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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Bethel Mennonite art proves 'less is more'

By: Cheryl Girard

Posted: 03/12/2012 3:17 AM | Comments: 0

Cheryl Girard / Winnipeg Free Press Artist Alvin Pauls with his mural Twelve. The 12 disciples are symbolized by circular platter forms.

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Cheryl Girard / Winnipeg Free Press Artist Alvin Pauls with his mural Twelve.

According to artist and educator Alvin Pauls, the philosophy of "less is more" is held particularly dear by Mennonite people.

"There is a need to pare things down to get at the essence of things," he says.

The essence of much of the art in Bethel Mennonite Church seems to have been captured in Pauls' own words as he describes the sanctuary: "(it) seems to speak of us a people: simplicity, low colour and theology which stresses light."

This year marks the church's 75th anniversary, to be celebrated in November, but it is only in recent years that the latest phase of artwork here has been completed.

Entering through the main door of the Grant Park-area church, the visitor first sees three huge earthen vessels encased behind glass in the expansive atrium or foyer. Referred to as Time Jars, they are symbolic, says Pauls, of the past, present and future of Bethel Church.

Installed during Bethel's 50th anniversary with items sealed inside that are representative of the three periods, they are designated to be opened during Bethel's 100th anniversary.

Farther along in the atrium, Pauls points out the enormous mural he created, which he says is "based on early medieval paintings of the Last Supper." Simply entitled Twelve, the mural is made up of 12 clay platters, representative of the 12 apostles, background tile and thin wood strips in the form of broken or incomplete crosses -- all in muted, natural earth tones.

"When you walk in, you walk in by broken pieces, not perfectly cut -- we're reminded we are living in a broken world," says Pauls, 69, who is also the founder of The Sounding Stone.

"In medieval art, early Last Supper paintings depicted the apostles with gold, ornate halos when around the table," he adds. Reminiscent of the halos, the platters were chosen to represent the 12 apostles. "A platter also has a lot of meanings -- service, hospitality," adds Pauls.

In keeping with the theme of discipleship and the apostles, the mural's basic message is derived from Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations..."

Pauls explains that when entering the atrium, worshippers pass by the mural and view the broken world, and upon leaving the sanctuary, they pass by it again with the hope and affirmation received in worship and so are then encouraged to carry the message of faith to the outside world.

Upon entering the sanctuary, the visitor is greeted by The Lord's Prayer, which appears on the glass wall surrounding the entrance. Printed unobtrusively in delicate white lettering on glass, the prayer appears in 14 languages used in Mennonite Church Canada congregations, symbolizing "our diversity and inclusiveness," says Pauls.

Once inside, "you stand on the axis of a cross," he says. Here it is the understated and elegant stained-glass windows that inspire.

The windows on the south wall represent the Manifestation of God. The four lower windows depict the Creation, the Fall of Man, the Liberation and the Redemption. The windows on the north wall portray the Darkness of the World. Here the seven sins are shown in the four lower windows.

Four triangles symbolic of the four gospels make up the large Cross windows that face the congregation.

Tours can be arranged by phoning 453-2199.

If you have a story idea about a special place of worship, please email:

girard.cheryl@gmail.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 12, 2012 J13

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