Photo Series #5

The not quite dairy queen monster of a sundae. Still delicious!

Sipping on hot coffee, Tom Pottiger, 19, from New Jersey enjoys not only the quality coffee but the quality time with Emily at Lincoln Diner in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania..

Sipping on hot coffee, Emily Gouekr, 19, from New Oxford enjoys not only the quality coffee but the quality time with Tom at Lincoln Diner in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania..

I think it is one of the best feelings when you are peaking over a difficult season of life. When the shallow beginnings of a new fresh season are so close and knowing that this small part of your life is almost over and brings excitement about the something new that is beginning.

For me, this past season has been filled with loneliness, pain, heartache, and loss; but also immense amounts of joy, fun, laughter, and friendship. Quite the contrast.

Though I would peg my first semester of college as being the hardest, I'd say this semester was right up there. My work load was insane, solely because I am taking mostly project-based classes that require hours of out of class-intentional-work-time. Not to mention I am working and trying to balance friends, family, and significant relationships.

During the past spring break I had taken the much needed break from the craziness surrounding me. A lot has happened within the past few months between Tom and I, but one concept remains; we are always willing to fix and move forward no matter what obstacle. We spent much of our time just doing things together over my break.

We spent a few days thrift shopping, painting my room, watching movies, and going on ice-cream dates. We usually ended up at dairy queen which is always the best choice by far. Being home with him is such a tease and reminds me how much and often I miss him during our semi-long distance periods while I am at school. Much of our time was spent lounging and day dreaming about the future, then ending up looking intentionally at what is ahead.

Looking ahead is hard when your walls still smell like fresh paint. Thinking about leaving what is comfortable and safe is a process. Every choice and decision is shaping and molding what is to come. Realizing that pressure can be overwhelming and overbearing at times. Though, I find it helpful when making decisions toward goals and dreams even though sacrifices might have to be made along the way. New seasons bring change, and the best way I have learned to face that is to stand up and embrace what is to come with thanksgiving.

I am thankful for Tom and the past few weeks we have had. Being with each other and embracing our own season changes together has been such a blessing for me. I am ready to move on from this hectic semester and am praying for peace as the semester comes to a close. I am excited for what is to come.

Until next time,

The Theology of Pottery

Photo from unsplash.com

I personally believe that being creative within the church or as a christian is essential and imperative for the growth and expansion of God's kingdom. I find myself often uneasy when a church or people disdain the evolution of creative peoples and resources within the church. This may come from a lost concept of the body of Christ and what that means. When Christianity is seen as a place, it is hard to escape that mindset and embrace the collaborative process that encapsulates the body of Christ.

In the early days, the body of Christ was made up of creators and creatives. History shows us that pottery and many other physical and creative trades are prevalent throughout the bible. Though, these references to clay and the potter are often overlooked and misinterpreted. God, the ultimate potter and original creative displays multiple examples woven within scripture that parallels his purpose and intentions to us.

The Beginning 

It is clear, that in the beginning with His own image in mind, God created. All of earth, every living creature was sculpted and created by God. God is intentional with His creation whether it is the complex geographical ecosystems or the intricate creation of the human body and functions that work harmoniously within us. This detailed purposeful creation is brilliant and beyond human comprehension. His art is the ultimate art.

The beginning of God's human creation began with dust and intention. 

Clay is often dug out of wet and undesirable circumstances before dried in the sun for use. Potters go through a selection and preparation process before even forming their clay on the wheel. With every piece that is made, there is planning for the purpose of the piece and what it will do. A potter may be making a pot, cup, vase etc. and needs to know the amount of clay to be used. In the same way, God is intentional with our purposes and directly involved with our creation.

• Jeremiah 1:5  "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."

• Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

• Ephesians 2:10  "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

• Job 33:6  "Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay."

It is important to remember that clay is made from dust, as is man. When dust is referenced in the bible it is common knowledge that this is interchangeable with the dust of clay. Man's body is frail and will return to dust in the end. 

• Ecclesiastes 12:7  "and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

• Ecclesiastes 3:20  "All go to the same place; all come from dust and to dust all return."

• Genesis 2:7  "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 

The potter has mixed the clay and is ready to begin the shaping process

Shaping

One of the greatest actions of our God is his relentless pursuit. When beginning the shaping process of a vessel, the potter must being coning/ wedging; a process that relieves air pockets and stress the clay accumulates from being handled and making it stronger. The beginning of the creation process is the beginning of our sufferings though God "wedging" us is producing perseverance.

• Romans 5:3 "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance."

The next part of the shaping process would be to center the clay. This is the foundation of the rest of the process. This same concept holds true in our lives as well. A centered life with Christ is the foundation of balance that holds us together during every-day activity. 

The potter will then begin opening the vessel. 

• Psalm 119:73 "Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands."

All throughout the new and old testament, God is primarily working and focused on the inside of His creation. As the potter uses water to shape and mold their work, living water and the word are used to shape and mold and gain maturity through understanding. A potter works on the sides and walls of the vessel, watching meticulously for uniformity and perfection. We are unable to fix and mold ourselves, as we see in scripture in Jeremiah 18 as Jeremiah went to the potters house to hear the Lord's message. Through that passage as God explains that He will make a nation new like a potter to a marred jar, making God's overriding authority apparent. 

Masterpiece 

We are Gods Masterpiece creation. He knows everything about each piece as each though the same, are all uniquely and individually created with many different beautiful colors, shapes, and sizes. And doesn't the creator have the best intentions for his creation? To think the creation would question or deny Him who is in control is foolish. 

• Isaiah 29:16 "You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”?"

In the end, God is in control of our lives, sculpting and molding us to glorify Him. Walk in the knowledge and power of a beautiful masterpiece. Embracing the potter metaphor in the bible can give a greater insight, depth, and vividness of scriptural teachings.

• Isaiah 64:8  "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."

Video is from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs5kbLVDPZc

Short Look at Historical Pottery

Photo source Unknown

Biblical Potters know no gender. During bible times men typical threw pottery on the wheel while women would be more involved in hand coiling and sculpting. These craftsman practices were familiar and apart of everyday life to the people of that day making their biblical messages easily understood by the then-common day peoples. It is hard to think about this type of work and common knowledge in the industrialized nation we live in today. During bible times, people looked at the simple everyday life practices for a way to understand spiritual implications more clearly.

Pottery dates back to 5,000 B.C. during the Neolithic age. Older pottery can still be found in archeological searches, as it withstands chemicals and most weathering. Once pottery is fired in a kiln it is almost indestructible. Clay in Palestine was very popular and can still be found in the remains of tools, kilns, potters wheels, and prepared clay. Within the Old Testament, the word "potter" referenced yastar, "the one who forms." Many of the practices and formation methods in pottery were experimented and perfected during bible times. Many of the techniques are still used today.

In Palestine, pottery quickly moved into becoming an artistic talent. Though even so an artistic flare was added, pottery still remained useable and kept its practicality with citizens needs still in mind. During this time, pottery was not a luxury item, but used often in everyday life.

I really can not help but think about how amazing it is that a craft like pottery that has been around for thousands of years, is still prevalent and used in today's society.

Random Questions about What Makes Art, Art.

With an artist Mom and a creative Dad always pushing and encouraging me to try new things, an early desire arose during my childhood to be creative. I love everything about the self expression and closeness it brings. Most of my childhood art experiences were glorified arts and crafts around my house which ended up accumulating in large piles in my house. These piles resulted in a belief that all of my art was a masterpiece. A few weeks ago I had gone home to find and face these piles. Had I decided or known relatively what art was, maybe I wouldn't have kept every Popsicle stick I had ever painted. Then again it was all really cute and relatively sentimental.

So this got me thinking; what is art?
Does it have a definition?
Is it just creation?
Can it be objective?

Besides numbers, art has essentially been apart history within societies world wide. Even from the beginning of childhood, art has made its way into life activities to preoccupy time and enhance creative thinking alike. But what is it really?

Dictionary.com defines "Art" primarily as, "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing or of more than ordinary significance."

So what constitutes something as beautiful?
My sister asked me what the most beautiful thing I had seen was once and I kinda freaked out.
How are you supposed to answer that? Isn't beauty in everything?
Anywhere here's my answer to that question.

So if there is beauty in everything than can everything be art? This brought me to look at the second part of the definition... "more than ordinary significance." Which I also found to be a pretty subjective perspective of art. To the person writing these definitions, what is does this mean?

In the end I believe that art is whatever the beholder wants it to be. To me personally art is creation. Creating and making something out of nothing is art. Something with intention, thought, perspective, and a bit of hard work. Something cherished and loved.

So, what else is art? -- Your turn.

Photo Series #4

On set for a dialogue scene project, Tom Pottiger, 19, from New Jersey snaps some pictures of actors at the university of Valley Forge located in Phoenixville Pennsylvania. 

Newly engaged couple, Rob Boyd and Hannah Weisensale of Gettysburg, Pa, getting pictures taken by Tom Pottiger and Emily Gouker at Sach's Covered Bridge in Gettysburg, Pa.

Rob and Hannah pose at a special location as videographer, Tom Pottiger , 19, gets some shots for the couple's engagement photos. 

Recently there have been a lot of projects in my life where Tom and I have been able to work together, which is so cool for us. This is something we have talked about as a future dream and watching it slowly become a reality is so fun to watch unfold. He brings a lot to the table that I lack especially while working with other people under a professional context. During projects, I usually am very focused on what needs to be done while Tom is relaxed and talking to the people about how to pose and etc. When it’s just me working in those situations, I notice his absence. I am so grateful for his insight in the video world as I come to grips with the projects I have at hand. I often get overwhelmed quickly and Tom reminds me to relax and just have fun doing my thing. He is such an encouraging part of my media process as well as to others involved. 

At this point in my college career, I feel challenged and inspired by the creatives surrounding me. There is so much talent being tapped into in my peers and fellow classmates that I feel are totally pushing me to break down walls and barriers within my own creative journey. Seeing where other people are, their focus, and their goals is eye-opening to my personal process and progress. This is a good place to be in for me and I am excited to where it leads. 
A project Tom and I were able to work on this week was one near and dear to my heart. My best friend from childhood has gotten engaged, and I was privileged enough to take her engagement photos! Tom did a quick engagement announcement video for them which gives some insight to some locations we went to. It was so special to spend some time with these lovebirds who took me to important locations in their relationships for photos. We walked to the site of their first date, first kiss, and potential wedding spot. It was encapsulating being in the presence of someone you love so dearly as she prepares and shares the person she wants to spend forever with. Hannah would not stop smiling the entire time, it was so adorable! I am so lucky to be her friend and to be doing these photos. As much fun as they were to take, they are equally as exciting to edit. I can't wait to give them to her and then be with her on this day. So happy to see this relationship that God has perfectly orchestrated together develop into something so beautiful.