Feb 25, 2007 10:54 pm US/Central
Some Could Call It The Gospel According To Art
CAVAZOS, CAROL
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
With the stroke of a brush, the only church in Deep Ellum hopes to wipe away some of the darkness. It has embraced art as a way of reaching out to the community.
"I feel like the Lord is trying to speak to us," said artist Alex Radin. "Because our lives are so busy and quick, we don't really take the time to think about him."
Radin said he paints what he hears from God. "He's my inspiration," he said. A divinely inspired message unfolds through light, color and texture.
"I'll get a really clear picture or I'll get a verse from scripture," Radin said about his inspiration. "I'll see a color. It'll just come during the worship."
The Deep Ellum Church has invited Alex from South Carolina to paint during worship. The message is part of its "Life in Deep Ellum" initiative. Pastor Tony Fundaro said it's an effort to combat the negative influences in the community.
Radin's type of inspirational paintings may be alien to many in the arts district. But the church hopes many more will give Life in Deep Ellum a try.
"We're here for the people of Deep Ellum," Pastor Fundaro said. "We believe Deep Ellum is the soul and the roots of Dallas." The souls this church seeks have roots that run deep in the arts.
The symbolic painting Radin created during worship reveals at least one clear message. "I feel like God is sounding an alarm for us today," he said. "For each person, that might be a different alarm he's sounding."
(CBS 11 News)
