Grieved
16" x 20"
Acrylic Paint, plaster, resin

THE THOUGHT BEHIND THE PAINTING:  While seeking to ease potential misunderstandings to hanging an exhibit featuring tattoo art, I sought the wisdom and council of several pastors.  After one particular conversation my heart grieved.  Could we, as believers be unwilling to worship together with one another because of style preferences and/or inability to take time to listen and understand one another and our generational viewpoints?  Could we be so entrenched in our self-centered, consumer-minded approach to church services that we fail to see the beauty in one another and that that uniqueness adds to our beauty as the bride of Christ and helps us to worship Him.  It isn’t about us at all but about the Almighty God.  Regardless of our likes and dislikes, He creates beautiful stories in each of us and if we take time to look beyond the way it is packaged we will see His scandalous, marvelous grace. 

HOW IT RELATES TO THIS SERIES:  The wrestling of whether or not to hang the tattoo exhibit began as I grieved what I learned in the above mentioned conversation.  The wrestling began as God called me to step out of my own generation and self-centeredness to try and see things from someone else’s viewpoint. 

HOW THE PIECE WAS MADE:  This piece started long before the exhibit.  It is a piece I have added color and texture to over time and was finally finished when I added the black and white paint.  It was paint tinted resin that I allowed to run down the panel creating something like tears.