at first for the bread to look like the rolled away stone of Jesus’s tomb, however, I invited that interpretation.
The Cross
The idea for “Cross” came to me because I had so many directions I wanted to go with that particular prompt that it occurred to me I should make a group of small paintings, all of ordinary objects that one may see in day to day life. I remember as a child noticing how shapes can exist all over the place- the shape of a cross in our homes’ window panes, in the power lines overhead, in the directional bearings of a compass, or in a dogwood blossom.
Coins
I became really invested in the piece “Coins” because I had the idea but no assurance that I could create what I saw in my mind. I wanted to show the dichotomy of money both as means of sustaining life, trade and progress and the root of evil, greed, and corruption. To someone in need of money, it can seem like the most important thing in the world, and coming across enough of it can feel like the weight of the world on one’s shoulders. To those lucky enough to have enough money or excess, it can seem frivolous, like there are as many coins in the bank as there are stars in the sky. Funnily, I invaded all our piggy banks to come up with that many pennies. Trust that was every last penny in the Ullom home at that time!
Shoes
“Shoes” is also a very special piece. I chose to interpret this theme with the roles of parents and children in mind.
I remember that one of the most adorable parts to my children’s outfits when they were little were the tiny shoes they wore. I still love looking at baby shoes when I am out shopping. But the meaning is deeper than just something cute for a toddler to wear.
I love the leadership and the trust in this painting. A mother (or aunt, sister, or friend) gently guides a tiny child as she takes some of her first steps. We leave a legacy for our children and for the families with whom we interact.
Oil
When I was a child I couldn’t help but notice all of the fascinating colors that swirl and gather in parking lot oil slicks. For “Oil” the process of creating an asphalt texture and shimmery layers of oil colors proved to be quite tricky. I used metallic paints, regular acrylic, gel to thicken, and even nail polish.
Coats
“Coats” is a playful take on the nostalgia of paper dolls. I chose this imagery because it is simple imagery, a reduction of the idea of choice. Across economic and class division, some people may have a fashionable coat, a heavy, practical coat, and everything in between. Some people may have one coat or go without that layer of warmth.
Towel
The inspiration for “Towel” came from my own kitchen. I wanted to emphasize the idea behind the study of seeing divine meaning in everyday items. Most of us spend a lot of time in our kitchen, preparing food, cleaning, feeding our families. In a setting of a home, a kitchen towel sees daily use. I wanted to show the connection between daily faith and meditation and ordinary items.
Thorns
The prompt of “Thorns” obviously carries with it a heavy weight, alluding to the thorns piercing Jesus during the crucifixion. I wanted to depart from the heaviness, suffering, and darkness by instead depicting thorns in nature. The antlers of a deer are used for protection, as are the thorns of the rose. There is beauty and majesty carried in both the sharp defenses and the loveliness of flora and fauna.
Stones
I wanted “Stones” to give the viewer a sense of peace and calm. Scriptural references might include “those without sin cast the first stone” or “the stone was rolled away.” In this piece I wanted to bring in the concept of reflection, as the sky reflects in the ripples of the water. The stones represent a path that we travel throughout our lives, discovering and learning how to find peace in a world that is often hard and cruel.
Visual Identity
Creating this series over the course of consecutive weeks is not my typical workflow when painting, and through this different process I learned to judge myself and my ideas less. I learned to lean in even more to the spirit of experimentation and abstraction. Due to this I really enjoyed painting these pieces, though at times the time management was challenging. I also enjoyed painting these live for the congregation to watch and take in as they experienced the church service.
I feel that this collaboration helped bring art as a spiritual practice to the conversation and show the power and impact we have when we participate in art. I am proud of this collection because it allowed me to step outside of the box creatively and go on a journey with the community.
