Saddleback Visual Arts

A night to honor the voices of our Asian American and Pacific Islander family. These art pieces, stories, dances, poems, and songs expressed a part of our culture that is needed in the world and in the United States. Thank you to our artists who came out and shared their voice. We stand with you! #aapiheritage #AAPI #patchcoffee Photos by Hyon Jin Kim

May is #AAPIHeritage month and we’re featuring the #artists and voices in our community that represent the great diversity of these cultures. We noticed many different artists of Asian backgrounds from our own #SaddlebackVisualArts community sharing their perspective and experience this month and wanted to gather these voices for a hopeful night of #art, #music, and sharing #stories to celebrate our diversity and unity. This showcase will be hosted in partnership with @Patc...hCoffeeCo, a Vietnamese owned cafe that has been elevating the voice of creators and community for several years. Patch will be highlighting and offering different Vietnamese coffees and treats on this special night. We will be repping the hashtag #StandByMe started by Patch owner @deborahlin.1 Griffith to Seek, Support, and Stand by all local and global Asian communities. Live Music / Art Showcase / Poetry / Stories & Solidarity / Vietnamese Coffee & Treats Curated by @sophiahyunart & @colorblissart @rhymeswithbattery music by Kateri @kuyapaul_official poetry @audibleartist DJ Dan @visionaries.dance @chicreate Ritchie Kong @snap.choco Hyonjin Kim poetry @piconthisnerd music by Camille Agoncillo 12 Artists Showcasing @colorblissart @sophiahyunart @peggyiriarte @Chikas_art @michelle.lum @miyasilversmith @emmeriecreative @katherineleith @c.haesung @eric.natividad @kyongboonoh Fae fruitwala Suzie Koh 6-7 PM Art Open House 7-9 PM Music + poetry + dance

Did you know May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month? We want to invite you to celebrate as we feature the artists and voices in our community that represent the great diversity of these cultures.

Learn the art of kintsugi and how to embrace imperfections while it inviting personal healing. Kintsugi is a Japanese technique of mending broken pottery, using urushi lacquer and gold powder. Two classes offered in April with the method developed by Mako Fujimura and Kunio Nakamura. The classes will be taught online by Miya Smith with assistance from Jason Leith, Michelle Lum and Jim Dobbs. https://saddleback.com//the-art-of-kintsugi-online-worksho

"This workshop will explore: business models, entrepreneurship, finding gaps in the market, what it looks like to understand who you are as an artist, developing the audience you want, and the brand you need." https://www.arthousedallas.com/calendar/theartofbusiness

Is there any limit to what the arts can be used for? Celebrating the last 30 posts of our Working Artist Initiative men and women who said YES to God’s leading. * Thank you to @scubahomie who played a huge role in crafting these posts and @miyasilversmith who was our social media posting queen!

In My Saving Cross, artist Gladys Cestoni (@gladyscestoni) depicts what it is like for her to be saved. She describes the piece: the mandala represents everything external, everything that surrounds me, and what I must go through. The Cross is what takes me out of all that. The Cross is in pink tones because it is a feminine salvation. Each drawing inside of the cross represents painful situations and the white dots are pearls, people who I shared God with; they are seeds t...hat I sowed in these 10 years, people around me that God turned into pearls. En Mi Cruz Salvadora, Gladys quiere representar lo que significa ser salva. En esta pieza, el mandala representa todo lo externo, todo lo que me rodea y por lo que debo pasar. La Cruz es lo que me saca de todo eso. La Cruz está en tonos rosados porque es una salvación femenina. Cada dibujo dentro de la cruz representa situaciones dolorosas y los puntos blancos son perlas, personas con las que compartí a Dios; son semillas que sembré en estos 10 años, personas a mi alrededor que Dios convirtió en perlas. #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #WorkingArtistInitiative #CreativityinQuarantine #PurposeDrivenArtist #mandala #mandalaart #cross #faithartist #artandfaith #arte #artforJesus #seeds #plantingseeds #BuenosAires #Argentina #artistssmallgroup #bettertogether #onechurchmanylocations #artistscommunity #salvation #lacruz #salvacion @saddlebackbsas @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts

For artist Peggy Iriarte (@peggyiriarte), art was a part of her journey with God toward healing: As I dreamed about what to create this summer, God showed me my deepest desire: to heal from old traumas. Creating my art forced me to face my fears. It healed me. I create because when I do I can finally breathe. I feel such peace when I’m painting, I feel pure joy when I create. #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #ArtMinistry #PurposeDrivenArtist #CreativityinQuarantine #artistssmallgroup #artistscommunity #virtualartshow #virtualartgallery #faith #faithartist #artandfaith #overcomingfear #fear #overcomer #trauma #healing #facethefears #art #socalartist #WorkingArtistInitiative @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts

Artist Carolyn Hutchins (@carolynhutchins) is creating a series of whimsical, playful paintings of animals, here a zebra, cheetah, and giraffe. Each image she paints of the animals is her creative way of making their ID picture to enter the Ark. The idea for this project came to her when she was inspired by a colorful animal. She describes, I went on to research animal markings, make sketches and experiment with watercolor images. These were translated into oil with additi...onal interpretation of their personalities. I create because of my God given gift to be a creative and for His glory. The playfulness and joy that my art evokes hopefully impacts both children and adults to express their joy and wonder with their individual artistic freedom. #WAIspotlight #WAIartshow2020 #artistspotlight #PurposeDrivenArtist #CreativityinQuarantine #animals #noahsark #zebra #cheetah #giraffe #faithartist #artandfaith #ArtMinistry #WorkingArtistInitiative #artistscommunity #artistssmallgroup #community #creativehabit #watercolor #oilpainting #animalpainting #animaldrawing #art #socalartist #virtualartshow #virtualartgallery @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts

Emerica Rogers challenges us to consider what we think of Hollywood, beyond stars, fame, and a glamorous lifestyle. She asks us to look closer to see other possible realities in a culture that also includes exploitation, corruption, and chaos. She says, In the state of the world that we are in, it is so important to focus our eyes on the eternal. Although there is disorder and major disruptions, we are saved! I find comfort knowing that whatever trials come our way, we can f...ace them with great joy knowing that we have an opportunity for our faith to grow; our creator is just molding us for his kingdom. (James 1: 2-4). Check out the video she created that focuses on this image at @shots.with.em #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #WorkingArtistInitiative #ArtMinistry #CreativityinQuarantine #PurposeDrivenArtist #virtualartshow #virtualartgallery #CreativityinQuarantine #socalartist #hollywood #james1 #focus #artandfaith #faithartist @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts

Artist Mark Dickinson (@markdickinsonart) creates images inspired by real people, whether Biblical figures or legends of American history and culture. This year, his WAI project is a portrait titled Rev. Maclean and he took inspiration from the movie, The River Runs Through It based on an autobiographical novel written by Norman Maclean. Set in and around Missoula, Montana, the story follows two sons of a Presbyterian minister. Mark writes: I related a lot to this movie a...s my dad grew up Presbyterian teaching me how to fly-fish. I would spend as much time as possible in my youth fly-fishing the waters of Shell Creek and Ten Sleep Creek in northwestern Wyoming. I share my faith and love of God’s beauty through my art with pencil and oil paint. I love the following quote from the film: In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing; [...] our father was a Presbyterian minister and a fly fisherman who tied his own flies and taught others. He told us about Christ's disciples being fishermen, and we were left to assume, as my brother and I did, that all first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fishermen and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman. Norman Maclean #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #WorkingArtistInitiative #ArtMinistry #CreativityinQuarantine #PurposeDrivenArtist #artandfaith #faithartist #RevMaclean #RiverRunsThroughIt #pencilart #pencildrawing #portrait #artistscommunity #flyfishing #westernart #art #socalartist #orangecounty #artandchurch #artistssmallgroup #fishermen #fishersofmen #myfaith @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts

I painted on this tent to illuminate just how common it is for America’s mentally ill to end up on the streets, without proper care, explains Jason Leith (@jasonleithart) about his work, an artist who uses An extensive survey in 2015 showed that 45% of men and women on the streets have some sort of mental illness. In these tent paintings, I want to show the humanity of the individuals who are suffering on the streets. The outside of the tent speaks of their identity and ...their environment while the inside of the tent shares interior thoughts and struggles.I find meaning in the intersection of humility and the sacred, which I continually see in marginalized individuals and recently in myself. I work to create connection and understanding and take great effort to know the places and individuals I engage with. I hope my central drive toward friendship with subjects cancels out any threat of exploitation. I value connecting people with resources that can serve in conjunction with anything the art brings. #MentalHealthAwareness #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #Mentalillness #mentalhealth #art #tent #inthestreet #humanity #lovingiscaring #hope #WorkingArtistInitiative #community #communityoutreach #faithartist #artandfaith #artandchurch #ArtMinistry #calltocreate #suffering #mentallyill #streets #homelessness #shelter #orangecounty @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts

I started out with the thought of God's grace and mercy as shown through love and consideration... kindness, writes artist Michelle Hansen. My project evolved by exploring something new giving in to my curiosity. I've enjoyed creating abstract art with alcohol ink and the care cards. With them, I hope to bring some joy and comfort to others during these challenging times. I plan to donate many of the cards to the food pantry for distribution with the care packages given ...to those in need. #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #CreativityinQuarantine #carecards #handmadecards #cardministry #artministry #Godsgrace #Godsmercy #caring #artandfaith #artandchurch #virtualartshow #virtualartgallery #WorkingArtistInitiative #abstractart #faith #faithartist #faithart #alcoholink #careministry #communityoutreach #community #artistscommunity @saddlebackchurch @saddlebackvisualarts @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackcarecards

Ministry comes with valleys but has resulted in these 20 individual lives to see change. https://saddlebackvisualarts.com/challengingministrypowerf/

Poet José Lozano (@josehlozano) blesses communities with his words. His newest book is called, Together in the Way. Having completed two previous volumes of poetrycovering creation, nature, humanity, and the spiritualthis new collection has a more singular focus. He states, I am putting Jesus as the main star in every poem of this book. It shows his love, his compassion for us, especially for those who are experiencing great trouble. I love to write poetry, it helps me t...o share my emotions and experiences of life as well as to bring the good news to the community. #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #CreativityinQuarantine #ArtMinistry #RandomActofPoetry #poetry #poem #poet #poetrybooks #Hislove #PoetryforJesus #quarantineart #virtualartshow #virtualartgallery #socalartist #artandfaith #artinchurch #artistscommunity #artistssmallgroup #art #WorkingArtistInitiative #orangecounty #communityoutreach #poetryreading @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts

We invite you to join this digital art exhibition with poets, dancers, visual artists and more. Saturday! https://fb.me/e/3sYkWmlqE

Artist Michael Stancato creates art across genres and mediums, including work in film/video, and in both physical and digital painting and illustration. About his project from this year’s WAI he states, My work titled ‘Predators and Prey’ speaks directly about our world. I want to help others be clearheaded about the difficulty they will face when seeking to do good, be a team player, and act humbly. We all must be aware of this and find a balance. In my art, I find interest... in the intersection of spirituality and science. When I create I see myself as a conduit for truth. See more of Michael’s work @mds_surreal_art #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #PurposeDrivenArtist #virtualartshow #virtualartgallery #ArtMinistry #artist #artandfaith #artistscommunity #spiritualityandscience #spirituality #digitalpainting #illustration #WorkingArtistInitiative #CreativityinQuarantine @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts

Jewelry artist Leilani Smith (@leilani_smith) created her project "Segue by pairing an insect with a cross created from scrap metal and a dangling snake. Her series of pieces are rooted in scripture and she says, I hope to create designs that lead to conversations and provide a ‘segue’ for discussion with people of all faith backgrounds, revealing the meaning behind each piece, a deeper meaning that will encourage and empower. Creating art has always brought me into that zo...ne where I feel connected to God. With these works, I specifically sought to create art that could be put into Christian service. It made me realize that art could be more than my passion but also my mission. #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #PurposeDrivenArtist #jewelry #jewelrymaker #ArtMinistry #metalsmith #jewelrymaking #silversmith #handmadejewelry #metalsmithing #segue #faith #faithartist #artandfaith #art #virtualartshow #virtualartgallery #metalwork #socalartist #orangecounty #artisanjewelry #bibleverse #handfabrication #sterlingsilver #silverjewelry @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts

April Hansen (@dogbiscuitpunch) believes that God works through us when we create and I believe art is a doorway to sharing with others. I like to create pieces that are thought provoking or introspective, that way I can share my story and hopefully connect with others or maybe inspire them in some way." About her #abstract piece she says, "It was on my heart to create a work of #art that would be a blessing over my twin daughters, Mandy and Liberty. I chose three blessing w...ords for each girl: for Mandytruth, confidence, and peace; for Libertylove, connection, and discernment. To make the piece April put her daughter’s portraits into Illustrator and enlarged, cropped, and pulled out graphic lines that spoke to her about the blessing. She says, I compiled the lines onto canvas and added 'life' to each canvas with modeling paste and silver paint. Once dry, I applied painters tape over the graphic lines and added my paint, which are the girls’ favorite colors and a representation of them." #WAIspotlight #WAIshow2020 #PurposeDrivenArtist #CreativityinQuarantine #family #socalartist #faithartist #blessing #daughters #virtualartshow #virtualartgallery #WorkingArtistInitiative #lensesofperception #orangecounty #ocartist #ArtMinistry #artandfaith #artandchurch #smallgroups #painting #abstractpainting #creativeprocess @saddlebackchurch @saddlebacklf @saddlebackworship @saddlebackvisualarts