The nonprofit RAWtools, based in Colorado, hosts workshops for converting weapons into garden tools and symbolic art (like a brass heart made from bullet casings) and sponsors nonviolence trainings and healing dialogues and providing resources to people seeking to overcome trauma caused by violence.
Made in the image of a creative God, it is not surprising that humans are drawn to creating. Nor is it remarkable that our imaginations and souls are captured by the beauty of other people’s artistry, for – as the Psalmist reminds us – “deep calls to deep” (Psalm 42:7). From the very beginning, Christians relied on artistic renderings of Biblical stories and theological concepts to teach their often-illiterate communities about God. These paintings, drawing, stained glass windows, sculptures, etc., shaped and molded the faith of those who fashioned or studied them. However, while it can be tempting to relegate art to the category of passively appreciating beauty, it also can be an accessible and effective way to mobilize God’s people to live into our Baptismal calling to “work for justice and peace in all the world.”
This message is excerpted from “Art as activism: Beating swords into plowshares (and guitars)” by Susan Schneider in the June/July 2023 Café online magazine.
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