Watch this Film Being Produced

You can look over Mark's shoulder as he creates our next art film, "To the Diggers". He is posting reports and pictures from the production on his blog http://artingle.blogspot.com . The first installment is up and you can even comment on what you see. Imagine that: an artist lets you watch and comment as he works! Don't miss this opportunity.
Pieces of It Could Be Yours!
Those who participate in this way will be first in line to get special mementos of this new artistic piece. It is being composed of many drawings suitable for framing with an intriguing mix of spoken word, rhythms and sound effects. Be sure to subscribe to the blog so you won't miss any installments.

Film Collection to Inspire Conversations

The Film Gallery Collection is the first wave of a campaign to inspire lots of people. We are producing four art films which will be the core of a growing collection to be exhibited in a film-gallery-café. This is our dream of people sitting among the films and the art used to make them being inspired to have life changing conversations.
Each Film Builds to the Next
The first phase was the art film, "Comforting Hovers", which is produced and released. The remaining three are at various stages of development. Each film is another phase building to the final and fifth phase: the premiere of the collection in a pilot venue testing our film-gallery-café concept.

"Diggers" to Make Noise
We are now in the second phase of the campaign, "Film 2: 'To the Diggers'". Like "Comforting Hovers" this film merges physical artwork with digital treatment, spoken word with music and sound effects, all in a motion graphics presentation which inspires the viewers to talk about the philosophical and spiritual aspects of life. But, it will be more boisterous and aggressive than "Comforting Hovers". Based upon a poem Mark wrote in 2006, "To the Diggers" employs images and noises from current affairs. It is about the temporary nature of public image and marketing in the flow of history.
Party Soon and Premiere Next Spring
We plan to have a release party late summer/early fall to celebrate the completion of "To the Diggers". When the whole collection of films is completed the premiere of the films will be a pilot event to test the new exhibition idea, the "film-gallery-café". The projected time of the pilot event is Spring, 2011. This test event will teach us about opening a permanent venue where art films and the artwork used to make them stimulate significant conversations encouraging people on their journeys toward God. Until then each finished film will help build the support base which will make the premiere a big success and launch development of the "film-gallery-café".

The Power To Be Christ Extended

We just celebrated Pentecost Sunday, the empowerment of Jesus' followers to go into all the world as Christ extended. You can not think of Christ without observing the engagement of the spiritual with the material. Jesus said it was necessary for him to ascend to the Father so that the Holy Spirit would come.
"But, why not just stay? We don't need the Holy Spirit; we have you, Jesus."
What he MEANT was: the Holy Spirit was to come so we would be him in multiplied numbers, rather than just one to whom everyone clung without the slightest thought that they would ever speak, act or be like him.
Christ treated material things as servants and vehicles of the spiritual. The Holy Spirit came to empower us to do the same, to open eyes, heal the sick, multiply the bread and fish, turn water into wine, release the prisoners, calm storms and, when appropriate, walk on water.
What were we thinking? Of course, you are right, Oh Lord. Yes, come Holy Spirit. We have hung back fearfully from the needs of the world, from the blindness, the lame, the sick, the prisoners, the hungry, the storms and from those who need us to walk on water. Come, Holy Spirit, transform us into Christ extending into the world with creation power.

Yours,

Mark and Donna Turner
June, 2010

Bless Mother with a Card from Artingle

This is one of several beautiful images for your Mothers Day cards
which are available at Mark Turner's online shop "Artingle".
Click on the image to go there.

Four beautiful cards to bless the mothers in your life are available at Mark Turner's new online shop "Artingle". These are the first of a large collection of cards which Mark is publishing to encourage quality, personal communication between friends and family.
The visuals are carefully selected for their inspiration and ability to evoke spiritual contemplation. Available both in large and small sizes, they are blank cards so you can write your own personal message inside. To further personalize them you are sent the digital file of the card by e-mail which you then print yourself as many times as you like on 8 ½ x 11 sheets. One is arranged to be folded once for a greeting card. Another is arranged to be folded twice for a note card.
The selection includes a black and white drawing of a bouquet backed by a pastoral landscape which you can personalize by hand coloring in your own style. Beautiful, impressionistic roses adorn two others and the fourth features a peaceful photo of lotuses in a pond.
You can visit the Artingle shop at http://artingle.etsy.com . Your purchases support the Turners' ministry and extend it into the lives of your own circles.

Mothers Day Is Our Chance

Mothers Day is everyone's chance to think of the model of giving and generosity God has built into motherhood. Not every woman wants that image thrust upon her, but they find surprising resources within to meet the huge challenge. Both man and woman are made to be generous, even though we often feel we can not live up to it. God provides the way and strengthens us to do it.
Sometimes it feels so impossible that we actually pray. Why pray? The challenges of life and prayer exist to show us the presence of God. Viewing troubles as opportunities, rather than hell on earth, raises us to our intended status as creators, problem solvers and stewards of this world. Impossibilities prompt prayer in order to prove we are not lone, independent agents, fending for ourselves: God made us to enjoy the fellowship of working with Him. The benefits are found in freely opening to receive God's solutions by asking.

God bless the image of Himself in mothers.

Yours,

Mark and Donna Turner
May, 2010

Getting What You Want

The quandry: "...but, if I give it to HIM, what about ME?"

We value what meets our needs, hopes and dreams. In this is a key to building relationships and wholesome communities. People are drawn to those who discern and deliver what they need. We would tend to draw toward each other more if we all discerned and delivered what each other needed. Thanking one another might become more common. As needs were met, more of us would be able to turn to higher things than just getting our needs met.
More often most of us focus on what WE need and strive to get it for ourselves. If you devote all your time and energy to discerning and delivering what OTHERS want, you never have time to get your OWN . . . right? But, don't we prefer to patronize businesses which are oriented around the customer? Customer oriented businesses prosper better than self-centered companies. Movies that appeal to the audience are the most popular. It better serves ourselves to serve others. Not only do we get more customers, but it feels better all around.
Jesus said it: "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return." (Luke 6:38)
An artist would apply this principal by delivering the beauty, insight, inspiration that the audience is seeking, rather than indulging only in "self expression". Self expression can be fulfilled by giving what is needed. The writer consciously chooses to write the screenplay thinking of the audience, trusting that he/she will receive their own needs if they deliver the audience's needs. This will help create a work of long lasting value.
But none of us can deliver anything without ultimately receiving it from God Who knows all our needs and delivers. Can we trust God to provide what the others need us to deliver? This should be the artist's prayer.