Dear Anselm community,
Throughout this unusual and difficult year, we’ve dearly missed seeing you all in person, and the feeling has only grown with the approach of the Christmas season.
In response to both this absence and our still-fresh memories of feasting and singing carols together in a Narnian haven, the member artists of the Anselm Guild have gathered a selection of visual, musical, and literary art as a special Christmas gift for you. We hope that you’ll experience each piece with the same measure of love and encouragement with which it was made.
Below these, you’ll also find a list of member artist-owned shops, in case you would like extra ideas for shopping locally or supporting small businesses as you do your holiday shopping.
Thank you for being a part of this community! We pray this finds you well, and we wish you a rich season of Advent and a joyous Christmas.
Warmly,
Amy Lee and Christina Brown
Anselm Arts Guild Directors
“The Nativity,” a painting by Paulette Triplett
The Nativity
The Nativity. I painted this piece 2 years ago and bring it in my home to hang this time each year. I believe it catches the solemn moment of our Lord’s birth - the heavenly pause and celebration and causes me to reflect throughout the season. Peace on earth and to all the Anselm community.
Love,
Paulette
“The Star,” a written piece by Evangeline Denmark
The Star
May light and grace pursue you relentlessly this Advent season. May Emmanuel's breath fill and sustain you, now and always.
- Evangeline Denmark
— A segment from The Star —
Look down, my shining ones.
I looked and I quaked at the darkness beneath me. No. Turn away. Pull the glory tight around me and hide.
But He could not look away. He watched them. Yearned for them. Walked among them in forms they saw not. And we, his stars, ceased to revel in our shared sacrament. We hung above the suffering sphere, our gazes on the creatures below. His name crossed their lips with every breath and yet they did not know it, speak it, or call upon its majesty.
“Songs for the Long Night: An Advent Journey,” music by Teressa Mahoney
Songs for the Long Night: An Advent Journey
Featuring Teressa Mahoney, Matthew Clark, Clay Clarkson, Ben Holsteen, and Tom Gannaway.
“Lucy’s Advent,” a piece by Mandy Houk
Lucy’s Advent
— A segment from Lucy’s Advent —
Her lips part to whisper the questions to herself at least, but the dark and the cold and the still and the quiet—they will surely hide, freeze, smother the words before they form. So she releases the questions as breath instead, and they form a wordless wispy cloud, hovering in the unmoving air before her face.
Then everything begins to stir. The trees shiver and shudder to the very tips of their green-black needles, which are somehow now more green than black. The snow at her feet loosens, shifts, becomes flakes again and rises in swirls to her knees, her waist, her shoulders, combing gently through her hair like Mother’s fingers.
Christmas Carols on Harp and Violin
Christmas Carols on Harp and Violin
“A Crack,” a piece by Christina Brown
A Crack
The atmosphere stirred…
A color-laden sky burned.
Tree limbs, like veins, stretched up –
Weaving colors in and out, out and in:
A fire-quilted sky.
Below lay a lady, all in white.
Her Heaven-laden womb churned.
Blood of holiness on holiness poured out--
Flaming skies met tender cries:
Silent Night pulsed with life.
Holy ink spilled across the skies.
The faces of the stars turned.
Holy writ in fleshly form appeared --
Divinity danced, the veil of time cracked:
This holy baby split the night.
Anselm Artists’ Shops
Ariane and Jackie Peveto: BeeRibboned
Kanzashi and other ribbon art, accessories, decor, ornaments
Paulette Triplett:
Visual art, holiday decor, prints
I have a lot of things for purchase that would make a great gift - large and small. I have a website for viewing some paintings but have so much more not showing there like baskets, sheep ornaments, stars, cards, prints etc. You can reach me by email: haworkshop@aol.com