Randy Shenk, Liturgical Artist 3

I've been sharing some of the work my brother has created from an exhibit a few weeks back.

The table is made from scrap metal with a large heavy marble table top.

On the table are communion elements with the cross.

There is a plexi portion in front, lit from below.  There really doesn't seem to be any good way to photograph it, but in person the image on the glass really glows.  Then there is a light in the top part behind the "INRI" (which always looks like Henry to me.)  The cross is made of lengths of metal welded together in a broken kind of formation.  The fabric on the back helps it stand out against the dark background.

This piece is used in worship each week at the Missio Dei service.  

It is a "station" where participants can come for communion, one of several stations.  

Here is Randy's statement that was connected to the piece for the exhibit:

Sometimes I'm not sure which connects with me more, his artwork, or his way of expressing himself with words.  I think that one of the things I like about much of his work is that he's often creating something out of... well... trash.  It's that quality of taking something worthless and making it into something powerful or beautiful that adds dimension to his work and underscores many of the themes he works with.  I'm a fan.

Randy Shenk, Liturgical Artist (Facebook fan page)

In the zone

It started with this new chunk of fabric

And then I added a few others, mostly hand dyed with a few commercial ones thrown in.
And I was just minding my own business making something for my kitchen to replace the winter scene that just has to go.

And something really unexpected

started to happen

and I found the flow

and I got lost in the work

and remembered...

why I do what I do.

Yeah.

The Dye Babies

I recently picked up some seaweed stuff to make marbled fabrics. It’s an interesting process and when I had the gallery I sold many silk scarves by a local woman who hand marbles fabrics. I’ve never actually seen it done in person and would really love a class. I know I don’t have the right dyes for it, mine were a bit on the thin side and just spread out too much to leave behind much vibrant color for the fabric to soak up. I’m pretty sure I’m doing some of the other stuff wrong as well but I enjoyed the process and have some interesting fabrics as a result. So no complaints here. Though I have a big marbling tray in my kitchen with three gallons of seaweed slime laced with dyes. And I have no idea what to do with it! Does this stuff kill grass? Should I just throw it outside? (And hope the dogs don’t get into it.) I don’t think hubby would approve of dumping it down the drain. Hmmm… decisions, decisions.
So here are some results. They aren’t marbled so much as just an exploration of what the dye did when it hit the surface of the seaweed, I found that far more interesting than the ones who are swirled in the traditional marbling way. It’s the Jackson Pollock in me I guess. Honestly though, there are a lot of experiments left in this process. I think I’ll keep exploring. Which ones do you like best? I can't decide.