Considering Faith: Emuna
“It’s not about ideas. It’s about stories.”
Or…
“What is true will rise.”
Even…
“We trust that the spirit of God working in us, expressing itself through our own
creative process will come together to tell one story.”
Tim Mayhall is an associate pastor at Shades Valley Community Church. But he’d probably recoil at being called an Emuna spokesman.
“Part of our thing is that no one person is empowered to speak for everyone else.”
But Mayhall did have a hand in starting Emuna, a group he describes as a faith community designed by artists. At this gathering at the Shades Valley Church, about a dozen people lounge on couches which hug a throw rug on the floor. Across the room, a sign above the coffee maker invites you to, “Perk up your day!”
The group is not a church, although it uses the church building. Emuna’s work has Christian overtones, although Christian faith isn’t required and some espouse no faith. It’s an organic group, Mayhall says, where people with different understandings could come together for discussions of important issues. Emuna’s platform for that is what they call an “environment.” An environment?
“A bunch of artists and curators, engineers get together. We pick a theme.”
Their last theme was war.
“We invite artists, vocational artists, into that process. Some of them have works that are already about that issue. Others create works that are specifically for the environment.”
The works are assembled into a gallery of sorts. It’s lit by candles. Artwork may be on the floor. The viewer follows a specific path to take in the art. And there’s text along the way to provide a narrative and an interactive element.
“At a point in the environment we ask people to stop to consider the ways the
church has participated or perpetrated war. There was another place where we had some pottery shards from the Mowa Choctaw and invited people to hold those in their hand and think about the ways our culture is built on the shattered pieces of another.”
“It’s not just pictures thrown on a wall. It’s a conversation, Mayhall says, between the viewer and the artwork. So while some might label it Christian art, it’s not cutesy angels. Artist Mike Hawkins says it’s supposed to challenge you, make you think or feel something.
“My artwork alone deals a lot with rejection or abandonment. Some of my
artwork has nudity involved in it.”
One work from a California artist in the recent war environment contemplates an advertising campaign for Bible verses. In this case, Matthew 5:44 – that’s the “Love your enemies and pray for your persecutors” verse. The reflective posters feature Osama bin Laden and Hitler.
Emuna’s members emphasize it’s not about a specific point of view or communicating a particular idea. It’s a dialogue through art. But it is personal for the artists. Carolyn McDonald’s work is part of her struggle with her husband’s addiction. Spiritual therapy she calls it.
“I have a body of work that I sell in galleries. This body of work is mine. I sometimes call the other art ‘no-bainers.’ I love the colors and I learn a lot
from doing a landscape, a still life, I do portraits. But this is straight from the
heart.”
Emuna’s done three environments so far. They’re discussing potential future topics, different projects, also locations away from the church. The details, though, that’s an ongoing conversation.
Auburn tabs USF’s Alex Golesh as its next coach, replacing Hugh Freeze on the Plains
The 41-year-old Golesh, who was born in Russia and moved to the United State at age 7, is signing a six-year contract that averages more than $7 million annually to replace Hugh Freeze. Freeze was fired in early November after failing to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three seasons on the Plains.
Alabama Power seeks to delay rate hike for new gas plant amid outcry
The state’s largest utility has proposed delaying the rate increase from its purchase of a $622 million natural gas plant until 2028.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor
Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor.
Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
