The Artist as Teacher

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The Artist as Teacher
Unique aspects of leading a Sunday school class
for creative Christians
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How I came to teach

• Desiring to be an art professor
• Applying to graduate schools
• Being challenged by a friend to teach
• Wondering what I could teach about
• Teaching a class on creativity at church
• Discovering that I was now doing what I wanted to
  do

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Eric NykampGrow Where You Are Planted2002
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Who attends my class

• About half of the members are visual artists
  (though not all would call themselves Artists).
• The other half of the class is comprised of
  dancers, writers, and musicians.
• Most of the members have not used their gifts
  formally in ministry.
• Members are age 16-80.

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How is the class time structured?

• We meet for 45-60 minutes on Sunday mornings
  around a dining room table.
• Open in a brief prayer
• Read lessons on creativity and Christianity for
  20-30 minutes, using the balance of the time for
  discussion.
• We close in prayer, sometimes taking extra time
  to pray for any member that has a special need
  that day.

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Materials used

• I have written most of the materials myself, the
  body of which I am hoping to have published as a
  book soon.
• This could also easily be done with existing
  books, such as Walking on Water by Madeline
  LEngle, or Seeing God in the Ordinary by
  Michael Frost.

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What makes the class work?

• Small class size allows for a family environment
• Sharing our most personal creations takes
  courage, but bonds members together
• Keeping the focus of the class on why God
  entrusted certain gifts to each member, and
  encouraging all members to use their gifts for
  God in many ways.

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Underlying principles

• God speaks to creative people through the use of
  their gifts
• By encouraging people in the use of their gifts,
  they will come to grow closer to God as they grow
  in their artistic abilities
• All creative people experience dry times, just as
  many Christians experience the dark night of the
  soul. We need travel companions during these
  times the most.

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The members of the class share an artistic
journey together. We are each others artistic
travel companions. We belong to each other.
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Class Dynamics

• (What to expect when leading a group of creative
  Christians)

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1. Many are called, but only some attend.

• Some creative Christians deeply mistrust the
  church in general, and may be wary even of the
  churches they attend.
• Some creative Christians would find it too
  conformist to join a group that talks about
  Christianity and creativity.
• Many artists are solitary people and may just
  prefer to be more private.

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2. If silence is golden, then this class is very
rich.

• Many creative people are introverted, taking time
  to process information and answer questions.
• The customary moment of silence, traditional
  post-question lull, pregnant pause and time
  for mental marinating.
• Often those with verbal gifts talk first
  hmmmmm?

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3. Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed

• Many creative people think outside the box, or
  have no box to think in.
• Encourage differences of opinion anchored in
  Christian thought.
• Emphasize the complexity of life, the diversity
  of approaches to issues, and the necessity of
  divergent thinking as the pressure to conform
  will kill creative living.

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The four laws of leading

• (What I learned as a group leader)

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1. Develop Tolerance

• People may express views critical of the church.
  In my haste to render judgment, let me not sin.
  
• People may have been hurt by the church - All
  people are broken and in a process of healing
• Healing often comes from speaking to someone who
  will only listen.

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2. Celebrate Together

• The importance of CHECK-IN.
• Food
• Remembering that the creative journey is one of
  highs and lows, dry times and harvest. Bring
  those who are creatively dry into the
  celebration, normalizing their experiences too.

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3. Pray together

• Pray for each others creative gifts, and the
  barriers to creativity.
• Pray for each others lives.
• Cry together
• Touch each other when needed.
• Send encouraging notes, phone calls, visits.

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4. Love Creative People

• This is the most important element of leading.
• You do not have to be a creative force to love
  creative people.
• Smile, support, speak kind words
• Tell each member that you think that they are
  special. You may be the first person to ever do
  this. You will mirror God to them.

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Review

• The artistic journey is often lonely. A class
  can provide needed creative companionship.
• Some people will not attend, others will attend
  but need encouragement to talk, but many will see
  things in a new way.
• Leaders need to develop tolerance for divergent
  thinking, remember to celebrate each others
  achievements, encourage prayer for all members
  and most importantly demonstrate love for
  creative people.

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All of life is artAll of art is prayerAll of
life is prayer