An evening with the Artists
Faith in Art: An Evening with the Artists
On the evening of Tuesday 27 August, Leigh Road Baptist Church hosted an unforgettable event, Faith in Art: An Evening with the Artists. The exhibition, which is part of the wider Open Summer Exhibition 2024, saw artists, friends, family, and members of the general public come together to celebrate the intersection of faith and creativity. The church’s exhibition space was filled with lively discussions about the artwork on display and the deep, thought-provoking issues and meanings each piece raised.
The atmosphere was electric, with free refreshments ensuring the drinks flowed, adding to the convivial spirit of the evening. Visitors were not only treated to a feast for the eyes but also for the ears, with newly released music playing throughout the night, touching on themes of faith, life, and the myriad emotions that lie in between.
Jane Brooks, one of the artists exhibiting her work, summed up the evening perfectly, saying, “Well, that was rather marvellous, thanks for organising the exhibition and making it happen. It goes without saying that I loved it… so much art and community in the same place.” Another visitor echoed the sentiment, expressing how deeply they were moved by the space and the artwork on display.
One of the highlights of the evening was the opportunity for visitors to step inside the LRBC Sanctuary, where six life-size replicas of world-famous Christian artworks were on display. These masterpieces included:
- The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt
- Christ of St. John of the Cross by Salvador Dali
- The Angelus by Jean-Francois Millet
- Creation of Adam by Michelangelo Buonarroti
- Light of the World by Holman Hunt
- Return of the Prodigal by Rembrandt
These pieces have been the subject of Sunday morning talks throughout the summer, each serving as a visual gateway to explore the deeper messages within the Christian faith as part of Leigh Road Baptist Church’s weekly gatherings.
Andrew Cowley, Minister of LRBC expressed his gratitude, saying, “We are immensely grateful to the more than 40 artists who contributed to our inaugural Faith in Art Open Exhibition. Their incredible creativity ignited meaningful conversations and inspired many to reflect on the profound questions that life presents. It was truly wonderful to witness the works of established artists showcased alongside the vibrant artwork of Darlinghurst Academy school children in the windows, creating a beautiful tapestry of artistic expression and community.”
The evening was a triumph of community, creativity, and contemplation, blending art and faith in a way that resonated with everyone who attended. As the exhibition continues until Sunday, we look forward to seeing how these conversations will develop and what new inspirations will emerge from this unique fusion of art and spirituality.
Our thanks to Sean Buckley (@seanbphotography_uk) who captured these wonderful photos of the evening and exhibition. Follow Sean’s community photography in his website – seanbphotography.co.uk
When else can I see the exhibition?
The exhibition is open to the public every Sunday morning across late July and August from 10am to 12:30pm. The finals Sunday to view will be Sunday 1st September.
Faith in Art 2024 | 28 July – 1 September 2024
As part of summer Church Leigh Road Baptist Church has hosted a ‘Faith in Art’ Open Submission Summer Exhibition in the church windows and welcome area across late July and August.
The show makes space for and welcomed submissions from all; established local artists, emerging talent, schools and hobbyists of all ages.
We believe the exhibition showcases a breadth and diversity of work using acrylics, oils, watercolours, gouache, pen and ink, crayon, photography, spray can, airbrush, pastels and mixed media.
The Theme: Faith in Art
The Bible and Christianity have long been an inspiration for artists from Michelangelo and Rembrandt to 21 century contemporary artists. This new exciting exhibition seeks to invite artists to interpret, ask questions, raise doubts, tell of the hope, depict stories of the Bible in a creative way, based on their own faith, culture and experience.
We hope to create a richer dialogue through arts about the big questions of life and faith.
Summer Faith in Art Talks
Across the Summer, the LRBC Sunday morning gatherings have looked upon and explored the meanings, motivations and stories depicted in works of art by some of the world’s most famous artists.
You can revisit any of the talks as part of the church services via the play list below.