Inspired by Jesus and Women by KRISTI MCLELLAND
In my attempt to visually capture how Jesus viewed women regardless of the cultural norm I could not use a blank canvas. My “canvas” is real sheepskin vellum. There are images imprinted and mapped into the vellum. It is up to me, the artist, to reveal the map already designed by The Creator. The process of making and mounting vellum is extremely intense and to be appreciated. Thank you, David from Oregon, for your expertise.
When we look in the mirror of our past and reflect on the shame, we often continue to carry the guilt of the apple on our shoulders. Jesus lifts us out of the muck, away from the apple. He carries us from shame to honor.
I began with the face of a women. I sit for days in front of the 38 x 38 vellum and wait for a revelation of images. The women is Jesus’s compassion subject delivered from sin to freedom. She cries her suffering into a jar of tears. Jesus will carry her tears. He will go as far as counting and collecting them.
With courage, she steps out from the shadows of the wall and offers her servanthood with salty tears and oil. She wipes the feet of Jesus with her “crown”. Her glorious hair previously bound in a head cover is now exposed along with her shame. Her act of courage and faith is well received in the heart of her master.
Birds, so many birds. Birds had to be there. Birds do not stop daily routine to avoid our drama. I saw birds in the vellum stringing the pearls of her life story. Transforming her tears into pearls no story is wasted. The 3 stranded braid in her hair is the strength she/we gain from the Holy Trinity. There is a large bird much like those in the mountains of Samaria dropping 3 parables from his mouth teaching the eastern view so we can weigh it in contrast to our western translation.
The women at the well is you and me. I saw a sword. She might have carried a defensive sword in her heart on the way to the well that day. However, I see her holding her sword up high and mighty on her journey home.
The women cleansing the feet of Christ, with the only dignified possession she has, does so in spite of the possible consequences. Christ rebukes the host and He looks the women in the eyes and sets her free. She is me. She is you. She walks out of the room carrying with her something she did not enter with. Her dignity, her honor and forgiveness, her freedom and her empty jar.