The Stirring’s 9th Anniversary, Sunday, September 26, 5:30 PM, in the South Hall

Enjoy some hometown music as Rudy Howard and Ephie Johnson join The Stirring Band. Experience the journey of prayerful art from around the country during a message from Eli Morris.  Eat with friends following the service while checking out The Gallery and special music.

See below for more information about the journey of the current art series displayed in The Stirring Art Gallery.

“To Send a Prayer: a Collaborative Journal Project”
at The Stirring Art Gallery

Exhibit description:

Last year, Richard Fudge was planning “To Send a Prayer,” an exhibit that explored the visual metaphor of a prayer being akin to a letter. During the planning, Fudge shared the concept and some of his sketches with a fellow artist in Texas. Inspired by the concept of mailing letters to heaven, Fudge began a collaborative journal project. Artists across the country were invited to participate by signing up to receive a journal and add their own visual expressions of prayer through painting, drawing, and photography. The journals began traveling across the country with artists participating from coast to coast.

Over the past year, the four journals have traveled over 25,000 miles, visited 23 cities and over 40 artists have contributed to the project. For the exhibit, 20 selected pages were enlarged and printed for display.

Featured Artists:

Richard Fudge – Memphis, TN

Deeann C. Rieves – Atlanta, GA

Alberto Cabrera – Memphis, TN

Jennifer Harvey – Germantown, TN

Suzan R. Wallace – Cape Carteret, NC

Mike Carter – Fort Mill, SC

Mary DeCroce – Southington, CT

Chad Michael Irwin – Memphis, TN

Arian Armstrong – Newport, KY

Gail Wilkins – Memphis, TN

Amelia Whaley – Mt. Pleasant, SC

Anneli Anderson – Portland, OR

Charlie Forrester – Memphis, TN

Kathy MacDonald – Memphis, TN

Graeme Parsons – Bartlett, TN

Opening Reception:

Sunday, September 26

5:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Viewers are invited to attend The Stirring worship experience which begins at 5:30 pm. During this special service, Richard Fudge will create original artwork live on stage. Following the service at 6:30 pm, guests can view the exhibit, enjoy refreshments, and enjoy live music.

“To Send a Prayer: a Collaborative Journal Project” will be on display from September 26th to November 7th. The gallery is open 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The Stirring Art Gallery also can be viewed during Hope Church’s regular office hours.

Where:

The Stirring Art Gallery in Hope Church

(located upstairs inside Entrance 1)

8500 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, Tennessee 38018

www.hopepres.com • www.thestirring.net • 901-755-7721

Background on The Stirring Art Gallery:

Various works by local artists are currently on display at The Stirring Art Gallery, located inside Hope Church. Many of the paintings were created live on stage during The Stirring service. Each month, a different local artist volunteers to paint during the service. The completed painting(s) and several other selected works by the artist are then displayed in the gallery and available for purchase by contacting the artist.

The Stirring meets every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Hope Church at 8500 Walnut Grove Rd. in Cordova, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.thestirring.net.

Save the Date: Art of Caring

Saturday, August 28th 

5:30p - 7:30p

The Art of Caring
@ the Clark Opera Memphis Center
6745 Wolf River Boulevard

Art of Caring is a reception and silent art auction that benefits the Baptist Trinity Hospice House and the Kemmons Wilson Family Center for Good Grief. This year the event is taking place in an exciting new venue. I hope that you'll make your calendar and consider joining me. This year I'm donating another large piece from my To Send a Prayer series.

"Release" by Richard Fudge

2010 - mixed media, acrylic

24"x48" on wood panel

To purchase tickets or for more information about Art of Caring, please call 901-227-7123
or email jay.atkinson@bmhcc.org

Opening Reception - Sitting up with the Dead – Gallery 210

Opening Reception - Sitting up with the Dead 

Gallery 210 

1015 South Cooper

July 16th 

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The latest show to hit Midtown Memphis’ still new but increasingly potent Gallery 210 is a collaboration between Chris Nadaskay and Melinda Eckley titled "Sitting up with the Dead"—according to them a distinctly southern tradition—a vigil over the recently departed. “Who’s passed?” one might ask. According to Nadaskay and Eckley it is modern culture’s place of archeological importance; it is the enforced expectations of heirlooms restricting the future, both individually and culturally. 

The show will exhibit a museum like atmosphere in an attempt to encapsulate the feeling that each piece is a “remnant of some future past”—excavated and historically meaningful. But what is it present-humanity culturally esteems, and how will its treasures be perceived when exhumed? What contribution, if any, will they make? Will they liberate, enlighten or impede?

Nadaskay and Eckley are both artists of repute who have a local tradition. Both are professors at Union University; Eckley is also an alumni of Memphis College of Art. Nadaskay currently works in “mixed media/ceramic wall relief”; while Eckley creates sculptural installations.

The show opens with a reception and artist lecture and runs from July 16 – August 15, 2010. The opening night reception (July 16th 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.) is open and free to the public. General gallery hours are from 9:00 a.m. – Noon, Monday thru Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sundays. For more information please call (901) 377-3372.

Art show and live painting at Downtown Presbyterian

This Friday during the South Main Trolley Art Tour, I will be showing some works at Downtown Presbyterian Church and doing a live painting.

Friday 6p-9p
Downtown Presbyterian
525 South Main St.
(next to Ernestine and Hazel's)
parking is going to be trickier with the music festival, but you should be able to find a free spot in the South Main area.

On a related note, I was concerned about whether or not this Friday would be a good art night what with the music festival and all, but I picked up the current issue of the Memphis Flyer. There is a lot of good art openings happening tonight. I think it will be an excellent night, but i would advise you to try to detour around the Beale and Union area of downtown. That's going to be very congested.

Now if i could just make up my mind about what I'm going to paint tomorrow night.

See you there,
Fudge

Fudge around town

A friend pointed out to me that I've got art hanging all around town but I haven't even made mention of it to hardly anyone. It's not a big deal to me since none of the work is new. But I guess that it is noteworthy that I'm hanging at 3 different locations right now.

Samuel's Furniture and Interiors  
The location in East Memphis at 5508 Poplar Avenue has 4 pieces of my work on display.

Starbucks @ Germantown Pkwy. & Trinity Rd
My favorite Starbucks in town has 4 pieces of my work on display. Why is it my favorite? It's not because they display my work, but because I have a bunch of friends who work there so I usually get a hug with my coffee.


and of course, The Stirring Art Gallery at Hope Church
I've got quite a few back in the gallery along with many other Stirring artists' works. It's going to be a nice collection and you should come check it out and our Maundy Thursday service. Speaking of which, 8 other artists and myself created paintings for this service. But that's all I can tell you about that. 

True Colors - Maundy Thursday service at The Stirring
Thursday, April 1 - 6pm and 8pm
How do you appear to people?
Do you appear put together on the outside, but it’s secretly all you can do to get out of bed in the morning? Why do we try to paint ourselves as something different than what we truly are?


Join us at The Stirring for our special Maundy Thursday service and discover the power to reveal the true you. Worship led by the The Stirring Band and a message by Eli Morris.Communion will be served in The Stirring’s unique style.

LifeLink Memphis makes the news

I grabbed this from the CA web page. Click on the link below to read the full article and see samples from the exhibit. Congrats on the nice write up, LifeLink. I'm excited about the CIVA connection too.

Visual commentary on the Scriptures by Jewish masters

By Bill Ellis
Friday, December 18, 2009, Commercial Appeal

In its first high-profile exhibit, Lifelink Memphis' upstart art space, Gallery 210, has secured a profoundly moving show of Biblical work by two 20th century Jewish masters. Titled "Talmud: The Art of Ben-Zion and Marc Chagall," the collection of 42 lithographs and intaglio prints by the two seminal artists runs through Jan. 15 and is part of a traveling exhibit put together by national nonprofit visual arts organization CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts) from the private collection of affiliated artist Edward Knippers.

http://www.gomemphis.com/news/2009/dec/18/visual-commentary-on-the-scriptures/

Atonement: Closing Reception

Closing Reception:
December 20th
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Viewers are invited to attend one of The Stirring's two Christmas services which are at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm. During these special services, Brittney Owens and Joy Deeann Carson will create original artwork live on stage. Guests can view the exhibit, purchase work, speak to the artists, and enjoy refreshments before or after the services.

Where:
The Stirring Art Gallery in Hope Church
(located upstairs inside Entrance 1)
8500 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, Tennessee 38018
www.hopepres.com • www.thestirring.net • 901-755-7721

Exhibit description:
The Stirring art gallery is proud to present Atonement, an exhibit in which draws inspiration from the life of Mary. The theme was chosen based the time on the two artists strengths and passions.

“I was really excited about how this exhibit came together,” says Richard Fudge, the Stirring Art Gallery manager. “I’ve been trying to get Brittney’s work in the gallery for some time, and I really wanted a chance to show Deeann’s work again.”

“It was interesting to focus primarily on little Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she is the most well known woman of the Bible. She embodies beauty in her surrender, courage, desperation, and vulnerability.” – Deeann Carson Rieves

Rieves focuses on women from the Bible in her paintings and how she can relate to part of their journey. The she selects which part of the figure can best express the desired characteristic they exemplify- a hand desperately reaching for something lost, and deceitful turn of the wrist, a seductive glance, or a reluctant tilt of the neck. The collaged ambiguous environments give the viewer hints to the story.

“Mary holds to be a selfless, giving individual whose life was dedicated to God. Her example as a mother is a powerful expression of love.” – Brittney Owens

Owens draws inspiration from the Baroque era's use of strong contrast of light and dark, usually portraying pieces with powerful symbolic images to express ideas of good and evil, life and death. Collage is used in her works to add a subtle presence from Christ. Each piece has hidden images that require closer examination in order to find.

Atonement: honoring the willing heart of a young woman who delivered mercy

Currently on display through January 3rd
The gallery is open 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The Stirring Art Gallery also can be viewed during Hope Church’s regular office hours. To purchase work, please contact Richard Fudge.

Where:
The Stirring Art Gallery in Hope Church
(located upstairs inside Entrance 1)
8500 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, Tennessee 38018
www.hopepres.com • www.thestirring.net • 901-755-7721

Exhibit description:
The Stirring art gallery is proud to present Atonement, an exhibit in which draws inspiration from the life of Mary. The theme was chosen based the time on the two artists strengths and passions.

“I was really excited about how this exhibit came together,” says Richard Fudge, the Stirring Art Gallery manager. “I’ve been trying to get Brittney’s work in the gallery for some time, and I really wanted a chance to show Deeann’s work again.”

“It was interesting to focus primarily on little Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she is the most well known woman of the Bible. She embodies beauty in her surrender, courage, desperation, and vulnerability.” – Deeann Carson Rieves

Rieves focuses on women from the Bible in her paintings and how she can relate to part of their journey. The she selects which part of the figure can best express the desired characteristic they exemplify- a hand desperately reaching for something lost, and deceitful turn of the wrist, a seductive glance, or a reluctant tilt of the neck. The collaged ambiguous environments give the viewer hints to the story.

“Mary holds to be a selfless, giving individual whose life was dedicated to God. Her example as a mother is a powerful expression of love.” – Brittney Owens

Owens draws inspiration from the Baroque era's use of strong contrast of light and dark, usually portraying pieces with powerful symbolic images to express ideas of good and evil, life and death. Collage is used in her works to add a subtle presence from Christ. Each piece has hidden images that require closer examination in order to find.

Brittney Owens:
Brittney Owens is a published author and professional painter from Little Rock, AR. Her work has been featured in Ruminate Magazine and A Pond in the Woods, a children's book. Brittney's work has been selected Juror's Choice three years in a row during the Mustard Tree Arts Festival. She is currently working on another children's book. Brittney resides in Fort Smith, AR.

Deeann Carson Rieves:
Deeann Rieves is a professional artist from Nashville, TN that whose work has been featured in juried exhibits in Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, and Missouri. After graduating from Memphis College of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and an emphasis on Painting in December 2007, she has had two solo shows Beneath The Surface at The Stirring Gallery in Memphis, TN, and Embody at the Guachoya Cultural Arts Center in Lake Village, AR. Deeann had a piece in the Be A Doll exhibit at Estel Gallery in Nashville this Summer, and more recently two works in the Renaissance Regional Art Exhibit at The Renaissance Center in Dickson, TN and Fiber Focus in St. Louis, Missouri.

More pics from the opening

more of Arian's prints.

works by Cara, Erin, and other Stirring artists.

works by Gail and Kathy

To Send a Prayer - Opening Reception

The always helpful Cara works on our floating envelopes installation.

Prints by Arian Armstrong which you can also buy from her esty shop.

Paintings by Arian Armstrong which you can purchase the original or a limited edition print.

Works by Arian and Richard Fudge.

More images to come.

Opening Reception for To Send a Prayer at the Stirring

Exhibit description:

Is God listening? Why do so many prayers go unanswered? What’s the point of prayer? How can I make my prayer time more satisfying?

Please join us as we explore these and other questions through artistic expression. The exhibit will feature the work of Arian Armstrong and Richard Fudge along with other local and national artists.

The work will be divided into two types; paintings that explore the visual metaphor of a prayer being akin to a letter, and paintings that focus on visual expressions of prayer through painting, drawing, and photography.

"This show holds a lot of exciting firsts for me — my first multi-piece show, artists I've never met, an audience who has probably never heard of me, all in a city I've never been to." says Arian Armstrong. "I'm honored to participate in this event and have high hopes for the relationships this opportunity will bring. This 'To Send A Prayer' experience has challenged me as an artist and a Christ-follower and has given me a broader vision for collaborating with other artists in The Body, both locally and afar."

Arian Armstrong:
Arian Armstrong lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two boys, ages 1 and 4. After graduating with a degree in theatrical set design she and her husband followed the call to live in Japan, then Boston, and recently back home to Cincinnati where they are both living and loving the freelance life. She juggles a variety of creative roles — artist, graphic designer, illustrator, set designer, crafter, photographer — all to fulfill an insatiable desire to create, communicate, to make known and to be known.

Richard Fudge:
Richard Fudge received his BFA from the University of Memphis in 2003. He pursues his passion for painting by creating works in his studio and live on-stage during The Stirring. As the senior artist and gallery manager at The Stirring, Fudge promotes the enrichment of the worship experience through visual art.

Opening Reception:

September 27^th
5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Viewers are invited to attend The Stirring worship experience which begins at 5:30 pm. During this special service, Arian Armstrong and Richard Fudge will create original artwork live on stage. Following the service at 6:30 pm, guests can view the exhibit, enjoy refreshments, and listen to Valerie June, a singer/songwriter of soul-stirring blues, as she performs what she calls “Organic Moonshine Roots Music.”

“To Send a Prayer” art exhibit will be on display from September 27^th to November 8^th.
The gallery is open 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The Stirring Art Gallery also can be viewed during Hope Church’s regular office hours.

Where:

The Stirring Art Gallery in Hope Church
(located upstairs inside Entrance 1)
8500 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, Tennessee 38018

www.hopepres.com • www.thestirring.net • 901-755-7721

Background on The Stirring Art Gallery:

Various works by local artists are currently on display at The Stirring Art Gallery, located inside Hope Church. Many of the paintings were created live on stage during The Stirring service. Each month, a different local artist volunteers to paint during the service. The completed painting(s) and several other selected works by the artist are then displayed in the gallery and available for purchase by contacting the artist.

The Stirring meets every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Hope Church at 8500 Walnut Grove Rd. in Cordova, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.thestirring.net.

Fudge on South Main with Project Sketchbook

Another project I got involved with.


Project Sketchbook is a mail-art project created by the Rozelle Artists Guild and sponsored by Memphis College of Art. Over this past summer, they have distributed over 100 4x5inch, 12 page, handmade sketchbooks to artists & writers in Memphis and abroad. The finished sketchbooks will be on display at an exhibition on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 511 S. Main from 6-9PM. The best pages will be compiled into a book. If you're interested in having a sketchbook mailed to you, contact RAG at rozellehouse@gmail.com. The deadline for finished sketchbooks is August 14th, 2009. You can check out more info. about Rozelle Artists Guild & Project Sketchbook at rozelleartistsguild.org.

Here is my sketchbook. It's sort of a "Fight Club" themed book. It's expressions of frustration. It's not that i hate my job, its fine. but i do occasionally dislike being a grown-up with all the responsibilities, trappings, and stuff.

Art for The Least of These

What: Circa: An Anniversary Celebration and Benefit

When: Thursday, August 27, 2009 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Circa by John Bragg

119 S. Main Street, Suite 100

Memphis, TN 38103

http://www.circamemphis.com/events/

Please join me this Thursday, August 27th at Circa on Main Street for their 2nd Anniversary Celebration and Benefit! There will be a wine reception, art auction and live music. You can also enjoy an amazing three course meal for $90.00 - seats are limited so hurry and call now! (901.522.1488)

I will have 5 pieces on display for the auction. The reception is free and donations are much appreciated. The money we raise will go towards a mission my friend Chris Reed is leading to build a school for an orphanage in Kibera, Africa.

http://www.htlot.org/

Thank you and we hope to see you all there!

“Diverge” Erin’s Grove series – 2008
acrylic media — 20”x16”, 18”x24”

“Blind” – 2007
acrylic media — 16”x20”

“See” – 2008 (not pictured)
acrylic media — 16”x20”

“Peace in the Valley” – 2007
acrylic media — 20”x16”

“Cross” #6 – 2008
acrylic media — 16”x20”

“Bloom” by Jana Joplin at The Stirring Art Gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Richard Fudge
Director of Stirring Arts Ministry

Exhibit description:
“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Luke 12:27-28

Jana Joplin began painting “Blooms” during a time period of her life when she felt desperate, alone, and afraid. Inspired the scripture of Luke 12:27-28, she began seeing all the wonderful things that she did have in her life such as the simple beauty of a flower. Joplin began to create artwork inspired these feelings. Once each painting was completed, she wrote poems to show the inspiration and emotions that she felt while creating them.

Joplin hopes each viewer of this series will find a little inspiration and hope from her journey from emptiness to fulfillment.

When:
“Bloom” will be on display from July 19th to August 30th.
The gallery is open 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The Stirring Art Gallery also can be viewed during Hope Church’s regular office hours.

Where:
The Stirring Art Gallery in Hope Church
(located upstairs inside Entrance 2)
8500 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, Tennessee 38018
www.hopepres.com • www.thestirring.net • 901-755-7721

Jana Joplin:
Joplin became very active in the local Memphis art and design community after college. She has worked primarily in the commercial interior design field, but still continues to pursue her interest in fine arts such as painting and drawing. She has served on various boards, committee’s, and as a juror in many art selection processes.


Background on The Stirring Art Gallery:
Various works by local artists are currently on display at The Stirring Art Gallery, located inside Hope Church. Many of the paintings were created live on stage during The Stirring service. Each month, a different local artist volunteers to paint during the service. The completed painting(s) and several other selected works by the artist are then displayed in the gallery and available for purchase by contacting the artist.

The Stirring meets every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Hope Church at 8500 Walnut Grove Rd. in Cordova, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.thestirring.net.

Opening Night at New Creation Center

Kate Black singing at the opening.

Some art by Kevin Thorn.

The Spirit of Growth Art Show opens this evening, July 10th from 7pm - til whenever. The show will remain up through August 14th and will be open during office hours and most of the weekend. This showcases the expression of the spiritual journey through three dimensional and two dimensional artwork. Artists included in the show are: Mike Maness, Richard Fudge, Kevin Thorn, Erin Fudge, Carol Cox, Dianne Smith, Tina Rentfro and others...

2270 Hwy 51 S. Hernando, MS

www.onthecrossroad.com

"Release" - by Richard Fudge for Art of Caring 2009

The deadline for Art of Caring 2009 is quickly approaching, and I need to finish up my painting. 

This is the prayer that I painted on the canvas before beginning. 

This year sounds like its going to be the best one yet. The Perry Nicole Fine Art galley and art curator Jana Travis are going to host the event. I think there is some other new things this year as well, but I cant locate any details at this time.

I'm hoping that I'll get to hang with all the cool artists this time. The professional artists and the featured "Memphis Masters" get to hang in the Perry Nicole gallery. Everyone else gets set up on tables and easels in the walkway of the mall (not so cool). The last two years, I've been in the walkway which is fine. I'm not a professional, in a bunch of galleries, $1000+ a painting, sort of artist... yet. 

This year I'm hoping to make the cut. First, I'm going BIG. No more 16"x20" paintings. I am donating a 24"x48" sucker. That's something I'd probably price at $600-700 (Possibly higher. People love this image). But being big is not the only advantage, it's in perfect tune with the Camp Good Grief message and experience. This painting is going to grab your heart strings with both hands if you have ever been involved with the camp. I'm so excited about sharing this with others and raising money for the camp.

Here we are at about 80% complete.

Jay said, "Man! This is so cool! Richard, that your picture does what words are inadequate to do, in explaining camp, its awesome!"

Please join Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation for

Art of Caring 2009 

A reception and silent art auction to benefit 

Baptist Trinity Hospice House and

The Kemmons Wilson Family Center for Good Grief

Sat. August 22nd from 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Chickasaw Village Oaks Mall 3092 Poplar Ave

“Impressions of the Cross” at The Stirring Art Gallery

Event description:
“Impressions of the Cross” is a group art exhibit at the Stirring Art Gallery featuring local artist Kyle Holley and his unique clay crosses with impressed designs and patterns. Kyle Holley creates what he likes to call “Impressions Pottery.” He grew up in a family of potters and can remember as a child going into the yard to find rocks, sticks or anything else that would leave a neat impression in the clay. Over the years, Holley worked in about every method of making pottery. However, he never found the same excitement or pleasure that he did as a kid simply by experimenting with pressing things into the clay.

In addition to Holley, ten other Stirring artists have submitted many original paintings reflecting their own personal impressions of the cross. The total of over 140 cross-themed works reflect the many different interpretations and perspectives of the cross that each of us has.

When:
Opening Reception
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9th

Viewers are invited to attend The Stirring worship experience at 7:00 p.m. During this special service, local artist Richard Fudge will create original artwork live on stage. Following the service at 8:00 p.m., guests can view the exhibit talk to the artists, and purchase work.

“Impressions of the Cross” will be on display from April 9th to June 7th.
The gallery is open 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The Stirring Art Gallery also can be viewed during Hope Church’s regular office hours.

Where:
The Stirring Art Gallery in Hope Church
(located upstairs inside Entrance 1)
8500 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, Tennessee 38018
www.hopepres.com • www.thestirring.net • 901-755-7721


Kyle Holley:
Clay has the wonderful ability to accept anything that you are willing to press into it and forevermore hold onto the design as if it were with it all along. Holley is continuously searching for that next design just waiting to be captured by the open canvas found within a slab of clay.

Kyle Holley didn’t start making crosses until 7 or 8 years ago. Before that, he had made about everything that you could make out of clay except crosses. His mother, in that infinite wisdom of mothers, told him one day, “You should make crosses. Everyone loves crosses and besides that, they sell really well.” Although he just didn’t feel that was his calling, he gave it a try. That was 8 years and many thousands of crosses ago.

“I would have thought that I should have run out of new ideas and definitely lost interest in making them but I think God definitely has His hand in what I’m doing and thanks to Him, the ideas never stop flowing and each week a new batch heads out into the world hopefully to help spread His word a little further,” say Kyle Holley.

The Old Rugged Cross ministry:
One evening, Kyle Holley picked up a copy Billy Graham’s autobiography. If you know anything about Billy Graham, you know that he only really has one message and that is about the importance of the cross and sharing it with other people. While reading his amazing story, Holley came to realize that through his work he was not just selling thousands of crosses, he was making a great witnessing tool available into the hands of thousands of people all over the world.

With renewed vigor, he set out to increase production and also decided it was time to start giving some of his success back to the people who made it possible. He came up with the idea of his own ministry called “The Old Rugged Cross” a name that he borrowed from the old Baptist hymnal. This was his grandmother’s favorite song and as a child she would have him play it on the piano while she sang along. She was one of the most inspirational people in Holley’s life. Through this ministry he donates small crosses to groups who use the money to support mission work around the world or for their own ministries.

Background on The Stirring Art Gallery:
Various works by local artists are currently on display at The Stirring Art Gallery, located inside Hope Church. Many of the paintings were created live on stage during The Stirring service. Each month, a different local artist volunteers to paint during the service. The completed painting(s) and several other selected works by the artist are then displayed in the gallery and available for purchase by contacting the artist.

The Stirring meets every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Hope Church at 8500 Walnut Grove Rd. in Cordova, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.thestirring.net.

“A Heart for Others” Interactive Exhibit

Local Memphis artist Chris Reed was very inspired by his mission trips with Hope Church to Quito, Ecuador. He developed such a passion for mission work that he has even gone on trips on his own. On one such journey, he stayed a night – against his better judgment – in a shack. To bring that life-changing experience to Cordova, Chris Reed is building a full-scale model of a third world country shack in the middle of the lobby at Hope Church. This 8 ft. x 8 ft. shack will be constructed of building materials such as tin roofing, plywood, and other found supplies. Blue masking tape will be used to mark off on the floor surrounding the shack to the average square footage footprint of a typical Cordova home. Reed hopes that his interactive piece will touch viewers as deeply as his actual experiences in missions have changed him.

“I want the my representation to be as faithful to a real shack as possible so that living conditions really hit home to the viewer,” stated Reed.

In addition to the shack, Reed has also constructed two large photography displays. One measuring 15 ft. wide by 9 ft. tall and the other is 12 ft. wide by 9 ft. tall. Each display is a collage of imagery, statistics, information, and actual photographs from Hope Church’s outreach and missions groups: Global Outreach, Urban Missions, Oasis of Hope, and Tapestry. Church volunteers and staff will also be on hand to answer viewers’ questions, give out education materials, and take sign-ups. The exhibit will be open for one weekend.

When:
Saturday February 28th at 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
and Sunday March 1st 8:00 am to 12:30 pm
The exhibit is open Saturday at 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm and again on Sunday 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. Viewers are invited to attend worship services available during those times.

Where:
Hope Church
8500 Walnut Grove Rd, Cordova, TN 38018
www.hopepres.com