Faith and Fine Art

Saturday night The Professor and I spent time perusing the winners of the LDS Church’s 8th annual International Art Competition (an appropriate way to spend Easter’s Eve). His old primary teacher—certainly one of his favorite people—had a winning entry and we wanted to check it out together*. We ended up looking at about ½ of the 200 selections. It is a worthy way to spend your time.

I was so impressed with the variety of the entries. The styles, mediums, perspectives--each so unique and thoughtful and interesting—much like the artists themselves, I am sure. There were oil paintings, wood carvings, quilts, baby blessing dresses, glass etchings, the list goes on. The Professor  and I played a math game where we figured out the artists’ ages in our head based on the year they were born. (One winning artist is 92! Guess you’re never too old to create.) The one thing they had in common was their faith, each representing the theme “Remembering the Great Things of God.”

I found myself wishing that I were a fine artist (like a little kid: “I wanna do that!”) But what would I paint? –as certainly paint would be my medium. I thought about it and determined that what would reflect my faith right now would be simple: a portrait of my family, Mr. Handsome and I in the center, holding baby Bingley with all the children gathered around oohing and ahhing over his adorableness. In the background would be our reality—dirty dishes, piles of laundry, toys scattered at our feet. The title of the work would be “Hope Springs Eternal.”

If only I had advanced beyond my 8th grade art class.

Instead I’ll give you a snap shot of Little Mr. Bones.





And the assurance that despite my life’s theme of unending dishes, laundry & picking up toys, all will work out in the end.

*You can see Cari Updike’s selection by clicking on the U tab. It’s the one of a young woman reading her scriptures outside. She took up painting after her children were grown and out of the house. . .maybe there's some fine art in my future after all!