READ Luke 1:67-80
FROM THE ARTIST | Hannah Garrity
This painting engages the flow of Zechariah’s prophecy. I painted in oil on canvas; the copper leaf represents God’s healing love. Copper has qualities that interact with its surroundings. When coiled, it can harness electricity out of thin air. When used in body wrapping, it can support internal self-repair. When used in pots and pans, it disperses heat evenly. When used in the womb, it causes the blood to flow monthly. When used in piping, it allows clean water to flow.
Over the years, I have been drawn to taking away plastics in my artwork. It is not always possible because acrylic paint and PVC pipe are such accessible media. But the natural materials draw me in physically, emotionally. In my work, I return to copper to hold banners up, to build sculpture, to create motion, and to capture light in an installation. It is a natural material that is prevalent in buildings. You can buy it at your local hardware store.
Here, the copper represents aspects of discipleship. It represents the presence of God in our lives and our actions—the presence of God in Zechariah’s prophecy and in John’s life and work.
The image is inspired by waters meeting one another. This intersecting flow portrays Zechariah’s words meeting John the Baptist’s life. It is a crashing toward, a central meeting place, a potential energy meeting a kinetic being.
Holy Mother, your love is mighty—more powerful than all of the forces that act to barricade justice, to block righteousness. Guide us like you guided Zechariah in your ways of peace, in your strength of courage, in your acts of love. Amen.
Pray: Breathe deeply as you gaze upon the image above. Imagine placing yourself in this scene. What do you see? How do you feel? Get quiet and still, offering a silent or spoken prayer to God.
reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art
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