Art Lounge at Urbana 06
a photoessayby Marty Feldhake
Urbana can be overwhelming at times. There is so much to see and take in and not always enough time to process what is being learned. A variety of lounges helped delegates have a quiet place to reflect and share their Urbana experience with others in a more intimate environment.
On this afternoon the Arts Lounge is humming with activity. Soft music plays in the background. Around a half dozen tables, students are conversing with each other as they sketch, draw, and chalk a variety of images that relate to their spirituality and what they are learning here at Urbana 06.
“The goal in providing the Arts Lounge was to give a safe place for artists of all types to come and express themselves,” said Dick Ryan. Ryan is Regional Arts and Artists Coordinator for InterVarsity’s Great Lakes West region. “A lot of artists don’t feel that their art is valued within the Christian community at large,” he continued. “We want to show them that it is.”
The lounge has also provided a place for these young artists to come in and ask hard questions of seminar leaders and visit with professionals working in the field. Staff are also on hand to pray with students. “A lot of these young people are ready to give up,” said Ryan. “We remind them that God has given them these gifts and he wants them to use them!”
By week’s end, the Arts Lounge was packed, not only with art students, but other Urbana students who wanted to come and see for themselves the creative work. As Ryan surveyed the crowded room he smiled and said, “There is no doubt that God is at work.”
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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