Reminiscing On My Senior Show

Slightly more than a year ago, some of you may recall a post with some pictures and poems from my senior art show at IWU!

Opening reception of my senior show!

I have some terribly exciting news regarding said photographs, which are palladium platinum prints. Palladium is a very old method of developing photos; they are incredibly expensive, time consuming, and beautiful. They also need to be properly framed, which brings me to my next order of business.

My Palladium Platinum photos in their new homes!

Mama helped me buy new (BIGGER) frames, glass, and double mats, to proudly display my work the way it deserves! Man, they look SOOOO good in person! Come visit me and see!

But seeing my work like this reminds me to think about what the original purpose of my artwork was. These 5 pictures are meant to create a sanctuary: a space where the demands of time fade away, worries are irrelevant, and we simply sit in God's presence.

They remind us of the journey that we are continuously along, from the mountaintop to the valley. Mountaintop, overjoyed experiences will come; inevitably dark, depressing times will follow. But if we DO take that time to just sit in God's presence, those times DO NOT have to wear on us. God will lead us through.

So I invite you--come sit. Be still. And bask in the presence of the God of the Universe.

Be Still

I don't have scans of the actual pictures, because they are bigger than our scanners. I do have some scans of smaller test prints I made, so I will post those, although I am terribly sorry that I double printed on the third picture, so there is a weird rectangle interrupting the image.

 Each print has a poem rewritten from a Psalm with it, and basically they tell the journey from the "mountaintop" Christian experience, to the cloudy emptiness where we can't feel God anymore, to the surrender and sitting, quietly in his presence.

Inspired by Psalm 16

I love the LORD,

for he heard my cry.

I will call on him as long as I live.

The clouds of doubt entangled me,

the weight of façade wore on me,

Then I called on the name of the LORD.

The LORD is holy and true,

when I lost sight of him, he found me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the LORD has been good to you.

I will stand on the mountaintop

and proclaim your name to all peoples.

Praise the LORD.

Inspired by Psalm 74

Why have you rejected me, O God?

Why have you watched your sanctuary torn apart?

The clouds cover the light of your presence.

We are given no miraculous signs.

How long will you hold back your hand?

But you, O God, are my king from of old.

Where is he who split open the sea by his power?

Where is the living water you promised?

It was you who opened up springs and streams.

It is you who set the boundaries of the earth

and defy their laws as you please.

Do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.

Do not let us continue in sorrow forever;

may the weak and downcast praise your name.

Rise up, O God.

 

Inspired by Psalm 42

 

As the thirsty desire water,

so I wish I desired you, O LORD. 

When will I ever meet with my God again?

My tears have been my food,

for I no longer know my Sustainer. 

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul.

I used to stand on the mountaintop,

and proclaim your name to all peoples. 

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

My soul is downcast within me;

therefore, I will remember you. 

Let your oceans sweep over me.

Deep calls to deep

in the roar of your waterfalls;

For I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

 

Inspired by Psalm 104

Praise the LORD, O my soul. 

O LORD my God, you are very great;

how could I have forgotten you?

You who stretched out the heavens and wear them as a garment. 

You created the earth

and aligned all of creation to your plan.

Creation cries out your praise,

O Sustainer of all. 

The sun knows when to hide,

and the lion, to prey.

In wisdom, did you design this. 

We all look to you,

to open your hand.

When you hide your face, we are terrified. 

But glory be to God;

your Spirit will renew us.

May my meditation delight you.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Praise the LORD. 

 

 

Inspired by Psalm 19

The world declares the glory of God;

the waters proclaim the work of his hands.

The law of the LORD revives the soul.

The commands of the LORD make us wise.

The doctrines of the LORD give joy to the heart.

They endure forever, more precious than gold.

By them, your servants live well.

Forgive me, LORD and keep me from sin,

that I may become as you are.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

 be pleasing in your sight, 

O LORD, my God.

Amen.

Answering the 'Why?' Question

Why do I work in the photo lab? It's not really a difficult question; I'm sure any educated person could come up with numerous reasons for said job. But, I would like to share one particular instance of creation that would not have happened had I not been working in the lab this year.

Palladium Platinum is an old school method of printing photographs, and pretty much produces the most amazing prints you will ever lay eyes on. Seriously.

That being said, it is no wonder that when an IWU alum came in with one of my fellow students to print some palladiums while I was working one night, I wanted to print one too! Thankfully I had just taken this super awesome picture the other day, which looks absolutely perfect as a palladium!!!

Seriously, the scan does not do it justice. A palladium is the type of picture you just have to see in person and stare at for hours until your soul has been lost somewhere inside of it. Because you literally could stare at a good palladium print for hours.

Perhaps you can stare at a scan of a palladium print for a few seconds. It is not quite the same thing. But still, it's pretty darn cool.