Empowering Creativity on the Go: Dignity as Creativity

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Both Christianity and Judaism assert that humanity is made in the image of God, a bold and provocative claim that projects both intentionality and potential for all people.  Maybe this partially suggests that to be made in the image of God means that every person has the life-giving capacity to be a creative and unique individual, and to find inimitable ways of self-expression and growth.  Part of being spiritual is to be a creative. And developing self-expression is part of fostering a healthy spiritual being. 

Beginning with this claim has implications for what it means to “respect the dignity of every human being,” a core value of most all religions and the words of the Baptismal Covenant of my own Episcopal tradition.  For Episcopalians, this is the imperative for how we should live our lives.  If we are to respect people, we have to find ways of creating the space where people can be authentic, where self-expression freely flows.  What would happen if we began to see outreach or church ministry, not as a way of just fulfilling other people’s basic needs, but empowering others to be authentic, creative, and to claim who they are as spiritual human beings. 

Katie Whitfield, a volunteer with H*Art Gallery, has been spending the past few months doing just this.  Every Wednesday morning, Katie spends a few hours with individuals at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, most who are homeless, and all with different levels of artistic ability but a willingness and desire to be creative.  When they leave the Cathedral’s space, each person has the opportunity to take a H*Art pack, a pocket-sized container which holds a box of crayons, a few sharpies, a pencil, and some 3 x 5-inch index cards.  People are encouraged to be creative throughout the week.  H*Art Gallery’s mission is to empower homeless and nontraditional artists. 

H*Art Gallery started in Chattanooga by Ellen and Jay Heavilon as a way of developing and empowering homeless and nontraditional artists.  In 2015, they purchased a building on Marshall Avenue in Memphis in an effort to expand their concept.  The mission is to empower creativity.  It’s about dignity.  Occasionally they find those who would like to share their art with others which is then showcased in the gallery.  A requirement of the gallery is the expectation that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of artist’s work is to be given away to a charity of the artist’s choosing. An opportunity is created to invite a person who society has deemed as having limited resources to be empowered to transform others’ lives. 

The impact of the work of the participants who engage with H*Art is tremendous.  When asked about how art transformed his life, Ron, a recently housed Navy veteran shared “In a world where I hear ‘No!’ all of the time, this is the one place I can hear ‘Yes, you can do it!’” Jasen, who was homeless when he first got involved in 2010, earned a partial scholarship to Virginia Culinary Institute and now works for The Chattanoogan.  Isela, a victim of domestic violence and mother of a six-year-old, blossomed in jewelry making. She became an art and jewelry instructor.  Her daughter’s image of her mother as a teacher and artist is life transforming. Isela’s jewelry line is named after her daughter.

Maybe the lesson we can learn is the notion that to respect the dignity of every human being might require a much deeper commitment than just the fulfillment of others’ basic needs.  It is to unlock the creative and life-changing potential of the other.  Maybe it is as easy as offering a small box of crayons, sharpies, and index cards.

To learn more about H*Art Gallery, go to www.hartgallerytn.com

To learn more about St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, go to www.stmarysmemphis.org