visual art     liturgical art     graphic art & design

visual art   

I have been involved in visual art for most of my life: art classes, dance classes, dance performances and choreography, BA in dance and teaching dance classes.  Then exploring other ways of artistic expression while I was working in the corporate world. The art mediums I work in today include acrylic, mixed media, and fiber. The following gives an example of my seeking visual expression of faith.

from the Episcopal Church and Visual Arts exhibition
Art and Faith: A Spiritual Journey

www.ecva.org/exhibition/art_faith/shasteen.htm

 
Together in Christ No. 4

As with many people, the pain and suffering that exists in God’s glorious creation tears at my heart. I struggle mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I fight despair, especially when it comes to children.

It was the summer of 1996. Along with caring deeply about the death of a dear man and gifted artist, the murder of a mother at our school, and the suicide of a young woman – TWA flight 800 crashed. All those lives lost of people I did not know, and three I did know – a courageous and beautiful woman with her two lovely young daughters. That summer there were many children and adolescents suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases such as leukemia. So much fear and pain for kids I did not know, and one I did know – my nephew Chris.

I searched through Scripture and I sought in prayer some way to deal with pain and suffering. It was Colossians 1:17 that led me out of despair. It was Colossians 1:17 that I prayed and prayed that summer as I manipulated torn and shredded pieces of color alone in my workshop. And I came not to understanding or even acceptance; it was and is a place of belief. In my life and in my art, fragments come together in shape and image because Christ is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

 liturgical art 

To strive to give honor and glory to God through visual expression is a joy. It is a privilege to seek ways to enhance worship, contribute to the environment of praise, prayer and celebration of sacrament.  It is especially meaningful and important for me to design ways that members of the church community can be involved in the creation of liturgical art for worship, for liturgy is the work of the people.

Children from Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and Holy Spirit Episcopal School in Houston, Texas were involved in making liturgical hangings for the Children’s Chapel. Sharon Baker from the church community spearheaded this project Children created artwork using fabric markers on cloth. Adults from the church and school, including myself, made appliqués of these pieces of art using embroidery, embellishment, and quilting. I created the design and did the assembly and sewing.

graphic art & design

It has been a privilege to give visual expression to clients’ goals, projects, products and communications.  Some recent examples of my work:

Coalition Ministries and Congregations Study Reports funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. at the Department of Sociology at the University of Houston:

 www.uh.edu/cmacs/docs/FocusonFaith-BasedFullSummaryReport-Final.pdf

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

is the nation’s voice on mental illness and

NAMI West Houston is one of the local affiliates.

The Children’s Mental Health Action Network has

produced a Resource Guide for Parents of Children

with Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders.