2024 Visio Divina Schedule of Events
SATURDAY 9/14/24 - Otter Creek Church West End, 3534 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37205
Registration - Cost: $115, Early Bird Price: $85 ends 8/31/24
*Registration includes lunch, snacks and art materials
9a: OPENING REMARKS/INTRODUCTIONS - Patrick Chappell & Emily Bruff
TIME OF WORSHIP - Patrick McDermott & Madison Campbell
(coffee and snacks provided)
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS (90 minutes)
10:00a-11:30a: SESSION 1
Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt - Square Halos and Red Shoes: Finding Our Family in Medieval Church Art
Behind the altar in the church of Santa Prassede in Rome, we find a ninth century mosaic of a risen Christ against a brilliant blue sky, flanked by both male and female saints. Sometimes an older, highly symbolic artwork like this can seem distant from our own faith. But what might we be missing? Focusing on this single artwork, this interactive session guides you through practices of close looking, inquiry, and self-reflection, inviting you to find life-giving connection to your spiritual family.
Deborah Gall - Painting as Worship - Encounter God through paint and palette knife. In this workshop you will paint with Holy Spirit’s guidance with the help of author/artist Deborah Gall. Before you begin, you will experience a process that will tap into your creative spirit. Then you will paint your own canvas. No experience is necessary. Watch and see as Holy Spirit draws your innate creativity out of you.
Emily Bruff - Looking Through New Windows - Engaging with contemporary art as icons. Is contemporary art only good for shock value? Is there anything to be gained from the splattered paint on a board? Does art have to be beautiful to be spiritually formative? Combining lessons from the Eastern Orthodox Church and the work of contemporary artists, we will find new portals to see God.
11:45a: LUNCH PROVIDED + COMMUNITY ART MAKING
1:00p-2:30p : SESSION 2
LaJuana Gill - Aesthetic Theology in Worship Spaces - Why is it so hard for the Visual Arts to be recognized as essential to the worship environment in Protestant churches? Why is art and beauty so overlooked and the church’s artists so underutilized? This class will identify how theology has expressed itself visually from early Christianity, through the Reformation and into the 21st century. Taking what we learn, we will identify some of the current challenges we have experienced as artists when we’ve tried to bless the church and we will brainstorm about how we might bless the church with the visual arts in our 21st century settings.
Heather Daily-Smith: Reflecting the Divine: Made in His Image, Figure sculpting for the artist and non- artist alike. From the earliest accounts of humans on earth we have been compelled to celebrate the human figure. There is an unspoken understanding that we belong to something greater than ourselves, Contemplating all the creatures- great and small- that the Father created, WE are the only ones who have earned the distinction “created in HIS image”. When we create- we engage in the first elemental truth we are told about the character of God- HE CREATED. This step by step process will guide you through successfully creating a figure and allow exploration with different media to make the figure as simple- or complex- as you choose, as you engage in the action of connecting with the divine.
Derek Bruff - Sketchnotes: A More Visual Approach to Reflective Notetaking
Sketchnotes are visual notes that use lines and shapes and drawings along with words and hand-drawn typography to capture ideas and the connections between ideas. You can sketchnote a sermon or a book chapter or a keynote as a way to understand and reflect on the messages in those media. In this session, we’ll look at examples of sketchnotes, explore the benefits of this practice, and try our hands at some basic sketchnoting. Sketchnotes are about ideas not art, so you’re welcome at this session no matter how you draw!
2:45p-4:15p: SESSION 3
Andrea Zahler - With Eyes to See: the practice of visio divina
Hear the story of visio divina itself as it developed into a tool for spiritual formation. Be guided through a communal meditation, then spend some time practicing this way of prayer on your own.
Beth Affolter - CoCreating with God in Floral Painting - We are all artists, with expressive and unique creativity placed in each one of us. We were created in the image of God, a Creator God and so it is in our DNA! When God invited Adam into the process of naming the animals, He illustrated how beautiful it can be to connect, worship, and create with Him.
In this workshop, we will embark on a step-by-step journey to explore how God speaks to us individually and how He works through us. Together, we will Cocreate a work of art full of meaning and expression. Using fresh-cut flowers as our prompt, we will remain open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and follow where He leads.
This workshop promises to be a fun, fulfilling, and exciting experience for everyone! Whether you are a seasoned artist or just starting, come and discover the joy of Cocreating with God through the beauty of floral acrylic painting.
Deborah Gall - CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Tap into your childlike faith as you enjoy the freedom and fun of expressing your thoughts, vision, and emotions. You will create a small mixed media piece of art with author/artist Deborah Gall. No experience is necessary. Deborah will guide you through creative exercises that will ignite your creative flow. Relax, let go, play, and enjoy!
4:30p KEYNOTE: Dr. Elissa Yukiki Weichbrodt - Redeeming Vision: Looking at Art as Spiritual Formation
How does following Jesus change the way we see? Instead of being passive consumers or unyielding critics, we can engage art as a means of spiritual formation, growing in our love for God and our neighbor. Using examples from traditional and contemporary art, Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt invites us to experience how faithful looking can expand and enliven our belief in the possibilities of creation, the mystery of the incarnation, and the hope of the resurrection.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt
Dr. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt is an associate professor of Art and Art History at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, and a Little Endowed Scholar. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. She has published scholarly articles on topics ranging from 19th century landscape painting to contemporary photography, but her chief joy is introducing students to the wonders of art history as a discipline. Her first book, Redeeming Vision: A Christian Guide to Looking at and Learning from Art (Baker Academic 2023), won numerous awards and is a practical guide to engaging faithfully with art and visual culture. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and two sons.
Beth Affolter
Beth Affolter is an artist, mentor, and teacher who enjoys painting and spending time with God. Using watercolor, water-based oils, and acrylics, Beth has created traditional works for many years but now delights in the contemporary side of art. She explores new techniques and loves cocreating with God. Beth holds a BFA in Studio Art, minoring in Graphic Design from UGA and a Master's of Education from Lipscomb University. Her diverse background as a professional artist includes working as an art director in both Europe and the U.S., teaching art in public high schools, engaging in community outreach, and conducting workshops for all ages. She lives in Spring Hill, TN, with her husband, where they own Adventures in Art. www.adventures-in-art.com
Derek Bruff
Derek Bruff is an educator, author, and higher ed consultant, working with faculty and other instructors to develop foundational teaching skills and explore new ideas in teaching. He’s the author of two books on teaching with technology, Intentional Tech and Teaching with Classroom Response Systems, and he produces and hosts the Intentional Teaching podcast. Most of the technology in his work is digital in nature, but he has a healthy interest in analog technology (like teaching through board games) and visual thinking. He combines those interests in his sermon sketchnotes, which combine words and pictures to capture ideas and meaning, and he shares his sketchnotes on Instagram under the handle @doodlinginchurch.
Emily Bruff
Dr. Emily H. Bruff explores connections of faith, visual art, creativity, imagination, theology, art history, art making and the Christian experience. As a researcher, artist and ministry consultant, Emily desires to come along side church leaders and ministry groups to demystify our aesthetic theology and create intentional environments and experiences using visual art for spiritual formation. During the day she works as a marketing manager for ZondervanAcademic. She received her Doctor of Ministry from Lipscomb University in 2022. She is married to Derek and has 3 beautiful children.
Heather Daily-Smith
Professional artist and furniture designer, art educator, Fund for Teachers Grant Fellow,
Deborah Gall
In the four decades since beginning a career, Deborah Gall has gained expertise in business, teaching, speaking, creating visual art, studying, and writing. Ms. Gall is dedicated to helping others find their way to their God-given identity and purpose. Ms. Gall is a four time published author, an experienced speaker, a professional visual artist, and a spiritual life coach. Her life-changing book—Created For So Much More—was published in 2017. It has been cherished by readers across the globe. Her most recent book,—A Guided Journal to Soaring With God—was published in June of 2021. Deborah is committed to sharing the unconditional love of God through the spoken and written word. Deborah’s paintings also reflect her belief in and experience of the freedom available through Christ.
LaJuana Gill
LaJuana Gill, MFA, taught Interior Design at the O’More College of Design and Middle Tennessee State University. Prior to the classroom, she was an interior designer specializing in healthcare design. She also has experience in ecclesiastical, educational and hospitality design. The highlight in her life was serving as a Campus Minister to the students at Pepperdine University. She earned her B.A. from Harding University, her M.S. in Ministry from Pepperdine University and her M.F.A from Brenau University. She is married to songwriter, Randy Gill, D.M.A., who teaches and directs the Worship Arts degree program at Lipscomb University.
Andrea Zahler
Andrea is the Associate Director of Spiritual Development & Engagement for Missions at Lipscomb University. Since graduating with degrees in English and Ministry, she has been a missionary, a campus minister, a storyteller, a student life director, a facilitator, a greeting card seller and an adjunct professor. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in education, focusing on the intersection between experiential learning and inclusive behaviors.