Affluence
10/12/06
"Grafted in"
While in Berrima for a photo shoot for a multicultural exhibition called
"Affluence", I saw a double headed tap for the first time. I thought it
was a great symbol for affluence. Most taps have one spout for the water
but this one had two! So I took a photo of it. At home I took more photos
of taps and water and grafted them on adding flowing streams in Photoshop.
The taps were great symbols for the Christian church, a new branch grafted
into God's family, with the water of the Holy Spirit flowing through.
I began to think that this was no longer suitable for the exhibition,
but when I looked up the definition of "affluent" I was surprised how
well my image portrayed it: "flowing freely" and "tributary
stream flowing into a larger one" "profusion" (Garmonsway. G. N.,
1969, The Penguin English Dictionary Revised Edition).
"No longer separated into groups of foreigners and people of God, male
nor female, but all are made one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28
"Affluent"
I decided to make another image showing the waters of Judaism and Christianity
flowing into one larger pool - part of an ocean (The majesty of God filling
everything like a great ocean) with one tap spraying the water out, visually
paraphrasing the bible - no longer two groups, God's people and foreigners,
but all one in Christ. A multicultural pool created with a profusion of
photos - a multi photo collage. Affluence! But sometimes we are like a rusty
watering can not making the most of our resources.
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge (including that
gained visually) of the manna, the prestige and weightiness of Jehovah,
as the waters cover the sea." Paraphrased from Habakkuk 2:14
"I
will extend prosperity to her like a river, and wealth of the nations
like an overflowing stream." Isaiah 66:12
The Lolly Tree
While in Berrima I also saw a shop full of sweets, a profusion of colour
organized and constrained in lines of jars. Many lollies in one jar. Many
jars on one shelf. Many shelves in one shop. A multitude to satisfy desires
beyond the basic needs. It amazed me. It sprang thoughts of how affluent
we are - so many lollies to choose from. It reminded me of the church
- a multicoloured treat. I thought that being affluent meant having the
wealth and resources that create a wider range of choices, having an abundance
of choices and the freedom to choose. It was like a lolly tree with jars
of lollies peeling off like bark. I came across the following bible verse
and I felt as though I was in that place: "He enticed you from the narrow
mouth of distress, into a broad place with no constraints - freedom; and
spread out before you a table full of fatness, giving you an abundance
of food to choose from." Job 36:16
Having an abundance of choices and
a free will is not only like a river flowing freely but it is also like
ribbons and leaves dangling in the wind. I shaped the tree like a wine
glass to use as a symbol of affluence and a reminder that even our affluence
comes from God. When we drink from the communion cup we remember Christ
- the grape voice wining and warning. God's word is sweeter than lollies.
His word builds the tree of life in us and choosing to heed it paradoxically,
gives us the greatest freedom. Choice is a sweet blessing
"God answered me with freedom" Psalm 118:5
Please Sir Can I have Some More
While at Lake Bathurst for a photo shoot I saw an old stamp vendor and
gold pan - Empty, discarded, and rusty. The trappings of a past communication
and income generation method have become technological waste products
of our consumer habits. I thought of Dicken's Oliver, who was hungry because
of the greed of those in more powerful positions and thought that the
things we value can be as temporary as a ribbon blowing in the wind. and
whether hungry or not we still want more, more, more. Today's treasure
may be tomorrows trash so what should we who are affluent value most?
Exhibitions showing some or all of the above works
Disposable - A f f l u e n c e Travelling Art Exhibition