“Art and visuals ‘speak’ to some people more than words, and the visual arts can be a means to explain and stimulate discussion of faith, life and commitment,” says organiser Ruth Butler.

“The aim is evangelism and we’ll have artists’ talks three times a day (11am, 1pm and 3pm) and people who can chat casually to people when they come to see the work.”

“They invite conversations about biblical content.” – Ruth Butler

A similar exhibition drew thousands this year, with good attendance at the artist talks. Next year’s exhibition will feature Maz Gill-Harper’s paintings of the Parables. She has exhibited her “God art” at more than 20 Psychic Expos. “I set up ‘Jesus Spaces,’ using the art to invite conversations about him and what he has done for us.”

“The Kingdom of God is like a net let down into a lake”:
Maz Gill-Harper’s painting of Matthew 13:47.
“Not much escapes a dragnet,” says the artist. Maz Gill-Harper

The paintings have image and text from Scripture; “they invite conversations about biblical content,” says Butler. “We did an exhibition like this with Maz and two other artists 12 years ago and 3000 people came through, with groups of about 20 at each artist talk three times a day.”

Gill-Harper is joined by Julie Haddrick, an internationally known fabric artist and a member of Blackwood Uniting Church. Some of her work simply depicts nature, and other work is specifically Christian including commissions for Scots Church on North Terrace.

Julie Haddrick’s “Creation”
for Scots Church, North Terrace. Julie Haddrick

Yankalilla potter and sculptor Mark Pearse will show pieces that reflect creation. “The potter and his clay speaking of daily living,” is how Butler describes the work. “The sculpture, dry from the earth, speaks to inspire, to challenge, to try and find a way, giving expression to a brief journey.”

The exhibition will be open 10am to 4pm from February 18 to March 5.