WHERE THE GOOD WAY IS

Mickie and I are preparing an exhibit for Union University's Art Gallery in Jackson, TN.  The exhibit will be called "Retreat" and will open on August 23.  Near the close of the exhibit we'll also be leading an artists' retreat for the Union University art department, assigning them a project to complete over a weekend in the woods.  We've got a lot of work to do. 

The last project I still need to shoot is the one I'm probably the most excited about.  The project is called "where the good way is" and will be comprised of 186 4x4" inch images which will be hung on the wall in such a way that they spell the phrase "where the good way is". 

The phrase comes from a biblical passage in the book of Jeremiah (6:16):
"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

This project is personally meaningful to me.  By tracing the phrase onto the map of my neighborhood in Louisville I'm reminding myself that this place is where the good way is for me, at least at this time in my life.  I often find myself desiring to retreat, or escape, my daily life to some other place that I imagine to be more exciting, or inspiring, or exotic.  But this project reminds me that I live in a good place and I even believe that God intends for me to be here.

Tomorrow I'll start shooting.  I'll use a printed map like the one above and make a photo inside each of the squares that make the text.  I'll be looking for goodness as I follow this path laid out by the text on the map.

Mickie is also hard at work on this exhibit.  This little picture gets me excited to see what her final new images will look like.  She's creating four 4x4' photo transfers of forest scenes on red oak panels.  They're going to be beautiful.