There is a Goodwill store just around the corner from my church. Occasionally, I will take a break from my desk work and go to the thrift store to see what treasures I might find. One summer day, while taking a break from fall planning, I discovered an interesting and somewhat damaged piece of artwork. I loved the bright colors and the South American landscape in the piece. However, what I really caught my attention was the depiction of a contemporary Jesus, carrying his cross in this unexpected setting. After pulling out my phone for a quick internet search on the artist and the painting, I purchased the scratched and well-worn reproduction print by Nicaraguan artist, Mariita Guevara. The artist captured my attention and inspired my imagination with her interpretation of Jesus’ journey to Calvary. Mariita’s practice in her artwork was to imagine how stories from the gospel would look in her location (Nicaragua) and time (1984). In this print, the soldiers are clothed not in Roman 1st century attire, but rather in contemporary Nicaraguan army uniforms. Jesus and the women are also clothed in contemporary clothing appropriate to 1980s Nicaragua. The dirt road is flanked by the lush canopy of South American forests.
I decided to hang this reproduction in the lobby of our church during Hispanic Heritage Month with a sign posing the following questions:
What would Jesus’ walk to Calvary look like in your time and place?
How does imagining the event in our context give insight to what Jesus has done for us?
I also invited people to try creating their own inspired piece using Mariita Guevara’s idea of painting a story from the gospel in their current time, location, and culture.
Total cost for this culturally relevant exercise in spiritual formation was $15. What resources do you have to invite your church to engage in spiritual formation through the fine arts?