I Witness: photographs from Sojourn Midtown Sent Ones
Photograph by Taylor Bieschke
On view January 12 - March 9, 2025
Opening Reception: Sunday, January 12, 12:30 - 2:00 pm
In this exhibit, five of Sojourn Midtown’s Sent Ones share photographs from their experiences around the world. These five Sojourners living in Europe and Asia participated in an online photography class with Sojourn Arts in order to refine their photography skills, helping them more effectively communicate through images. Here, they share images of people and places they’ve witnessed as they minister in their current contexts.
God calls the church to take the gospel and provide practical help to the margins of society and every corner of the world. Midtown Sending furthers this mission by equipping and sending our members to live with gospel intentionality in their neighborhoods and to the nations. Over the years, Midtown has equipped and commissioned many Sent Ones—members affirmed and supported to serve cross-culturally for the sake of the gospel. Currently, 35 adults are serving across four continents, engaging in word and deed ministry among diverse people groups. Domestically, four families are leading church plants in different cities. Short-term trips are also a key component of our strategy because they allow participants to form deeper relationships, grow spiritually, and discover their role in God’s mission. By experiencing diverse cultures, the global Church, and cross-cultural ministry, participants witness firsthand the work God is doing globally.
In addition to the five main photographers’ framed images in this exhibit, we also include some unframed images from others related to Sojourn Midtown’s Sending ministry.
Prayers for the Pilgrimage
“Prayers for the Love of Neighbor” by Phaedra Jean Taylor
On view March 16, 2025 - May 4, 2025
RECEPTION & ARTIST TALK: Saturday, March 22nd at 4:30pm. Doors open 4:00-6:00PM.
“When the pandemic hit my children were in pre-school and third grade. It was already a struggle to maintain a creative practice when they were away for some of the day, but when our pre-school shut down and our daughter’s schooling turned virtual, my time for making art became almost non-existent.
We were luckier than most. David, my husband, was already working virtually from home, and my creative work was flexible and could be easily put on hold. I thought I’d just set it aside for a time as we all tried to adjust to what felt like a new normal every week. I found, however, that emotionally and mentally I struggled without the time that I had previously spent, usually deep in contemplative mode in my studio.
Prayer is inextricably linked to my art practice and in a world that felt so unpredictable and unmanageable, I needed that time more than ever.
As an experiment I began making tiny landscapes that I could quickly drop in and out of. One moment I could tear down watercolor into small rectangles; in another I could tape down a few pieces. That might be all that I could manage for a day, but the next day I might be able to grab five minutes to place some quick brush strokes on my paper. A second layer of color would follow—and then a few moments of drawing in a few finishing touches and I could start another one.
In time, these paintings also became my prayers. I worked quickly in-between washing hands, laundering masks, cooking, checking state infection rates, tidying, monitoring spelling tests and soothing anxious hearts.
I could walk away from the studio and return to whatever was being required of me, knowing that my prayers were as real and solid as my paintings—a place I could drop into at any moment that would nourish me once again.
What started as a desperate way to give my brain a measure of sanity, turned into a steady and daily practice that I kept up even after things began to settle in our often-turbulent world. As of this writing I have painted almost 300 tiny prayer landscapes. The ones included in this book were made in much the same way as those first attempts, except that my dedicated studio hours have returned. Instead of ten minutes, I’m able to soak deeply into a more expansive prayer space and to let these images emerge.
In 2024 these paintings, accompanied by almost 400 short prayers written by my husband, David (a priest and professor of theology,) were published by IVP as a prayer book. You can purchase the book through any major book seller, and prints of these images can be found in the shop section of my website.”
The Sacred Art of Ethiopia
“Last Supper”
On view May 18, 2025 - July 20, 2025
RECEPTION: TBD
“Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian civilizations in the world. Even today, more than half of Ethiopians identify as Christian and are still creating religious objects similar to those done centuries ago. The Sacred Art of Ethiopia is organized to familiarize ourselves and celebrate Ethiopia’s rich artistic heritage exhibition.
Most of the pieces in the show are the work of Ethiopian artists and artisans from the last thirty to fifty years, who carry on ancient forms of sacred art-making in the modern era. They include hammered metal processional and pectoral crosses, folding icons, and leather and parchment paintings on biblical themes in the style of traditional Ethiopian illuminated manuscript art. One of the highlights of the show is a hundred year old painting on leather of the Virgin Mary and Her Beloved Son surrounded by stories from the life of Jesus.
The Ethiopian school of iconography was formed by skilled artisans in medieval Ethiopian monasteries, similar to what happened in European monasteries where the monks were often trained to work in scriptoriums copying religious texts and painted icons, always remaining faithful to the tradition. Making icons continues to be an important vocation in Ethiopia today.
The purpose of Ethiopian art is use color to portray the drama of the Gospels. These icons are made of wood or leather panels, and are used as personal altars. From the Annunciation to the Wisemen at the Nativity, Christ’s Baptism, The Wedding at Cana through the many events of his Passion, the Ethiopian artist has focused on the life of Jesus.
When thinking of Ethiopian art it would be impossible not to mention the array of crosses that dominate their culture. Nowhere in the world has the cross been proliferated in so many ways as in Ethiopia. As seen in this exhibition there are large elaborately designed processional crosses mounted on poles, many in metals, but some in wood, to be used in public worship. For over 1,600 years Ethiopians have worn pendants or neck crosses, many times given at baptism and worn as evidence of the faith. Still other crosses were worn by priests and pilgrims during religious processions.
It is hoped that The Sacred Art of Ethiopia will enhance the viewer’s appreciation for how varied the Christian community worldwide ‘sees’ the Scriptures.”
On view July 25 - September 7, 2025
OPEN MIC NIGHT & Gallery Reception: Friday, July 25, 6:30-9pm
We want to celebrate the artistic work of Sojourn Midtown members and regular attenders. Anyone that’s involved with Sojourn Midtown in any way is invited to participate.
The deadline to submit visual art for the gallery is Friday, June 20th. Advance registration for the open mic night is required by Wednesday, July 16th.
Submission forms will open later in the Spring.