about
Philosophy:
What are we doing?
Showcasing Fine Art
Inviting the community to Life Center.
Letting art connect us to the larger community
Our Mission:
Ultimately, our vision is to connect people to God, whether that is through the influence of image, color, and form, or as pure adoration as one encounters God in the beauty/reality/power of art.
Our Main Criteria for Work Shown:
The two most important criteria for work shown at Clearstory Gallery are:
One: that the work must be crafted in excellence, both in concept and creation.
Two: that there is spiritual nature to the work—either in form, image, and color or through the artist’s life—that connects the art to the Christian experience.
Obviously a gallery in a church has considerations other galleries do not. Face it, what goes on the walls will be seen as being endorsed by Life Center. Clearstory Gallery accepts this not so much as a limitation, but as an opportunity for communication between the artists, the church, and God.
This does not mean every image will be a feel-good image. We have found the Christian experience to be neither that of infinite bliss nor unbearable in its suffering—though the consequences of life, at times, have both of those characteristics. Art shown in Clearstory will at times reflect the incongruities; it will also mend them and, indeed, show the infinite greatness of our God.
We will filter every piece through our vision/mission statement. Below are listed some topics identified as issues that could warrant closer evaluation. Please know Clearstory Gallery has not pre-set these boundaries, but we are sensitive to the sensibilities and expectations of those entering a church.
Nudity
Violence
Abstract vs. representative art
Art specifically of Christian iconography or imagery
Art that has no “Christian message”
Political issues
Social Justice issues
