Inspiring Christmas Art

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday 12 December 2005

Inspiring Christmas Art

In an art exhibition currently on display at St Andrew’s on The Terrace, you won’t find the traditional nativity scene. Mary and the Christ Child float, suspended from the ceiling; Three Wise Ones push a shopping cart filled with gifts for the food bank; Soldiers tower over Bethlehem and an angel; and baby Jesus lies in a beer crate in the midst of an Aotearoa beach setting.

“Adventitious” (meaning occurring spontaneously, accidentally, by chance, or in an unexpected location) is an exhibition which delves into the wider meanings of Christmas. Ideas of birth, hope, and peace are explored throughout the artworks, which include installations, paintings, fabric artworks and sculptures.

The exhibits have been created by members of the wider St Andrew’s community and friends. Some of the artworks explore challenging ideas, such as the absence of peace in the Holy Land, violence against woman and children, and issues of fair trade.

Atop a Christmas tree decorated with red ribbons, an angel proclaims a safe-sex message. Under the tree, a black Christ child lies in a manger, reminding us that many victims of AIDS are children in sub-Saharan Africa.

On the other side of the church one painting depicts new shoots pushing through the earth, while another is of a dove flying above a New Zealand landscape.

“Adventitious” has been brought together by Fionnaigh McKenzie, a member of the ministry team at St Andrew’s and Judith Dale, a member of the GalaXies congregation.

“Many contemporary people are unsure about the meaning of Christmas. This collection inspires engagement with its deeper messages: of the sacred discovered in the ordinary, and hope for justice and peace on earth,” says St Andrew’s minister, Margaret Mayman.

The exhibition will be open to the public on weekdays and Sunday mornings throughout the Christmas season. Admission is free.

ENDS

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