IAM's Maureen Lovett Warms Charlottesville

Published on December 01, 2009 by Christy Tennant

Maureen Lovett is part of the leadership of New City Arts Initiative, IAM's affiliate group in Charlottesville, VA. This Friday, she will open a solo exhibition in Charlottesville that was inspired, in part, by this essay by Nicholas Wolterstorff about the value of craft. Here is a bit of what Maureen says about her show (via her Artist's Statement):

"These banners explore a common language to name both the sacred and the profane. Rather than keeping our faults in the dark while esteeming our achievements, these praises and defeats acknowledge the co-existence of glory and mistake—to identify each as true. By abandoning the exclusive use of proclamation for celebration, these flags describe the character of both the sanctuary and the cul-de-sac, considering a way to lessen the margin between the church and daily life.

The garage's covering is the most bold and merciful layer. The knitting gracefully covers and triumphantly states its claim over both the exaltations and the faults of the space—or neighbor, community association, local church body, relatives, school board, self. “His banner over me is Love.”

In light of Advent, these banners find their roots in the redemption story. Though Israel abandoned the proclamations given by God to identify as His people, He still remembered His covenant and mercifully provided an everlasting covering—the Messiah. Woven through promised and fulfilled salvation, His ornament covers both the rebellion and performance of His people. This One will be our peace (Micah 5:5)."