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Art Exhibit Gets Strong Response

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — "I feel like I am in a holy place," reflected the director of the National Gallery in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, as he wandered among tall, gently swaying fabric panels.

Artist Agatha Doerksen entitled the collection of panels, decorated with quilt blocks from around the world, "Prayer Garden." It was part of a photograph and art exhibit created by Ray Dirks, curator of the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada).

The exhibit, "In God's Image," opened at the National Gallery in July and then was moved to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds, site of the Mennonite World Conference 14th Assembly, August 11-17. MWC endorsed Dirks' project, which reflects the worldwide Mennonite/Anabaptist family. It is his first collection with an Anabaptist focus.

Working with Larry Miller, MWC executive secretary, and church leaders, Dirks visited 17 countries by invitation where there are MWC-related churches.

Living with ordinary people for weeks at a time in cities, towns and remote villages, he was able to photograph their daily lives. He also commissioned and purchased art by professionals for the exhibit.

In Zambia, Brethren in Christ bishop Enock Shamapani helped arrange Dirks' visit to the village of Sakeempa. Dirks said it was an honour to share the life of a family struggling to survive on their small farm. He left money to pay for his food.

In India, where he lived with an elderly woman on her village compound, he slept outdoors with numerous extended family members who came and went.

"I really liked it there and would love to go back," he said.

Dirks said that Genesis 1:27, "God created humankind in his image," drives this exhibit. Dirks included photos "not artistically or technically perfect" to create intimacy, immediacy and to reflect the ordinary reality of real people, he said.

Visitors to the exhibit in its spartan venue at the fairgrounds said they were moved as they "walked around the world," that they "felt a part of a global family."

"The exhibit is a bold statement by the church that visual art is relevant and accepted, that artists have something to say to the world. This is new for our church," Dirks said.

A coffeetable book, In God's Image, by Ray Dirks and Larry Miller, is scheduled for release in October. Dirks is exploring exhibitions of the art collection in Europe and North America and he plans to make powerpoint and slide presentations of the exhibit available to churches.

For more information, contact Dirks at rdirks@mennonitechurch.ca.

-- Ferne Burkhardt, News Editor

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