Wandering Heart Art: Golden Hour

Wandering Heart Art: Golden Hour

If attending church in person throughout lent you will notice the Stations of Peter art exhibit in the North Transept. We will also be displaying art on the front of our worship guides each week with the accompanying artist statement posted online. These images were printed with permission from A Sanctified Art.

We encourage you to take time to reflect on these images and practice Visio Divina, latin for “divine seeing,” a method of meditation, reflection, and prayer through a process of intentional seeing.

 

Golden Hour by Nicolette Peñaranda


 Inspired by John 13:1-20
Acrylic, ink, paper collage, yarn, metallic tape, and mixed media on canvas 

The story of Peter brings us to the last supper. The disciples are tucked away in the upper room. Within the overall composition of this piece, we see the West African symbol,6 Aban, which means fortress and demonstrates power and authority. Aban 7 is the central  image of Golden Hour and it is duplicated around the perimeter of the piece like a mighty fortress. The gold-plated vessel at the top represents the water Jesus uses to wash the disciples’ feet. Around it are miniature Mpuannum,8 the five tufts of hair. In Ghanaian culture, it is said that a priestess wore this hairstyle giving the symbol a meaning of deep loyalty and priestly office. The water drips directly down onto  swollen feet, feet that bear no name. The section to the left of the vessel holds a tearful Peter. He  refuses Jesus’ hospitality and then backtracks when he learns the value of merciful water. Around  him contains Dwannini Mmen,9 the horns of rams, and Nyansapo,10 the wisdom knot. Both sit subtly in  the background. If only Peter remembered that pride is a vice and through curiosity we are exposed  to the interconnectedness of wisdom and knowledge. Across from the image of Peter we see the  Eucharist. When orienting this piece in a diamond formation, the cup looks overflowing. But when the  canvas is sitting as a square, the wine is tipping out of the chalice, dripping in unison with the vessel  onto the Aban. The Eucharist is also one of the ways we receive Christ’s mercy. Body and blood broken  for us. Water is very versatile. The vessel of water is providing mercy. The swollen feet are receiving  mercy. Peter is asking for mercy. The chalice has shed mercy.  

There is a particular time of day we refer to as the “golden hour.” This is when photographers love to  take photos as the sun sits at a particular point, either after sunrise or before sunset, when daylight  is redder and softer than when the sun is higher in the sky. A serious photographer does anything to  capture that moment. When I reflect on the entire Passion story, this might just be the golden hour  for the disciples. Jesus and his crew are tucked away, having their Passover meal. They are cleansing  themselves and carrying on not realizing this will be the last moment of peace they will have. Sharing  a meal with the people you love is one of the most glorious moments anyone could have—before  what will end as a night of torture and betrayal. While Peter is tearful in this image, the overall vibe of  Golden Hour is soft, rich. It feels like it is captured in marble as if nothing can destroy it.  

—Rev. Nicolette Peñaranda 

6 Adinkra symbols originated from the Gyaman people of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.  

Learn more about their meanings and significance here: adinkrasymbols.org 

7 View the symbol and learn more about it here: adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/aban/ 

8 View the symbol and learn more about it here: adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/mpuannum/ 

9 View the symbol and learn more about it here: adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/dwennimmen/  

10 View the symbol and learn more about it here: adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/nyansapo/ 




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