Cynthia Wilson Newsletter-Special Community Arts Edition- Saturday, April 20,2024

 

Cynthia Wilson Newsletter Mailing Saturday

April 20,2024

Greetings friends and fellow art enthusiasts.

I trust you received my most recent email that I sent on Thursday, April 18, 2024 which included  dedicated scripture and a link to my archived podcast episode “God’s Riches in Glory”.

As promised, this is my weekly Saturday newsletter a few days behind schedule. This edition is filled with updates on events of fellow artists and art pioneers who have done and are continuing to do good works in their communities. They have extended their artistry into a community of care and concern for each other as well as their neighborhoods and environments. Visiting and mingling with these artists, viewing their work and participating in some of the art classes attended by art veterans and new students alike has contributed to my healing process. Many of you may know that I have had to deal with serious health challenges while also having to shift my caregiving responsibilities because of them to others who were not happy about it. 

Listed art membership organizations such as the National Conference of Artists has chapters in most major cities across the country, including New York, Chicago and Detroit. I encourage you to visit the artist exhibits listed, Google them, learn more about their work, join and support their programs while praying for their continued success in efforts that do good.

Also included is a list of grant resources for art enrichment programs along with highlights from events that I have recently attended and participated in as part of church cultural outreach, Arts Chaplaincy Program. More about that on my website.

When I’m not preparing a sermon, podcast or otherwise making a joyful noise to God singing and banging on my tambourine, or rattling off a skeletal version of one of my songs on piano in my spare time, I paint, design graphics, make candles, create unique fragrances and produce merchandise like T-shirts from my artwork. Some of my designs I have shared with friends and church members to bring them joy, for the magnification and glorification of God’s kingdom , to also earn a living and to raise funds for the church. Some of my art has been featured over the years in exhibits at churches in New York City, online and at the Grosse Pointe Art Gallery. My painting “Peace Wave Prayer Thaw” was among several others chosen by art jurists for display in Grosse Pointe Art Gallery’s “Sanctuary” exhibit last year.

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

For more about that and my other original art works go to my website.

Scripture for this issue is from the book of Genesis. Read the complete first chapter of Genesis at the link. Genesis 1:1-31

The poem of the day since this is “Poetry Saturday” is “The Creation” by James Weldon Johnson and is fitting for this premiere newsletter edition dedicated to the fine arts. It’s lengthy but an inspiring read. It reads in part:

And God stepped out on space 

and he looked around and said:I’m lonely-I’ll make me a world 

And as far as the eye of God could see  

Darkness covered everything

Blacker than a hundred midnights

Down in a cypress swamp

Then God smiled

and the light broke

And the darkness rolled up on one side

And the light stood shining on the other

And God said: that’s good!

Read the poem in its entirety here.

Art Events: Gallery, Exhibit Openings and Talks

Spotlight on Terrie Hylton and Mandisa Smith

Textile and Fiber Artworks

Terrie Hylton

March 2, 2024-Dr. Terri Hylton Artist Opening

 Reception held, Saturday, March 2 and ongoing exhibit March 2-March 30, 2024. Exhibit artist talk and finale held on Saturday, March, 30, 2024.

There are several fiber artists in metro Detroit. Dr. Terrie Hylton is a friend to many of them and one of the rising stars in the Detroit area. She has collected a huge variety of fabrics from around the globe including Africa. She uses a lot of fabric from Ghana. Her work is all fabric that she weaves and stitches together to form brilliant art portraits and landscapes. 

 She sold 68 pieces of original artwork during her first solo exhibition at the National Conference of Artists Michigan Chapter Gallery. It was the largest number of pieces sold in a solo exhibit in their 50 year history.

Cynthia Wilson and Dr. Terrie Hylton pictured in front of Hylton’s fiber depiction of Detroit landscape, Erma Henderson Park.

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Dr. Terrie Hylton speaking during her artist talk and exhibit finale.

Mandisa Smith

Photo Credit-Asia Hamilton for Metro Times

For more on Mandisa read Metro Times article 

by clicking here 

On Friday April 19, 2024 I attended an artist talk conducted by Mandisa Smith textile artist extraordinaire, in above photo. She is the former co-owner of Detroit Fiber Works and presently an instructor at Hope for Flowers by Tracey Reese. The talk was held in the art gallery at Wayne County Community College Northwest Campus as part of a community educational enrichment program partnership with Hope for Flowers. This talk was conducted for a group of 50 elementary school students eager to learn more about art.

Photo Credit-Cynthia Wilson

Photo Credit-Cynthia Wilson

March _2024-Walter Bailey Artist Talk at Central United Methodist Church “Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery”

Retrospective art exhibit  of  Walter Bailey

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Children’s Art Exhibit at Peace Gallery-March 2024

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

April  5, 2024 Ida Hawkins Artist Opening-at Design Studio 6-The Emerging Artist Exhibition Series #3

Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Heidelberg Project

The famous Heidelberg Project is a community arts program created by Detroiter Tyree Guyton that has sparked a great deal of controversy along with community interest and support for decades. 

I had a recent tour of its grounds.

Photo-Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Nawili’s Grove

Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Wilson

Special  thanks to Terrie Hylton for sharing her knowledge, experience and friends in the art field.

Artist Calls for Art and Upcoming Exhibits

Art Resources and Grants Deadlines 

 

Eric Holder to Honor Vanita Gupta at Branton 2024

 

Good Friday Word

Stations of the Cross Art- 

Here we are today, Good Friday , the day that set the sobering tone for Holy Week, the days that revealed some of the most profound conversations that Jesus had with his disciples that evidenced a lonely Messiah who dreaded the reality he faced. He contained with every fiber of his faith, purpose and being in God the foreknowledge of his imminent crucifixion. So today we celebrate and revisit this time with church programs where preachers emphasize Jesus’ last words, the seven last words of Christ, while imparting to listeners the mysteries of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13)as they stir in them a spiritual awakening that generates a connection with that final experience of Jesus here on earth as he suffered, bled and died for our sins. And Christians should take into account and always bear in mind that God intended only one crucifixion. So, in Jesus that sacrifice is finished once and for all, forever, not to be repeated over and over again(Hebrews 10:12). Neither  by way of animals as in the Old Testament nor by any additional misguided conceptualization or actualization of primitive human sacrifice espoused or advocated by demonic influences and systems. Jesus’ experience can not and should not be mocked or lessened  to the confusion, derision and misunderstanding that results when it is reduced to such a degree. Once on Calvary was all it took. As the words in the song sang so passionately and beautifully by Chandler Moore and Maverick City,…”just one look…”

Hebrews 10:12:

But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.,

Jesus prayed for the cup to be passed from him during his period of deep prayer and reflection in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39). He was saddened and driven to tears from the behavior of those who spitefully accused him, betrayed him and clamored for his death from the mob that surrounded Pontius Pilot.

Yet through it all, his resurrection on Easter morning transformed the gloom and doom of that day, that misery and cruelty he was subjected to on Mt. Calvary and the days leading up to it into joy and victory. His resurrection from death took the sadness and agony out of his crucifixion, and the ultimate sting out of death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)in the witness of Jesus’ triumph over it. This aliveness we experience today in the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised  to send faithful believers and never leave them alone(John 14:15-17).

My prayers go out to you today as you reflect and/or speak or preach in earnest on the 7 Last Words of Christ. God bless you. 

The 7 Last Words as set forth in scripture are as follows:

1st Word- “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”

The Word of Forgiveness"

Luke 23:34

2nd Word-“Be with me in Paradise”

“The Word of Salvation”

  Luke 23:43

3rd Word-“Behold Thy Son”

The Word of  Relationship

John 19:26–27

4th Word- “Father Why has thou forsaken Me?”

The Word Forsaken

Mark 15:34

Matthew 27:46

5th Word-“I Thirst”

“The Word of Distress”

John 19:28

6th Word-“It is Finished”

The Word of Triumph 

John 19:30

 

7th Word-“Father into your hands I Commend my spirit”

“The Word of  Reunion”

Luke 23:46

Enjoy worshipping whether you are experiencing it in person or streaming services on one of your devices.

Blessings,

Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Weekly Photo Story from the Archives

 

Every wednesday I lift up a blog post from  my archives that may or may not be listed in the featured posts line up found in the far right hand column of this blog.  Last week’s post was on Alicia Keys, highlighting her performance at the 2021 Billboard Awards and a lift up by former First Lady Michelle Obama. This week I go all the way back to 2008 when Barack Obama was running for election and a number of musical artists got together and compiled an album entitled “Yes We Can:Voices of a Grassroots Movement” to promote his historic run for the White House. Click on the image in the Photo Story column in the upper right hand column of the blog to read more about it. You may also find the post by clicking on the link below:

https://cynthiadwilson2.blogspot.com/2008/09/music-for-obamavoices-of-grassroots.html?m=0

Enjoy the read.

Peace,

Cynthia Wilson,

Blog Founder and Chief Editor

Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery Celebrates Children’s Art

 Detroit public, charter and private school students’ art was recognized and celebrated at an opening reception and exhibit held at Central United Methodist Church’s Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery on Sunday, March 17. The well attended opening reception and exhibit was a glorious display of the exuberant imaginations and extraordinary creativity of Detroit’s youth, embodied in their art. The show demonstrates how our youth’s artistry can benefit significantly when nurtured at an early stage. 

Kudos to Dr.Terrie Hylton who spearheaded the event and Christa Perdue, the exhibit’s curator. The opening reception and art exhibition came together with the help of  fellow organizers and the gallery board who all did an outstanding job identifying, gathering and hanging the art work. The show brought student artists, parents and community together. Special thanks to Ian Matchett, Nawili, Robyn Markoe, Linda Forte, Simone Clayton and Rev. Cynthia Wilson, Founder-Chaplain of Pop, Arts Chaplaincy Outreach Program.

The exhibit is now on display and open for viewing by the general public during the hours below and by appointment.

Peace Center and Gallery hours are as follows:

Swords Into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery

33 East Adams Street    

Detroit Michigan 48226

open Friday and Saturdays 1-6pm 

313-963-7575

swordsintoplowshares313@gmail.com  

Stop by and check it out.

Peace and blessings,

Rev. Cynthia Wilson