Department of Visual Arts
About the Visual Arts Department
The Department of Visual Arts aims to promote a deeper understanding of the relationship between the visual arts and worship. It also aims to encourage the use of visual arts in worship through initiating relevant activities throughout the church and by acting as a resource and contact point for questions relating to this topic.
The goals of the department are:
- to identify the existing specific needs for visual art in congregations, and identify the talents of people which could be used to fill those needs
- to encourage congregations to consider the wider use of visual arts in worship and to identify local talents, or if these are not available, provide assistance in referring suitable people
- to assist in the formation of special interest groups of artists and craftspeople where such groups are viable and meet a specific need
- to organise forums for discussion of topics related to art and worship
- to communicate and demonstrate new possibilities for the use of art in worship
LCA Visual Arts Workshop Presentations
On Tues 25th August 2009 the LCA Visual Arts Department held a Visual Arts workshop in Adelaide. EAch session was presented by a member of the department.
Workshop topics include:
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Basic Concepts of design - by Sally Mattner
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Designing sacred space including and the use of data projectors - by Nigel Rosenzweig
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Design in church fabrics - by Jan Kaesler
The Visual Arts department shares this resource simply as a way of encouraging congregations in the LCA to consider designing Visual Arts installations for their worship spaces that help communicate the Gospel.
Click here to view a list of workshop presentation video files available for download.
Artists Register
This register has been compiled to assist congregations and other church organisations who may be interested in commissioning artists and craftspeople with suitable talents and skills.
This register is for information only. The Lutheran Church of Australia and its Departments do not endorse or recommend any of those listed on the register. We suggest that the artists be contacted direct to discuss the commission. Click here to view the register.
For those unfamiliar with the process of commissioning an artist, the Lutheran Church of Australia's Department of Visual Art has published guidelines which are available from the secretary of the Department of Visual Arts, Mrs Janise Fournier or to download the guidelines, click here.
Artists who wish to be included on this register should contact the secretary of the Department of Visual Arts, Mrs Janise Fournier.
Ecclesiastical Textile Art
Information and advice previously provided through the Lutheran Textile Artists Fellowship is now available through the Department of Visual Arts. The contact person is:
Jan Kaesler
PO Box 237, Tintinara, SA 5266
Tel: 08 8121 5232
Mobile: 0408 537 722
Email: djkaesler@internode.on.net
Visual Arts Installations
In recent months the LCA Visual Arts department asked congregations to submit examples of their Visual Arts installations.
Submissions were received from :
Department of Visual Arts Gallery
Permission is granted to download and print any item in this gallery
To view a larger image in the gallery, just click on the image.
Resources
The Department of Visual Arts has assumed oversight of the fabric bank formerly managed by the Lutheran Textile Artists Fellowship. This fabric bank is held at Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place, Adelaide Ph: (08) 8223 6662. It is available for anyone working on an ecclesiastical textile project. Anyone who donates fabrics to this bank may then also take whatever fabrics they need for any particular project. A monetary donation may also be left at the Bethlehem office, marked for: Department of Visual Arts.
Books, magazines and videos acquired by the Lutheran Textile Artists Fellowship are now available through the Löhe Library at Australian Lutheran College, 104 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide, SA 5006.
An alb pattern is available for hire from Mrs Janise Fournier
Visual Arts Awards 2008
In 2008 the LCA Visual Arts Dept again celebrated the use of the visual arts in worship through it’s Visual Arts Awards.
The awards were run under the theme:
"What do you see? – I see Jesus"
"I see a church whose worship spaces are being enriched by the use of visual arts. "
"I see people engaged with the gospel through the use of visual arts in worship"
"I see people growing and sharing their faith through visual arts. "
In many congregations, schools and institutions worship is being enriched with visual arts.
In the following ppt files you will find presentations that can be downloaded and shared to help promote the use of visual arts in your church. The Presentations contain images received for the 2008 awards.
Visual Arts Awards 2006
Results, and comments of judges
Preamble
The judges want to commend all the entrants for the very high standard of entries, and for the way that they involve so many members of their congregations, especially the schools. The schools were particularly good at involving the children, and combining their work in the entries.
It was a very difficult decision, arriving at winners, because of the diversity of the art forms; the judges loved the way that different congregations used art to bridge the age gaps, so children were able to connect art and worship and make visual art part of their worship from a very early age.
The judges decided to award three Highly Commended certificates:
1. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory
Their series of banners showed extremely strong symbols that worked visually very well as a unified set; the judges liked the way these banners did not need to rely on words (or type) because they were just visual; they encouraged reflection on the artwork as a whole. They were also very elegant; not overly complex, but offered the viewer the opportunity to explore them and understand the work.
 
2. St Lukes, Albury, New South Wales
The wood panels were a labour of love. The judges admired the tactile nature of the work; it was “3D". They particularly admired the sensitive placement of the artworks in the church; it was carefully thought about, and well done. These are artworks primarily for children, to touch and feel the story, as they were in relief. They are in the narthex in a special place for children to go and have a look and feel.
 
3. Our Redeemer, Warracknabeal, Victoria
Although the tomb was only an Easter installation, it worked because it was so simple and so clear and aesthetically not overly complex; it enhanced the church, which was otherwise reasonably plain. Other parishes did a tomb, but this one did it very well.
4. THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
SEAFORD LUTHERAN PARISH
The judges chose this Ecumenical Garden because it is a living example of ecumenical co-operation. It offered both permanence and the change which a garden provides, and is a very beautiful symbol of unity. The use of natural space to enhance worship was commended by the judges, also the fact that it is a permanent work, not something that can be taken down. It is both permanent and a symbol of unity, but the garden can change as a garden does.
The judges commended the use of a fountain as an altar when the garden is used as a physical worship space; it is a space in which one can actually go and worship.
In a sense it is unique because it was the only one of that kind of thing – an architectural feature - that was submitted. It is also the only work that is living, and therefore evolving.
To enhance worship, the permanent things were the important things; some things can be around for three days and then disappear, along with the memory of those things, but this will always be there. All the members of the different denominations that use this Centre have to walk through the garden to get to the churches. It is a unifying aspect for the different denominations, something which is sadly lacking in human beings these days.
The garden requires constant nurturing because it is a garden – the same can be said of all living things.
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