Reflections: On the Edge by Michelle Arnold Paine

Join us for the closing reception of Sanctuary by Michelle Arnold Paine on Friday, January 15th at 7PM. Michelle will share about her artistic practice and the history of Christian art portraying the birth of Christ and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

Doors open at 7PM with the artist talk starting at 7:30PM. Light refreshments provided. All ages welcome.

Annunciation after Piero by Michelle Arnold Paine

“This series of artworks explores the idea of sanctuary as God’s physical dwelling place in Mary, Mother of Jesus and in the church. Just as our bodies are “Temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19), so was Mary’s. In the Incarnation, the Lord came and dwelt in Mary as a Temple, as He had in the Israelite’s Tabernacle in the desert. In fact, the early church referred to Mary also as the Tabernacle. A medieval hymn refers to her as “Mary the Temple, Christ the Temple’s Lord.” 

In the Bible, the word “sanctuary” referred to the holiest place in the Temple, the place where the presence of God dwelled. We use it to refer to the place where we worship, the space where we encounter the church, which is both the body of believers and a physical space. 

Medieval architects built towering cathedrals to be visible, tangible expressions of divinity, signifiers of God’s presence on earth, intended to foster an encounter between heaven and earth.

Just as Mary received the words of the angel Gabriel, we must also open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. As Mary listened to God, I also “listen” to the art of the past as part of my creative process, studying classic artworks about Mary as I work to interpret her story for a contemporary audience. 

In the midst of the desert and darkness of this world, we look for sanctuary, we wait for Presence.”

— Michelle Arnold Paine