Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1540272
October/November 2025 | maconmagazine.com 95 John O'Donohue, author of the book "To Bless the Space Between Us", describes a calling we all have as humans: to seek and cultivate beauty. Thinking of O'Donohue's "Prayer for Artists at the Start of the Day," I am captivated by his challenge: "May your imagination know the grace of perfect danger, to reach beyond imitation, and the wheel of repetition, deep into the call of all the unfinished and unsolved Until the veil of the unknown yields and something original begins to stir your senses and grow stronger in your heart…" Local artists offer moments of visio divina and practice cultivating beauty in a way that can enliven our spiritual lives. Courtenay Puckett is an art educator who sees painting as a spiritual practice. "Nearly every time I sit down to create— whether on canvas or paper—I draw from my inner world, where prayers, hopes, emotions, and songs dwell together and naturally find expression." Puckett is the owner of Courtenay Creates: Art Academy in Warner Robins. She uses mixed media such as paper, paint, ink, charcoal, and fabric for her own collections and in her teaching. Painting is an expression of her Christian faith. "God is the first artist we encounter in the Bible, as Creator. That understanding not only affirms my desire to create, knowing I am made in His image, but also inspires me through the beauty and complexity of the world He has made." If we are to cultivate beauty, we must attend to the complexities around us. Artist Dorrin Gingerich leaned into art as life became more complex. He was raised in a conservative Mennonite community, even participating in Eastern Mennonite Missions in Guatemala and Pennsylvania. Then, he experienced change with major life events. "In my early 20s, I became disabled with dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, and soon a er came out as a gay man." Creating and painting became a way to move through the "veil of the unknown" as Gingerich's next chapter of life unfolded. He began painting what he calls comic book collages and shi ed into a unique painting style he calls "criss-cross." The pixel-like squares form stunning images, and he has now painted a gallery full of work. "Art started as a way to fill long, isolating days, but it quickly became a lifeline, giving me purpose and connection To learn more about these artists and to collaborate with them, visit courtenaycreates. com and dorringingerichart.com when life felt meaningless." Tracing an artist's journey can offer a picture of hope and resilience. Puckett says the titles of her art shows are "deeply connected to my personal and creative journey." Painting with students and developing her most recent show, "Movements," helped her grow in confidence. "I approached the process with a greater sense of play and freedom, which opened the door to more experimentation and risk-taking." Painting as a spiritual practice can stir a willingness to rise and risk. Creativity can call us to action. When he learned about the suffering of people in Gaza, Gingerich felt powerless. "Years from now, no one will be able to say they didn't know what was happening. I didn't want my legacy to be that of silence." Gingerich decided to use his artistry and partner with Mennonite Action for an auction. "Donating my artwork to Dorrin Gingerich, works on a piece, while Courtenay Puckett dabbles her brush for a new creation, left, and poses for the camera below. organizations I admire to auction off is a small way I can give back." He was able to help raise $30,000 for Mennonite Action to fund nonviolent efforts to support the needs of vulnerable people in Gaza. "It's reminded me that Christian faith doesn't have to mean silence or complicity. It can mean resistance. It can mean protest. It can mean loving your neighbor and standing up for the marginalized. That is what love should look like," said Gingerich. "Their work has helped me reconnect with a version of my faith I can actually be proud of." This kind of reconnection is what happens with holy seeing. Painting our way toward one another, may we keep calling on the artists alongside us. We need you. "God is the first artist we encounter in the Bible, as Creator."