From Fear to Freedom (Immigrant Art Reflection)

Cristo nos libertó para que vivamos en libertad. Por lo tanto, manténganse firmes y no se sometan nuevamente al yugo de esclavitud.                                 (Gálatas 5:1)

The introduction to the art reflection process included the following explanation to provide background and understanding for the writing aspect:

Asylum seekers often need to prove what is called credible (reasonable) fear of persecution or torture. You are your own witness, which means you are the one who must tell the details of your story as the proof that you have “credible fear” of persecution or torture. This art exercise is to help organize your thoughts and to practice telling your story. It is very important that you share all of details which prove you have a credible fear for your life of persecution or torture. Judges look for discrepancies (differences) between the different times you are asked to tell your story. It is very important that your story is (a) true; (b) told in great detail from beginning to end; (c) remains the exact same story each time you are asked to tell it with all the facts, dates, people, and details exactly the same. This art reflection is to help you organize your thoughts to tell your full story.

First: Write your story about why you have credible fear of persecution or torture. Write down all the important details to support your story including WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW. Pay careful attention to detail. Write exactly what happened.

Second: Go back and underline important words which remind you about the details of your experience. For example, you might underline a date or the name of a person or a particular location. Write these key words or phrases on the small piece of paper and set it aside. You will use this list later.

Third: Use tempura paint to make a pretty mono print on top of your words. (If you do not want to cover up your words, you can make the art on the other side of the paper or you can get a new piece of paper.) Go to the table with the paint, rollers, and “Gelli Art” mono printing plates and Pastor Helen or Pastor Sabrina will show you how to make a mono print. Dry the print before you go to step four.

Fourth: Take the list of words you underlined and write them on cut shapes which symbolize your freedom from fear. Glue the shapes with the words on top of the mono print painted page. You might want to put them in the best order to help you remember exactly how to (re)tell your story. The goal is to create a visual that helps you remember all of the details of your story. Use the many art supplies to decorate your art story. 

My Love Story (Immigrant Art Reflection)

Nosotros amamos a Dios porque él nos amó primero.

1 Juan 4:19

During a recent art session with immigrant women seeking asylum, they created a mixed media art piece of their love story. The guided meditation included four steps to guide the reflection and the art process.

First: Use a pen or pencil and write your love story. How do you feel or experience the love of God in your life? Who are the people in your life who have shown you love? Grandparents? Parents? Brothers and sisters? Children? Grandchildren? Aunts and uncles? Priest or minister? Teacher? Friend? What have you learned about love from these special people. How has their love given you encouragement, blessing, joy, or hope?

 Second: Choose 1-2 favorite colors of acrylic paint and 2-3 different stencils—symbols (shapes) of your love story. Use a blue plastic square to scrape paint over the background (cover the words) and then quickly place a stencil on top of the paint before it dries and use a baby wipe to rub off the paint in the stencil/hole ( “reverse stencil art technique”). Repeat with a second color of paint and a different stencil. Clean stencils with baby wipes.

Third: Use an oil pastel (like a crayon) to fill the page with hearts, start with a small heart and then make bigger and bigger hearts until the page is full and you have covered the stencils. Use a pen or pencil and write inside and around the heart shapes. You could write a prayer or a love letter to a special person in your life.

Four: Add stamped images, cut shapes, and pretty tape. Outline shapes with puffy paint. Write your name and date.

Mono Printing

Making a mono print creates a fun and inspirational background for whatever comes next.

Adding (Art) Bits & Pieces

There's no excuse for "no time for art." It's clearly reasonable to not have sufficient time to work up a full art reflection, but there's always time for a wee bit of art. Pick up your journal and add a simple art layer...anything that suits the momentary muse!

Here I added cut paper ephemera to a previously "done" journal page. 

Another stencil layer is always a quick addition to a journal page in progress. 

The stamped background from another "no time for art" evening beckened for another layer. I'd just read the appalling background info on the tedious and (probably) unjust procedures for asylum seekers when I scooted to my art room. Instead of hopeful faces of the immigrants seeking asylum with whom I am a volunteer chaplain, I was struck by (literally) bars (to freedom).

 My quickie evening art session included laying down a tinted layer of gesso and running a Catalyst texture tool through the wet gesso/paint to express the prison feeling of these immigrant women seeking asylum. 

Simple Stamping for an Easy Background Layer

For an easy extra background layer, mix a bit of acrylic paint with white gesso (blend). Use a household sponge to dab the mixture onto a stamp and press into a background. It adds a subtle layer with a wee bit of texture. It's also an easy way to do art for no particular reason. 

Symbolic Significance

I can't help but think about the subtlety of symbols in artful reflection. When I choose my own shapes from my vast selection of stamps and stencils, I often choose with intentionality. However, equally often, I simply gravitate toward a shape for what seems like no particular reason. Then, once the reflection is completed I can look back and identify what (probably) means what.

 In theological talk, a sacrament is "a visible external sign of an internal invisible grace." In many regards, symbols offer a parallel role for art. 

My Love Story Bi-Lingual Art Reflection (Directions)

Mi historia de amor – My Love Story

Primero: Utilice un bolígrafo o un lápiz y escribir su historia de amor. ¿Cómo se siente o experimenta el amor de Dios en tu vida? ¿Quiénes son las personas en su vida que han demostrado que amas? ¿Abuelos? Los padres? ¿Hermanos y hermanas? ¿Niños? Nietos? ¿Tías y tíos? Sacerdote o ministro? ¿Maestro? ¿Amigo? ¿Qué ha aprendido sobre el amor de estas personas especiales. ¿Cómo ha su amor dado aliento, bendición, alegría o esperanza?

First: Use a pen or pencil and write your love story. How do you feel or experience the love of God in your life? Who are the people in your life who have shown you love? Grandparents? Parents? Brothers and sisters? Children? Grandchildren? Aunts and uncles? Priest or minister? Teacher? Friend? What have you learned about love from these special people. How has their love given you encouragement, blessing, joy, or hope?

Segundo : Elija 1-2 colores favoritos de pintura acrílica y 2-3 plantillas símbolos diferentes (formas ) de su historia de amor. Utilice un cuadrado de plástico azul para raspar la pintura sobre el fondo (cubrir las palabras ) y luego colocar rápidamente una plantilla en la parte superior de la pintura antes de que se seque y use una toallita de bebé a borrarse la pintura en la galería de símbolos / agujero ( " arte de la plantilla inversa técnica"). Repetir con un segundo color de la pintura y una plantilla diferente. Plantillas limpias con toallitas de bebé.

Second: Choose 1-2 favorite colors of acrylic paint and 2-3 different stencils—symbols (shapes) of your love story. Use a blue plastic square to scrape paint over the background (cover the words) and then quickly place a stencil on top of the paint before it dries and use a baby wipe to rub off the paint in the stencil/hole ( “reverse stencil art technique”). Repeat with a second color of paint and a different stencil. Clean stencils with baby wipes.

Tercero: Use un pastel de aceite (como un lápiz) para llenar la página con el corazón, comenzar con un pequeño corazón y luego hacer corazones cada vez más grandes hasta que la página está llena y ha cubierto las plantillas. Utilice un bolígrafo o un lápiz y escribir en el interior y alrededor de las formas de corazón. Se puede escribir una oración o una carta de amor a una persona especial en su vida.

Third: Use an oil pastel (like a crayon) to fill the page with hearts, start with a small heart and then make bigger and bigger hearts until the page is full and you have covered the stencils. Use a pen or pencil and write inside and around the heart shapes. You could write a prayer or a love letter to a special person in your life.

Cuatro: Añadir imágenes estampadas, cortar formas, y la cinta bonita. Esquema formas con pintura hinchada.Escriba su nombre y la fecha.

Four: Add stamped images, cut shapes, and pretty tape. Outline shapes with puffy paint. Write your name and date.

Nosotros amamos a Dios porque él nos amó primero.

1 Juan 4:19