“Lately, I’ve been thinking about Jesus in the manner of how
he is all consuming.” Or, it was something in this vein the artist Melissa Beck
articulated during my recent visit to her Pratt studio. Evidence of this
statement filled my eyes as I perused one of her utensil pieces: a
horizontal band of silver-plated forks happily glued to the wall by thick cake
frosting. I was ready to partake in order
to taste and see how good God is.
As a new fan of this emerging artist there is one thing I must herald
about Melissa’s work: It is not just a cerebral exercise, as most of
contemporary art is these days, for it jogs our embodied vision utilizing touch, smell, and taste. Her art is a holistic experience and through her use
of food and household objects she explores ideas of consumption along with
its tension between abundance and scarcity. This is exemplified by one of her
pieces entitled “Drawering Room.” Does the collection of empty drawers hint at
hoarding or are they waiting to be filled? These themes have already been
explored by CFW guest speakers such as O. David Taylor and Andy Crouch who
remind us that in God’s infinite kingdom to gain means we must give away.
Thoughts on the infinite and the finite are further mediated
through variations of constructed cakes. Melissa assembles both real cakes oozing with icing and more durable
confections made of building materials such as wood, nails, and foam. Her
choice of repurposing ordinary objects such as bread, ironing boards, and
furniture are overtly charged with nurturing implications redolent of home, family,
and community. Some may see the
work as sentimental, but I prefer to view them as markers pointing to the
accessibility of an eternal home made possible by our all consuming Christ.
Take in God through the arts!
--Maria
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