ATTEND

One night I couldn’t sleep and instead of counting sheep I started counting the churches where I’ve had a profound experience. The list was soon 37 churches long. Churches are the metronome of my life, within whose reliable rhythm I first encountered the divine and love and connection; it’s also where I first encountered the full breadth of humanity — including my own — complicating my understanding of the divine and love and connection.

I began attending to my core church memories through notes and little drawings, similar to scribbling on a bulletin while drifting in and out of a sermon, to process how the many churches in my life have impacted and continue to impact me so powerfully. 

          

Rocky Horton invited me to do an art show at Lipscomb University’s gallery. So fun! Initially we talked about focusing the show around illustrations for children’s books, but the ideal space for absorbing children’s book art is intimate — really just the distance between one’s own hands and eyes — and this gallery room felt far more vast. Its echoes reminded me of a sanctuary. I told Rocky about my church reflections, that I had a variety of work around themes of church that might utilize the whole space, and that if possible I’d like to call the show “Church Tramp.”

He gently told me I would just need to come up with a different name. I’m so glad he did. I think “Attend” suited its themes much better.





For the central experience of the show I printed and stapled each church reflection like it was a little bulletin. Church bulletins were my first encounter with the zine format: independent, small-circulation, low-cost work produced by enthusiasts of a particular cultural phenomenon.

To hold the bulletins/zines, I repaired and refinished six rugged pews I found on facebook marketplace. It felt very powerful to have my very own pews! In the course of refinishing them, my fingerprints got sanded off. I had to use my password to open all my devices. “You took my identity!” I accused the pews, pointing at them with the smoothest index finger.

After about a week, my fingerprints all grew back.








Artist Statement for “Attend”
Beaman Gallery at Lipscomb University
January 25 - March 4, 2024

When we attend, we simply show up.
When we attend to, to take seriously, try not to miss a thing, and pay close — yes — attention.

My first experience of attending took place in church. I would show up, but also hold hope, submit to the divine with others, and take in the sights and smells in my attending. My favorite way to attend is through drawing. Sometimes I draw because it’s time to draw, other times I draw because I long to understand. I draw to remember, to feel, to love, to share. When I attend through drawing, I feel drawn closer.
Thank you for attending this art show. 
Any way you attend, I’m so grateful you are here.




A kind write-up of the show by David Dark.