Original Art Show Comes to Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK MISSIONARY CHURCH TO HOST UNIQUE ART SHOW DECEMBER 7th-9th.

First place prize set at $1,000, second place at $500.

Royal Oak, MI — November 26th, 2012 — Following up on the strong success of its original drama production “Masks” earlier this year, Royal Oak Missionary Church will be hosting a new and original art show titled “Through Their Eyes” on December 7-9 from 2:00PM-8:00PM each day. The show is unique in many ways:

1. The church is awarding financial prizes to the best art featured at the show. The first place winner will receive $1,000 from the church, while second place will receive $500. The show will be judged by a highly qualified art adjudicator.

2. The church is not charging any commissions fees to artists entering the show (highly unusual for an art show).

“Through Their Eyes” is based upon how Scripture is seen through the eyes of each individual artist, a number of whom do not belong to any church. Accepted artwork focuses upon an event, place, or item associated with a passage of the New Testament.

The show will feature a panel on Saturday the 8^th at 7:00PM titled “What Happened to Christianity and the Arts?” Included on the panel will be the church's pastor, Bill Barnwell, a playwright who also has a Master's degree in Theology. Also included are Pete Mangiaracina, former longtime Department Chair at Kimball High, as well as Megan Riddicks who serves on the staff at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The winners of the art show will be announced at the end of the panel discussion, followed by punch and Hors d'oeuvres for all in attendance. The cost of admission to the general public for the Saturday evening event is $5. The public can also purchase artwork from artists who choose to put their work up for sale.

Part of the purpose of the show is to affirm the community's appreciation for art, and introduce others to the vast amount of opportunity for artistic creativity that the Bible offers.

Says Lead Pastor Bill Barnwell, “While recently visiting the DIA, I was struck by how much of the art was spiritually and Biblically themed. Even many non-believers throughout history realized the immense value and potential that Scripture provided for art.”

Royal Oak residents recently approved the DIA millage request by roughly 75%

Barnwell says the event also promotes mutual cultural tolerance: “Our church would have the opportunity to display works by some people who do not have a 'religious' background and these individuals will also in turn find a new appreciation for art that is based upon sacred Christian texts.”

While an Evangelical church putting so much emphasis on culture and the arts is rare today, it is not at all out of line with traditional Christian history.

“I have often wondered to myself over the years why so many Evangelicals have abandoned the arts. Christians used to be on the cutting-edge of artistic endeavors. Not so anymore. This is our part to try and change that trend. We're proving it by being willing to pay good money to see local residents produce good, original, quality art", says Barnwell.

Assisting Barnwell in the planning of the event is George Gillespie, who serves at the church's Vice-Board Chairman. Gillespie is a retired public school teacher and retired adjunct music professor from Oakland Community College. “This is unique. It's not something typical of Evangelical churches in our area. We're very excited to affirm our community's creativity and be a part of something new,” said Gillespie.

Royal Oak Missionary Church is located at 411 E. 11 Mile Rd Royal Oak, MI 48067, across the street from the Farmer's Market.