Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

This is a piece that I’ve been working on for several months, and it is very religious in nature.  For those 2 reasons, I’m both super excited and very nervous as I share this with you now.  An artist always hopes that their work will be understood and appreciated, especially, I think, religious artwork.  I am definitely feeling that way today.

Every 3 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has an International Art Competition that is open to all of its members.  I decided that this time, I was going to be brave and participate, even though the caliber for entries is extremely high. Here are some of the best from the last competition in 2012.   As you can see, many are oil paintings, but there are also sculptures, fiber art, assemblages, etc.  When I get the chance to see the exhibit in Salt Lake that has all of the winning artwork, I’m always in awe at the talent and testimony of so many different people from around the world.  

The theme for this year’s competition is “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”.  I knew that, as an abstract artist, telling a specific story of Jesus would be a bit of a challenge.  However, relating my testimony of the Savior’s ability to change even the most hardened and brazen criminal into a sanctified soul through his atonement is something that would be much easier.  The truths of the Savior’s power almost need to be related abstractly.

 Though the artist statement I included in my submission had to be much shorter, here is my original statement explaining my piece and what it means.

        One of my favorite stories from the Savior’s earthly ministry is related in the New Testament, John 5:2-9. Here we learn of the pool of Bethesda.   This particular pool had a reputation for healing when it was “troubled” and as a consequence was surrounded by the sick and crippled.  They believed that only the first person to step into the troubled water would be healed.  This meant that the sickest and most helpless would be passed over by someone strong enough to make it into the water first.   An intense rush would occur when this spring came to life- perhaps hundreds of people striving, even fighting, to get into the water first.  For those who could not move on their own it would have been a constant battle of hope vs. hopelessness- always being within sight of this miraculous pool, and never being able to claim the blessing of healing. 

John tells us of a particular man who had been lame for 38 years.  He had been waiting by the pool, hoping that someone would help him into the water when the time came so he could be healed.  We don’t know how long he had been waiting, but I can imagine the scene when the Savior appears at this pool one Sabbath day. The pool is thronged with ill and injured people. The spring has just burst into life and many are quarreling with each other, hoping to reach the water first.  This man sits alone in a place fairly far back from the crowd, surrounded by filth and the evidence of his lengthy wait.  He doesn’t move- he knows there is no chance he can get to the water first. The Savior is drawn to this man, out of every other person there, and approaches.  They watch each other for a few moments, the beggar wondering why this man seems so interested in him.  No one has noticed him for so long…  Finally the Savior draws nearer and asks “Wilt thou be made whole?”  The man sadly explains that he has no one to help him into the water. He has already lost his chance to be healed since he couldn’t get there on his own.  The Savior kneels down and looks deeply into this man’s face, lined with wrinkles and coated in dirt. His powerful gaze penetrates the despair in his eyes as He then commands him, His voice powerful, resonant, and full of love- “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” Immediately this man, unable to walk for 38 years, is healed of his infirmity and is made whole not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well- for when the Savior extends His grace to someone who is reaching out, the effects are all encompassing. 

                I love this story because it illustrates so perfectly the atonement: the Savior’s infinite power to heal.  Each of us is that lame man, weighed down by sin and its consequences, unable to heal ourselves. Many of us in this condition put our trust and hope in things that cannot bring us peace and forgiveness, and we end up waiting and despairing.  Many of us view the sins of others, particularly if those sins are deeply wicked and humiliating, and say to ourselves, “What he has done is unforgivable.”  Though the path to redemption may be harder and longer for some, the power of Christ is infinite, eternal, and open to all who come unto Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit.  My piece represents the transformation that each of us can experience through the grace of Christ. 

The bottom panel, or “Sinful Man”, is a visual representation of a life plagued by sin, addiction and selfishness.  In this state, a man is capable of the worst crimes imaginable:  murder, immorality, and countless other acts of greed and corruption.  As his sins accumulate, his burden of misery becomes heavier and heavier, and the way back seems harder and harder to reach.  Red and Black are central to this panel, and represent sin and corruption.  I specifically referenced Isaiah 1:18- “…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool…”  I used paper clay to add dimension and represent the heavy burden of sin, and the strips of paper that I have shaped into thorns, pustules and knobs represent worldly habits and the infection that comes with them.   I covered much of the clay with painted muslin to symbolize the way a sinful man seeks to cover his sins, but in the place where the heart is represented, the muslin is not able to hide what’s inside.  Though the stitching is desperately trying to keep things shut, we see more paper elements covered in wax, representing a hard heart that is unwilling to change, despite the pain. 

The central panel or “Repentant Man” represents this sinful person who has now turned to the Savior for help.  Despite still struggling with many imperfections and the consequences of wrong choices, he is experiencing the Savior’s grace and the change of heart that comes with it.  Complete repentance is not simply a passage of time, but is a matter of complete submission, of recompense and humble acceptance of all the ramifications of our sins, which can be especially difficult for those whose sins are numerous and grievous.  We can see that the heart has changed- instead of being filled with wax and thorns; it is white with white elements that represent the cultivation of Christlike attributes.  The repentant person has humbled himself, and no longer has the desire to do evil.  We can see that there are still red splashes and simple thorns. He is not yet perfect, but through consistent choices that draw him closer to the Savior, the red and black are receding and white is becoming common place.  There is truly no life that is so burdened with sin the Savior cannot heal them. 

 The final panel or “Sanctified Man” represents this man achieving his, and God’s, final goal- to be made perfect through the power of Christ.  In this panel, we see all the good and ennobling traits that are branching out from his now sanctified heart.  I used many of my favorite scriptures to represent the intimate relationship this person has established with Christ and God the Father through study and the keeping of covenants.  The many paper elements are those same Christlike attributes from the second panel, magnified through the Savior’s Grace.  This man’s heart, that was at one time black and hardened, is now pure and sealed to God.  He has become an heir of all that the Father has. 

The miracle of the atonement is that we can progress from the bottom panel to the top through the enabling grace and sanctifying power of Jesus Christ.  It is my prayer that all who see this piece will understand that it represents  every single person who answers the Savior’s query “Wilt thou be made whole?” with a humble and submissive “Yes.” 

I don’t know when I’ll hear back about my work, but if I make it to the next round of judging, I’ll be asked to ship my piece to Salt Lake so they can review it in person.  I’m hoping I can at least get that far- the photos I’ve included are the only ones I could include in my submission, and of course all my pieces are much better in person anyway.  Don’t worry, I’ll be so excited if I go to the next round I’ll have a whole post just filled with exclamation points and smiley faces.  :)

Thank you for letting me share both my artwork and my testimony.  I absolutely love how art can be the vehicle for sharing truth and ideas.  I hope what I’ve shared has been uplifting- that was the entire reason I created this piece.

Update- I wasn’t accepted to the competition, but only 25% of the entries were, so I don’t feel too bad.  This piece now hangs in my living room.