by Rich Fry

At Mars Hill Church West Seattle, there are many gathering spots in the building where various interactions occur. Of course, there’s the Auditorium/Sanctuary (or whatever you like to call the big room with the pews and cross on the stage) where we worship and hear teachings about Jesus. There’s the Commons, the large room where the coffee stays hot; the resource center stands stocked with books; and the Info, Serve, and Community kiosks provide ways to get plugged in. These are just a couple of examples; there are even more places downstairs. But in between the Auditorium and the Commons is a hallway that is as focal a gathering point as any other spot in the building. It’s not just any regular sort of hallway, but a bright, wide corridor where you’ll witness people chatting, praying together, or perusing the displays of artistic paintings, photos, and multi-media art displayed on the walls. Which is why we call this hallway The Art Walk.

(Click on any picture to view a slightly larger version of it.)

During any visit to the West Seattle Campus, you’ll likely hear one of the pastors refer to the “Art Walk” during announcements or the closing of most services, usually in notifying the congregation that elders and members of the Prayer Team are available to meet you there if you have specific prayer requests. But the art gallery aspect of the Art Walk is one way we show God’s glory in the gifts He’s given us, as well as a way to engage the culture of Seattle, a rather artistic city itself.

Currently on display in the Art Walk is a series of paintings by Brittany Sponseller, a Mars Hill Member in Ballard. (Actually, she’s now Brittany Ingram, having just recently married Daniel Ingram in October. Congratulations Ingrams!)

With each work bathed in scripture and some literally dripping with various hues representing mood and tone, these paintings evoke the artist’s personal reflections of herself and her identity In Christ. In these works, Brittany shares her personal contemplations and meditations of God’s Word meshed with her struggles with sin, embedding into each painting thoughts with which many of us can relate. While similar in style, each canvas is its own work and carries a distinct message. But akin to the individual books of the Bible, all combine to point to One theme: Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, The Word become flesh (John 1:14). And The Word is prominent in Brittany’s work. Whether bright and inviting, or dark and introspective, each piece is worthy of a few minutes of consideration, soaking in the scripture and the message. Below, we’ll share a few examples:

Remarkably red, “Rags” uses the colors of filth and blood and quotes Isaiah 64:6 in that our righteousness is like filthy rags. This painting is a stark reminder that when we’re honest and compare ourselves to a holy God, no one is righteous, not even one. Our righteousness is like filthy rags, worthy of disposal. As Brittany mentions in her statement, “If the penalty of sin is death, then death is mine.” (with appreciation to Brian Geishler, who wrote this eloquent excerpt about Brittany’s work when it appeared in Ballard last winter).

Blood red is the foundation of “How Vast.” Representing the moment of Christ’s greatest triumph, on the cross, baptized in blood and bearing our sins, it incorporates the hymn How Deep The Father’s Love and Christ’s words of great mercy “Father forgive them…” as well noting the completion of His victory: “It is finished.”

Golden yellow hues show the majesty of God in “Behold,” expressing His great power working in our transformation: “You are a new creation…the old has gone…the new has come.”

Other works on display include Green (Luke 23-31), Return (Isaiah 44:22), As You Have Said (various phrases, including Titus 3:5-6), All Things (Romans 8:28-30), Grace (1 Corinthians 15:10), and Response, a layering of scripture and phrases of reflection on struggle, within which is a snippet of Mark 9:24: “I believe; help my unbelief!”

You can contact Brittany on The City (requires City account and login), as some of her work is for sale and she is also willing to create original commissioned pieces. You an also check out her new blog: Art By Britt.

As you can see, the Art Walk is more than simply a hallway. The Art Walk is a gallery for God, a witness of His gifts, grace, and beauty. Though the display usually changes every quarter, the focus remains the same: Jesus. We live for Him. We paint for Him. We take and display photos of Him evidenced in Creation. The Art Walk stands to serve His Glory.

Continue to check back on the Art blog for write-ups on the artistic design aspects of the West Seattle Campus, information about future Art Walk showcases, and potential Gallery Night events.