Creativity takes centre stage at Still Others
Creativity takes centre stage at Still Others
14 December 2018
Captain Jo Brookshaw painting on stage during "Our Purpose Together" at Still Others. Her artwork had a huge impact during, and after, the meeting. Photo Matt Holliday.
The creativity of Salvos across Australia was on display recently at The Salvation Army’s Still Others event in Melbourne, with many believing that creative arts is part of the “new thing” God is doing in our movement.
Artist and corps officer Captain Jo Brookshaw was asked to paint on stage during the Wednesday night “Our Purpose Together” meeting, as well as the Sunday afternoon “Sending Out”. Her artwork, of a woman on her knees in prayer, had a huge impact.
“There was a lot to celebrate [at Still Others], I loved catching up with so many dear to my heart, but the Wednesday night worship and the fact that such a beautiful piece of artwork was part of that, was one of the absolute highlights of this past week for me,” said Lieutenat Belinda Cassie.
Captain Brookshaw says the painting was God-inspired: “I have a process I go through to prepare for a live painting – including prayer, considering the theme or scripture, and collecting images I feel express the direction God is leading me. That process doesn't end until the paint is on the canvas. I want to allow the Holy Spirit the freedom and space to guide me, so sometimes that means clarity comes in the final moments before I begin.
“The painting of a woman in prayer was just like this – I had about 10 images prepared and in the moments before the service God revealed that image as one that would speak powerfully to the people present.”
She says that for her, the painting represents “surrender” – a giving over to God of all burdens, worries, hopes and plans. “It’s a message of hope for anyone who feels lost, burdened or discouraged,” she says. “For The Salvation Army Australia Territory – in a moment filled with change and new beginnings, it reminds us how surrender to God is the starting point to our faith and is the foundation to all we do for others.”
The paintings that Captain Brookshaw created at Still Others will be hung at The Salvation Army’s Territorial Headquarters in Melbourne, but prints will soon be available online for the dozens of people who approached her, wanting to buy the artworks.
“In a visually-saturated culture, images are becoming more and more necessary as a tool for communicating spiritual truths. I’m thrilled for visual artists to feel included, recognised and valued as they seek to serve God with their art,” says Captain Brookshaw.
Art, poetry, spoken-word performances, and written-word book launches graced stages, workshop spaces and the Expo at Still Others.
Speak
Stevie Willis shares her poem, Speak. Photo Cazeil Creative.
During the introduction to the Mission Intentions Workshops on the Friday afternoon, Stevie Willis, a performance poet and Community Education Officer at CBM Australia [CBM works to improve the lives of people with disabilities who live in the poorest places of the world], read her powerful poem Speak on speaking God’s love, mercy and justice – and giving dignity to, and hearing, those whose physically can’t speak easily but have their own stories and words to share.
Speak
You spoke creation
rivers commotion
pilgrimage to oceans
desserts plains, skies expanding
mountains, valleys, earth contouring.
You spoke love in creation
between man and woman
birthing family
birthing community.
You speak love in creation
comfort, hope, compassion.
You speak, create
us in your image
in your image
let us speak, create
let us speak love
let us speak hope
in your creation
let us speak compassion.
Let us speak comfort
Let us speak justice
ignite justice
fan flames, justice
mercy.
Let us hear.
Let us hear.
For when we do not hear
from justice our words stray
when we hear
through preconceived ideas.
When I’m heard
through preconceived ideas
like child
like hero
like brokenness.
like charity
ink is drained from my words
power drained from my words.
When before my mouth opens
words for me are spoken
cut from underneath, self-direction
I’m slipping underneath the conversation.
Let us hear.
Let us hear another
as a story we’ve never heard before
a premise we’ve never heard before.
Let us hear another
every other
through the preconception of dignity
sacredness of humanity
Sacred souls demand reverence of tongues
Let our eyes
see sacredness in eyes
know that that which lies behind eyes
is unknown
Let us speak not of the unknown.
Known is the sacredness of humanity.
Let us hear.
Let us hear
that we may speak justice
speak mercy
speak compassion
speak love.
“This poem, and Stevie’s heartfelt delivery of it, brought me to tears,” said one delegate.
“It helped me realise how I limit people with speaking difficulties and the impact that can have on them. There were many powerful moments at Still Others, and this was definitely one of them for me.”
Creative expression and worship continued to the conclusion of the Sending Out meeting on the Sunday.
“I have heard Christian artists speak of mobilising an army of artists to reveal God's glory,” says Captain Jo Brookshaw.
“I pray that within the Australian Salvation Army, artists will be mobilised, encouraged in their faith, supporting each other, developing their skills, actively using their gifts for God’s glory and to bless others!”
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