About the Art
Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2010–2011
I
f you look up the artist Antje Tesche Mentzen on the
Internet, you will find far more information about
her art school for children than about her artwork.
Mentzen believes that a child’s imagination is unlimited.
For over 30 years, she has run what is now the oldest
art school for children in Germany, which begins with
three-year-olds. Her philosophy is that children are able
to connect the most unlikely things, paying no attention
to logic or natural order. Try to look at these art posters
with a child-like imagination, viewing them one at a time
and reading the paragraphs below as a nudge beyond the
natural order and your first impulse.
Landscape with Tree This acrylic on canvas by Antje
Tesche Mentzen, introduced above, immediately draws
you to the solitary tree in the middle. But what is the
landscape surrounding it? River? Barren hills? Set your
imagination free to associate the tree with the scriptures
for these seasons. How is the tree like a prophet or a
Christ-figure?
Christmas Palmer Hayden (1890–1973) was one of the
Harlem Renaissance painters, a group of African-Ameri-
can artists in New York City. Largely self-taught, although
he later studied in New York and Paris, Hayden is known
for his storytelling paintings of daily African-American
life in urban New York and rural southern United States.
What do the details in this picture tell you about the
life and dreams of the family? This tender portrayal of
a father and child invites us to ponder the relationship
between Joseph and the infant Jesus.
Starry Night over the Rhone With Christmas and
Epiphany already in our minds, we can hardly look at
Vincent Van Gogh’s night scene without recalling the star
that led the magi to Bethlehem. The luminosity in the sky
is increased by the reflection of the city lights in the river.
Imagine your own journey to see Christ in your heart led
by the galaxy in the sky, and to travel by the reflecting
light on the earth.
Seasons of the Spirit Ages 12–14 Advent • Christmas • Epiphany 2010–11
By Carol Wehrheim
Word of Light Corinne Vonaesch, a contemporary Swiss
artist, often paints with a Bible passage in mind. This
painting is one of several on the prologue to the gospel of
John (1:1–18). As we approach Epiphany, it is a reminder
of Jesus as the light of the world. Look at the circle in
the golden orange ball, which is in each of the prologue
paintings. How does it relate to the lines surrounding it?
What does the blue background with the squiggly lines
and hints of other colours suggest to you about this “light
of the world”?
Creation The background for this fabric art by Evelyn
Longard and Claire Bird was woven especially for it,
which is one of three panels on creation. Created in 1987,
appliqué and embroidery were used to depict the six days
of creation flowing from the swirl of chaos in the upper
left. Identify God’s work for each day. Then read Psalm
148 and imagine each line of creation rejoicing and prais-
ing God.
Christ in Cookham (not in 3–5) Sir Stanley Spencer
(1892–1959) used his hometown of Cookham, England, as
the setting for New Testament paintings. He also painted
residents as the biblical figures. How does seeing Christ
in a contemporary town far from the Holy Land stimulate
your imagination as you consider your relationship with
the Messiah?
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany – it’s all about the
wonder of a special child, a child who is the light of the
world. May that wonder and light awaken your child-like
imagination during these weeks.
Carol Wehrheim is the editor for ages 5–12 (Multiage) Seasons of the Spirit,
and author of Getting It Together and Giving Together.
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