Following Thursday's Called Meeting, the Presbytery of Baltimore will host an open house and reception to debut its refurbished office space as well as an exciting new attraction - a gallery wall featuring a mélange of vibrantly-colored oil paintings created by Michael L. Moore and a collection of soulful sketches drawn by Keith O. Paige. Both men pastor Baltimore congregations and participate actively in the life of the Presbytery. They also harbor talents for creating beautiful, compelling works of art - each in his own medium.
A native of Baltimore City, Teaching Elder Moore has
 |
|
|
TE Michael Moore
|
served as a clergyman for 20 years -- all the while, nurturing a lifelong talent for drawing and painting. Now he seeking to marry these two passions by launching a new ministry focusing on the spirituality of his art. The Presbytery's gallery includes five of TE Moore's most recent paintings. They embody such bold use of color and deft brush strokes that the images seem to breathe on canvass.
"I love the process of looking at a blank canvas
|
|
|
On exhibit at the Presbytery
|
ted," TE Moore said. "I feel that art's highest function isthat of a mirror, reflecting the innermost beauty and divinity of the human spirit; and is most effective when it calls viewers to remember to be all that God created them to be."
and allowing my imagination to conceive something that I view as beautiful and then move through a process to create something that had not previously exis
Also on exhibit are the works of Teaching Elder Keith O. Paige, pastor of Cherry Hill Community Presbyterian Church. A graduate of Averett College
|
|
|
TE Keith Paige
|
in Danville, VA and Princeton Theological Seminary, he has enjoyed drawing -- particularly, portraits -- for 13 years. The lines etched in his subjects' faces convey emotions of joy, angst and solitude. "The face," says TE Paige, " is a composite of our history, our heritage, our education and that special uniqueness that can only come from God."
Displayed against the stark, white backdrop of the Presbytery freshly painted main corridor - the current show will be exhibited until mid-fall as part of a rotating gallery of artwork from church members and others in the community. The gallery and renovations are part of a larger plan initiated by Interim General Presbyter Mary Gaut to create a better work environment and more hospitable atmosphere within the Presbytery's offices, which have been located on the third floor of Faith Presbyterian Church for nearly 43 years.
