At UCC we embrace expansive, welcoming love and wholeness in a fragmented world. In order to bring this message into our community, the Endowment for Creative Ministry Program Committee focused on commissioning a work of art that represents this vision. The Program Committee is presently composed of Susan Cassano, Ron Martin, Cody Summerville, Nancy Bessent, Zach Kilborn, Ron Boerger, and Megan Peglar. We reviewed submissions from over 20 artists, narrowed it down to three intensive interviews, and then to one outstanding artist.
We chose Billy Joe Miller, an interdisciplinary artist from Santa Fe. He creates architectural interventions, performance art, and immersive environments to engage a community in creating a sense of sanctuary out on the street. Miller creates intimate site-specific installations that evoke sacred spaces. His recent work has been focused on the creation of public, inclusive sanctuary spaces. Learn more about him here.
Miller grew up in a conservative Christian church and has since found inspiration, community, and sanctuary with the United Church of Christ, some Mennonite communities, Unitarians, and other faiths.
He has created an initial design inspired by the arches on our own UCC bell tower. It’s 5 to 7 standing stained glass-like (acrylic) arched panels, positioned at an angle and standing on either side of the entrance to our portico to welcome all to our sanctuary. In effect, the arches with stained glass-like color will enlarge our sanctuary right into the portico. He envisions native plants surrounding the arches, with lighting hidden in the plants for night lighting when desired. Click here to read a statement from Billy Joe about the concept.
Billy Joe will spend more time at the church and work with our congregation and the broader community to further develop and finalize the design and production of his art.
He inspired the creative process even in us during his interviews. Drawing out contributions from each of us then inspires his design of the work. Our hope is that he will draw our congregation together with others in our local community to create a piece that belongs to all of us. The unveiling could include the community through performance and music, adding another layer to the creative process and community integration. He will be with us on June 4 and June 11, in the Sunday school hour on each day as well as for after-church fellowship and brainstorming activities, so please mark your calendars.
Respectfully,
ECM Program Committee