Epiphany Gallery Night: A Call to Artists
Snapshots from our Three Great Feasts Gallery Night, June 2026
Gallery Night 2.0 [from Dcn. Kaitlyn]
In June, we had our first Gallery Night on the theme of the Three Great Feasts. Over a dozen artists created pieces in varying media on the theme of either Ascension, Pentecost or Trinity. We also had a potluck and invited culinary interpretations of the feasts. (You can see photos from the event above.) The event was hugely successful in drawing people of all walks of life and spiritual journeys together to enjoy and engage with the art. The room was packed!
For our next Gallery Night, we invite the artists of our community to contemplate the theme of LIGHT in Advent and Christmastide. The event will take place on Epiphany - the 12th day of Christmas - January 6, 2027. Below you will find more information about the theme, the call, and the timeline, written by our Arts Ministry Leader, Greta Kelly. Questions can be directed to her.
Learn more about the vision for a liturgically-themed gallery in Greta's previous blog post.
For our next Gallery Night, we invite the artists of our community to contemplate the theme of LIGHT in Advent and Christmastide. The event will take place on Epiphany - the 12th day of Christmas - January 6, 2027. Below you will find more information about the theme, the call, and the timeline, written by our Arts Ministry Leader, Greta Kelly. Questions can be directed to her.
Learn more about the vision for a liturgically-themed gallery in Greta's previous blog post.
The Theme: LIGHT
Advent and Christmastide usher in our liturgical year with the beautiful theme of light. Both seasons present their own significance– the anticipation of the coming of Christ in Advent, and joyful feasting spurred on by the Incarnation at Christmas. These seasons are rich with imagery and symbolic potential, so to help focus, we have narrowed our scope to light, or more specifically, the light of Christ in the world.
The season of Advent is famously marked by the lighting of candles each Sunday. As the nights lengthen and we descend further into the darkness of winter, we anticipate the coming light of Christ through His virtues including hope, peace, joy, and love. Throughout this season, our church sings O Come O Come Emmanuel, a famous hymn inspired by eighth century advent prayers based on the names of Christ. The fourth verse cries out, “O come thou Day-spring come and cheer / Our spirits by Thine Advent here / Disperse the gloomy clouds of night / And death's dark shadows put to flight”, coming from the original prayer: “O Dayspring, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness; come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death”.
Then we usher in Christmas with the lighting of the Christ candle. Every year, we read Isaiah’s prophetic words; “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isa 9:2). The Book of Common Prayer also calls our attention to the light of Christ in the collect for the first Sunday of Christmas, praying,
"Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
As the days begin to lengthen once again, and surrounding society puts on dazzling displays of Christmas lights, we can be reminded of the light of the Incarnation which broke through the darkness of night.
The season of Advent is famously marked by the lighting of candles each Sunday. As the nights lengthen and we descend further into the darkness of winter, we anticipate the coming light of Christ through His virtues including hope, peace, joy, and love. Throughout this season, our church sings O Come O Come Emmanuel, a famous hymn inspired by eighth century advent prayers based on the names of Christ. The fourth verse cries out, “O come thou Day-spring come and cheer / Our spirits by Thine Advent here / Disperse the gloomy clouds of night / And death's dark shadows put to flight”, coming from the original prayer: “O Dayspring, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness; come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death”.
Then we usher in Christmas with the lighting of the Christ candle. Every year, we read Isaiah’s prophetic words; “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isa 9:2). The Book of Common Prayer also calls our attention to the light of Christ in the collect for the first Sunday of Christmas, praying,
"Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
As the days begin to lengthen once again, and surrounding society puts on dazzling displays of Christmas lights, we can be reminded of the light of the Incarnation which broke through the darkness of night.
The Call: CREATE
If you are gifted in the visual arts and feel stirred to create on the theme of light this Advent and Christmas season, we invite you to meditate on the following scriptures. Following a submission and review process, offerings of beauty will be displayed in our Epiphany Gallery Night. This will be an evening of worship through the arts in musical and visual form.
*Please note: we are asking for visual arts and poems only as there will already be music during the evening. There will be future opportunities to create performance art such as music or dance.
*Please note: we are asking for visual arts and poems only as there will already be music during the evening. There will be future opportunities to create performance art such as music or dance.
Scriptures and Prayers for Meditation
- Isa 60:1-5, 19-22
- John 1:1-18
- Luke 1:76-79
O Antiphon: O Dayspring, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness; come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Collect for Christmas Eve: O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of the Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen
Collect for the Second Sunday of Christmas: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Timeline
- Submit your idea with a rough sketch using this form by October 11th
- Vetting process throughout late October
- Confirmation & feedback by November 1st
- Progress check-ins around November 15th and December 15th
- Artist Statements due December 23rd
- Gallery Night: January 6th
Creative Prompts
- Begin with the scriptures! As you read, notice any verses, words, or images that move you. What evokes the most emotion or stirs the Spirit in you? Spend time praying into this as a way to choose what you’d like to create.
- Of the words or images in scripture/prayer that jump out at you, how can they be portrayed? What textures/media, colors, angles, sounds, or movements best illuminate the concept?
- In what ways do the truths about God's light touch your life personally? Which daily actions or objects are impacted by these truths, and can these become elements in your piece?
- Art is a conversation; research art already made around the themes you are meditating on. In what ways are you moved to respond through your own work?
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