Jude 14-16

Jude 14-16 (1984) (3 1/2" x 5")

collage on paper



These verses are intriguing in that Jude quotes from the non-canonical Book of Enoch. This does not mean that we should consider that book equal to the accepted scriptures, merely that Jude found one verse in the book useful in emphasizing his point that judgment from God will come eventually on ungodly people.

Jude 12-13

Jude 12-13 (1984) (3 1/2" x 5")

collage on paper

 

Jude continues his description of the evildoers in the church with a series of striking metaphors drawn from nature: waterless clouds, trees without fruit, wild waves, and wandering stars. Their destiny is the "deepest darkness."

Jude 10-12

Jude 10-12 (1984) (3 1/2" x 5")

collage on paper



Jude continues his diatribe against those who would pervert the cause of Christ by comparing them to the prophet Balaam who was in it only for the money, Cain with his jealous anger, and Korah who arrogantly led a rebellion against Moses.

Jude 9

Jude 9 (1984) (3 1/2" x 5")

collage on paper

This intriguing verse alludes to non-biblical Old Testament event in which the archangel Michael and Satan disputed over the body of Moses. Satan's contention, according to the apocryphal Assumption of Moses, was that Moses was unworthy of saving since he was a murderer. Fortunately for Moses as well as for all of us flawed sinners, it is God's grace that ultimately counts, not our own works.

Jude 7-8

 Jude 7-8 (1984) (3 1/2" x 5")

collage on paper



The example of Sodom and Gomorrah is given by Jude as an example of those deserving the punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 5-6

These verses are a harsh reminder that we cannot assume that our actions do not matter to God, even if we are God's chosen people or his angels. Judgment comes in the end for all.

Jude 5-6 (1984) (3 1/2" x 5")

collage on paper

The Book of Jude

The first series of collages I did using only black-and-white images was on the Book of Jude. Most of the illustrations I used for their basis came from an early edition of Jules Verne's book Hector Servadac. The only problem with these collages is that they ended up looking like straightforward pictures that I merely re-named, rather than collages pieced together with an average of about 6-8 pieces each. I later learned to mix black-and-white images with color photographs to emphasize the composite nature of the end result. Below is the first piece in the series:

Jude 1-4 (1984) (3 1/2" x 5")

collage on paper

Sad News

One of my earliest pieces was not based on any biblical passage but just on the general theme of someone receiving bad news. The technique I used was an experimental one in which I first glued sand on a pane of glass in the desired pattern and then painted the entire surface with oils. I was afraid that the paint and/or the sand would flake off, but I have had the picture hanging in various houses for over fifty years and it looks just like the day I painted it.

Sad News (1960) (11 1/2" x 8 1/2")

oil on sand and glass

The Tower of Babel

The story of the Tower of Babel is a powerful cautionary tale for any person or nation that tries to reach too far.  Although we are enabled and encouraged to push back the frontiers of knowledge, it is good to keep in mind the saying of Thomas a Kempis: "Man proposes, but God disposes."

Tower (2013) (3' x 2')

acrylic and collage on canvas

Psalm 100

A Joyful Noise (2012) (12" x 12")

collage and acrylic on canvas



"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he that made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the LORD is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations."

Psalm 67

Praise to God (2012) (12" x 12")

acrylic on canvas

This abstract rendering of Psalm 67 demonstrates pictorially the poetic parallelism that occurs in Hebrew poetry whereby the second (and third) line of verse repeats the general thought of the first line but expands it somewhat.

The Anointing of Jesus

I had envisioned a whole series of collages with rhyming titles such as above, but have only managed to produce one picture so far. As you might guess, the subject is the story of the woman breaking the jar of expensive perfume and anointing Jesus with it (Mark 14:3-9).  We should not be afraid of extravagant actions performed for the glory of God.

  Shard/Nard (2011) (11" x 14")

collage on canvas

Prayer Box 5

Another aspect of prayer, persistence, is illustrated in Jesus' parable of the widow and the unjust judge (found in Luke 18:1-8).  Some people have trouble with this story since it seems to equate God with someone who is unjust. The point of the parable is that if even an unjust person gives in to someone's request after much pleading, certainly a just God will grant a reasonable request more swiftly.

Persistence (2006) (9 1/2" x 6 1/2" x 5 1/4")

construction in telephone generator box

inside

left side

right side

Prayer Box 4

Jesus tells a parable found in Luke 18:9-14 about the contrast to a self-righteous Pharisee and a repentant tax collector both approaching God in prayer. The surprising moral of the story is "All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Pride and Poverty (2006) (8" x 4 1/2" x 6 1/2")

assemblage in wooden box)

left side

back view

top view

Prayer Box 3

In both Matthew 7:7-11 and Luke 11:9-13, Jesus tells us to ask and it will be given because God knows what we truly need, not just want.

Provision (2006) (9 3/4" x 7 1/2" x 5 1/4")

assemblage in telephone generator box

inside view

left side

top view

back view

Prayer Box 2

Matthew 6:9-13 records the familar Lord's Prayer of Jesus. The basis for much of the collaged material in this assemblage came from a calligraphed version of the Lord's Prayer found in an old English periodical.

Pattern (2006) (9" x 6 3/8" x 5 7/8")

assemblage in telephone generator box

inside lid

top view

front view

right side

Prayer Box 1

Old telephones utilized hand-cranked generators housed in wooden boxes. These make ideal starting points for assemblages and seemed to be especially suited for the subject of prayer since telephones and prayer are two forms of communication.  As you may gather from the title of the piece below, it is meant to illustrate the difference between those who feel there is a proper methodology or formula to be used in prayer and those who rely on the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit to communicate with God.

Power vs. Procedure (inside) (2006)

mixed media assemblage



inside lid

Left View

 Exterior View

Right View