By Elizabeth Gray King
Years ago I learned from the Schyler Institute of Worship and Arts that there are four active languages in worship – aural (what we hear), visual (what we see), kinaesthetic (how we move) and verbal (the words we use). I like to think of God’s languages this way and enjoy affirming that visual language is one way of God speaking to us. It makes sense when we think of messages we receive from someone’s facial expression or body movement, of learning we receive when we see particular objects or buildings, of emotions we feel when seeing particular colours. To pray with art is to pray with expectation that what we see will give us new insight, a new experience, and a deeper relationship with God.
The easy answer to how to pray with art is to experience it. But this is no easy answer for many. There are two ways I use and recommend for praying with art; one is to look at it thoughtfully, the other is to create it.
Seeing art as prayer
Approach any piece of art at any place. It could be in a gallery or exhibition space, but for prayer, it is more likely that the work of art will be in discreet place such as a designated prayer space in a church or retreat centre. You might be in group prayer where a work of art is projected onto a wall or screen. If you are praying alone, you could use a computer to access online art via an artist’s or collection’s website. You could collect artworks from books, posters or postcards.
Once you’ve found the art you want to settle with, start by looking carefully. No matter what the artist may suggest you see, you will see what you see. This is one of the wonderful things about art; it has almost endless meaning depending on who is looking. Breathe. Take time. Allow your eyes to move where they want to move and try not to make them see. Give yourself permission to roam slowly where your eyes seem to want to move. If there is a section which catches you often, rest with it. What does the colour, or lack of colour make you feel or think? What about the shapes caught your attention? Is there a strong light? Or dark? Focus a moment and consider: what of God can you see as you pay attention? Breathe. Let the revelation arrive and speak what it has to say.
Creating art as prayer
To pray whilst creating is to find a colour medium you like; pens, pencils, chalks, paint, crayons, software on a smartphone or tablet. Find a support for the colour; paper, fabric, canvas, cardboard, wood, glass, a smartphone or tablet. Before you become used to this kind of prayer, spend some time experiencing the colours and note, perhaps by creating a guide, which colours already mean something to you. What does red make you feel already? Blue? Is yellow a happy colour? Then start this quite open prayer. Breathe. Every time a word comes into your mind, replace it with colour and make any kind of shape with it. Watch the shapes grow and see what they may be showing you. Try not to do anything identifiable unless you absolutely need to for the prayer’s sake. Stop occasionally, looking well at what has arrived. Keep moving into your prayer with more colours and shapes until you think and feel that you are finished. Then see what you have created. What does this say to you from God?
