2010 Peacemaking Seminar – Artistic Expression Panel

Re-membering Peace: Still the Believers' Calling
2010 Peacemaking Seminar
Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
August 25-28, 2010
Abiquiu, NM

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Artistic Expression Panel
If you have ever visited Ghost Ranch, then you know that the ranch has a history of telling stories through the arts.  Ghost Ranch provides inspiration for participants to reflect on their own stories and to re-member peacemaking stories that have inspired our faith, nurtured our souls and called us to action.  

On Saturday August 28, the morning plenary session will provide an opportunity for participants to hear six artists reflect on their media as a way to engage others and tell stories of peace.  In the afternoon session, participants to learn how to work with the art media, weaving peacemaking stories of their own to bringing the experience and ability home to their congregations and communities.

The artists are:
David Barnhart is an award winning director currently producing and directing documentary projects for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. David’s most recent work, Kepulihan:  Stories from the Tsunami, works with three survivors from the Asian tsunami of 2004 and tells their stories of loss, hope and recovery over a four year period. Kepulihan: Stories from the Tsunami had the honor of being selected by the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site as part of its D.R.E.A.M Film Series (Developing Racial Equality through Art and Music). It was recently selected by ABC for broadcast in November of 2010.  David will lead “Documentary Filmmaking as Ministry:  Using the Power of Story in our Ministries and Congregations” in the afternoon.

Nancy Esajian – textile art

Vanessa Hawkins is currently attending the Graduate Theological Union, CA, where she is pursuing a terminal degree in Christian Spirituality. Her interest in oral history evolves out of an interest in the oral tradition found in African American communities. From video recordings to  designing photo memory quilts, Vanessa has told the stories of her family and the African American presence in America.  Formerly the associate for the Office of African American Congregational Support of the PC(USA), Vanessa will lead “Peacemaking and Oral History: The Art of Capturing Memory through the Spoken Word” in the afternoon.

Corey Nelson is the associate pastor for Mission, First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, IL. A 
former Young Adult Volunteer in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Ghana, Corey created and  directed the Thuma Mina Mission Theatre Company that focused on telling and interpreting the stories and experiences of YAVs and developed the Global Worship Initiative that explores all aspects of worship through a global lens. Corey will lead “Think Globally-Worship Locally” in the afternoon.

 Bruce Reyes-Chow – social media and technology

David Young is a photographer whose work has been published widely in PC(USA) publications and in six books. His first book, Dusting the Wind, was published by the Presbyterian  Peacemaking Program and his photography is a tool for peacemaking in response to God’s call to love. David has a special interest in documenting the situations in Cuba and Palestine.   David will lead “It's All in the Eyes:  Peacemaking by Looking Differently at People” in the afternoon.

If you are unable to attend the seminar, your gift to the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program will help others participate.