The third annual "Scarlet Steps" sacred art exhibit at NewSong Fellowship Church will focus on hands.
There will be hands that commit sins and the hands of Christ, "who died for our sins."
Perhaps the most compelling piece in the exhibit is Dan Milligan's "Jesus Laid in the Tomb" — a large acrylic painting, with a black background, of a crucified hand, red with blood.
The exhibit, also with hands from Easter scripture, will invite guests to contemplate "how our hands and His hands can come together."
NewSong's Inspire Arts Ministry will present the exhibit of 22 drawings, paintings, sculptures, collages, photographs and fiber art at the church, 609 Prospect St., from 5 to 9 p.m. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Supervised art activities will be available for children age 4 and older.
For more information or to reserve free tickets, call 393-9600 or go to www.newsongfellowship.net/scarletsteps.
"Scarlet Steps" — a variation on the Stations of the Cross — takes its name from the trail of bloody footprints Jesus left on his way to Calvary.
It will feature 20 artists, including one teen. All but three of the artists are members of NewSong.
"We have a ton of artists," said the Rev. Brett Lovern, pastor of worship and arts.
Lovern, who is in charge of the exhibit, said he doesn't know why NewSong attracts so many artists but suspects it is because it is a young congregation.
"We're theologically conservative, but edgy," he said.
One of the young artists in the congregation is Ann Kimmich, NewSong's director of Inspire Arts Ministry, who is assisting Lovern in putting on the exhibit.
"We're driven by scripture but not afraid to keep up with culture," she said.
Kimmich, who resides in Lancaster city, moved here four years ago from San Diego.
"I came from a church that had a gallery, coffee shop, monthly art shows and art classes."
It was Kimmich, of Kimmich Art & Design, who suggested NewSong establish an art ministry. "Scarlet Steps" was its first project.
The exhibit, which attracted more than 500 people the first year and more than 600 last year, will be held in the church lobby, which will be draped in black curtains.
The atmosphere will be "quiet, contemplative, personal," Kimmich said.
The first section will feature works of art depicting modern-day sins. An example is Nicole Rosania's "Abuse," a detailed graphite drawing of a scared young girl.
The second section will feature hands depicting events from scripture that led up to Jesus' death on the cross.
Kimmich contributed "Betrayal," a fiber art portrayal of Judas' empty hands.
"He betrayed Christ for money, but in the end gave the money back and hung himself," she said. "It goes to show that what you think you want isn't always fulfilling."
The last stop in the exhibit is the sanctuary, which will be converted into a response room, with easels and other art supplies.
"(Guests) can, paint, draw or write a poem or a song," Kimmich said. "Or they can sit and pray."
Artists will be on hand to answer questions and discuss their work. Each piece in the exhibit will include an artist's statement: why the subject was chosen and how the piece was created.
NewSong gave the artists a list of subjects and let them pick from it.
"A lot of people picked something personal; things they've dealt with," Kimmich said. "That's why the artists' statements are so important."
The response room also will include recorded music and five videos of NewSong members talking about how Christ came into their lives.
The focus on hands began with a two-minute video that NewSong showed in a worship service. It will be on view in the lobby during the exhibit.
To the music of "Amazing Grace" and without narration, it flashes close-ups of hands in various settings with phrases or words such as "stole a pack of gum," "lies," "gossips," "doesn't show love" and ends with a hand nailed to a cross and the words "forgave them all."
"That's the kicker," Lovern said.
