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? Who - Artist followed God’s call.
Community volunteers, paid professionals, sponsors all worked together
with the following leaders:
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Artist: Wendy T. Wallace was given a vision of a
painting she was to do of The Crucifixion/Resurrection Seen
Together and a calling to complete a Series of paintings for
the year 2000 on the Life of Christ from the birth through the
Ascension. 17 years later, that vision and calling was followed
with the directions for the next step for the project: a
performance with the paintings as the theme.
Author: Dr. James M. Efird, a
Biblical Interpretive Scholar of Duke University after
seeing the completed Series was inspired to write the
historical narrative for the
performance.
Arranger: The Reverend Debra Paulsen,
Pastor
Choreographer: Jane Wellford of Elon
University
D irector:
Pauline Cobrda, Former Director for Education United Arts
Council, Greensboro, NC. Currently performing with
national touring company.
Music Director: Jesse Suggs,
Orchestra Director, Jamestown Youth Orchestra, Jamestown,
NC.
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? What - A Series of 25, 4x5 foot oil and
canvas paintings “The Life of Christ Series” that became the theme
for the musical extravaganza, The Life of Christ Celebration! Huge
images of the paintings are projected on a screen behind the
performers, dancers, choir and narrator presenting the historical
life of Jesus.
? When - The Vision and Calling were given to
Wendy Wallace the second Sunday in January 1980, the next step of the
performance in September of 1997.
? Where - The Vision and Calling at Christ
United Methodist Church, Greensboro,NC during Sunday morning worship; the
idea for the Celebration revealed itself while watching Riverdance at
Radio City Music Hall.
? How - She saw the vision as if projected on
an altar cushion, and the edges of huge canvases floating about 10 feet
above the altar railing, she knew in that split second that it was to be
a traveling exhibit on the life of Christ for the year 2000. As she
stared at the vision to get it really logged in she heard the words as if
over a loud speaker: “They need to see this!” The paintings being the
theme for a performance became clear while watching how the light was
projected behind the dancers in
Riverdance.
? Why - Since her mother had just died, the
artist was more open to the interplay between this life and the next. She
feels she was called to present these paintings so faith would become
tangible and individuals would realize through example that God Speaks,
So Listen. She believes the performance concept was revealed because the
series of paintings are only the beginning, the seed. It’s what people do
around the paintings that they will remember, what scripture they
recited, what song they sang, what instrument they played, what dance
they performed or what theater they were in when they saw
it.
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