A Post from Mimi Nimocks, Artist in Residence
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 | Uncategorized
Texas Conference Youth Academy continues to be amazing. Parents, the youth you have sent us are incredible – creative and willing to share their creative spirit through visuals in the worship services.
My job in the Arts Village is to oversee some of the Visuals for worship (Aliah James is also a contributing artist), make sure the altars are set up as well as teach visuals (why, how, etc.) to our students. As of today I have met with all of the students. We have talked about types of learning styles, how to study the Scriptural Text for the service, really ‘hear’ the Text, brainstorm visually, select colors, what makes up good design, perspective, contrast, etc. Than each group of students, armed with their newfound knowledge, did one or two practice altars in my classroom.
Last week I did all of the worship designs while they studied and watched. This week the responsibility is theirs from Monday thru Thursday. Monday nite the service was quite traditional and the focus of the Text was the Resurrection. The altar was formal, classic and simple. This does not mean we were without visuals tho! A Paschal candle, used during the Easter season, was next to the altar. Often carried in procession on Easter Sunday, it reminds us of the Risen Christ. We had a procession here with a cross bearer and all the participants. We also had a VERY large Bible which was held in the midst of the worshippers for the readings.
Tonight (Tues) we focused on “remembering.” We remembered our Baptism and we remembered to bear witness in the world. This particular worship group designed what they wanted for the altar arrangement and they selected appropriate colors and symbols. We did a ‘practice altar’ in my classroom, tweaking the elements a bit, adding candles, water and making it their own. Then we transferred the design to the worship area at First UMC Georgetown and actually had the service there.
This coming Thursday, the students are allowed to come back to a class which particularly interests them for one further session. They all seemed to love the large candles I have made for our altars here and so we may begin the process of making BIG candles which they can continue at home on their own.
As you can imagine, the Arts Village is somewhat fluid, depending on needs at the time vs. how much info we can pour into these students in such a short amount of time. Nonetheless, it has been a joy to work with them and get to know them during this academy. A lot of them have told me they had no idea how to do worship visuals or how long it took to plan each one. Hopefully, since they have learned the process they now might be able to assist at their home church, do visuals for a youth service or teach someone else the process.
Gratefully serving, Mimi Nimocks / Worship Visuals
