Our 2020 Art Project, by Erin Martin
Hi there, I'm Erin Martin.
I was pleased to be tapped for art making this year. So grateful to have an excuse to steal time and do something else with my hands during quarantine other than change diapers and clean the kitchen again.
I painted you a labyrinth on a service tray, and drew a version of it you can print at home.
I want it to be touched.
I want you to play with it.
I thought about you a lot while I worked. I imagined you holding this in your hands.
I imagined your faces. You young. You old. You peers. You pew fellows.
I was surprised how much I longed for you all as I worked.
Church and faith has been distracted at best for me since becoming a mother four years ago.
Guys, I didn't know I loved you all till I was drawing and imagining this in your hands.
Thanks for being church.
So, this tray commemorates a year when contemplatives were invited into new action through the Order of Bethany.
It's meant to be beautiful and functional, like the church.
The images inside—of traveling the labyrinth, of buds, blooms, bulb, and seeds—are all meant to convey some of the states of being we found ourselves in this year. And the gilding of gold space around each is my way of reminding us that each state was worth being in, perhaps even holy. I found myself praying for you while I drew—
Blessed are you stuck at home
Blessed are you trying a new thing
Blessed are you adding your voice to community
Blessed are you scattered
Blessed are you gathered
Blessed are you alone
Blessed are you sick
Blessed are you traveling
Blessed are you returned
Blessed is the disorder
Blessed is the reorder
Blessed is the waiting
Blessed is the wandering
Blessed is the attempt.
I wanted to give you a sculpture for a year in which we are physically unable to touch one another, or the table. It felt like redemption and hope to me to have art meant to be handled and shared once this is resolved and we are together again. When we are past Covid, and you see it, and you have a minute, travel the labyrinth with your finger.
Till then, please print the printable if you can. Glue yarn to the lines of the labyrinth, let it dry, and follow the groove with your finger into the center and back out again. It's surprisingly lovely. It's a tactile experience we can share right now. Try it with your kids.
Example of how to use yarn for your printable prayer labyrinth
Or, print another and color it with crayons. Print one and paint it. Post a photo of it online and let me see! We'll find a hashtag to use.
Or, color it as meditation. Color it and pray for folks it brings to your mind.
If you want to ask about symbolism or chat about art making with me, hit me up. I’ve found Marco Polo and stealing 5 minutes between toddler tea parties to talk like an adult is a gift in this season.
Peace.
Click here to access the printable PDF of this prayer labyrinth.