Arts Council Exhibit Featuring Melinda Wing

Faith is defined as belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof: complete trust, confidence, reliance, or devotion.
Many look solely to the concept of reason, or the phenomenon that allows human beings to use their senses to draw conclusions about the world around them, to try and understand the environment that they live in. However, there are some who look to faith, or the concept of believing in a higher power as the reason for their existence.
The fig tree grows on faith, it can grow anywhere in lava, on rocks, in the sand, and in the most hostile environments. It can take over other trees, growing fast and strong. It grows all over the world and in different cultures is considered sacred. The Buddha achieved enlightenment under the body tree, a large and sacred fig tree.
In the Book of Genesis in the Bible, Adam and Eve clad themselves with fig leaves (Genesis 3:7) after eating the “forbidden fruit” (which scholars now believe was a fig tree) from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Likewise, fig leaves, or depictions of fig leaves, have long been used to cover nude figures in painting and sculpture. Art collectors and exhibitors often added these depictions long after the original work was completed. The use of the fig leaf as a protector of modesty or shield of some kind has entered the language.
About the Artist Printmaking is Melinda's passion. In 2001 she co-founded The Arizona Print Group. As a graphic designer, Melinda worked for The Arizona Republic and several non-profits. She has been a member of The Beatitudes 25 years or more. In Phoenix there used to be fig trees everywhere, and the past year she has been obsessed with them and the beautiful leaves they have. Melinda knew she could tell their story. Creating original one-of-a-kind hand-pulled monoprints, from real leaves Melinda collected from various trees and printing on tea bag paper and hand dyed Shibori fabric, "I feel they have come alive" she says.

Art is available for viewing in the Worship Center narthex Sundays from 10am-11:30am and by appointment. Email media@beatitudeschurch.org