Category Archives: Mixed Media

Through the Waters

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‘Through The Waters’, paper, silver gelatine, pencil, Mark Hewitt 1997

washing – pebbles
water that is gentle but strong enough to shape these stones,
move them, shake them, remake them.
Constant action, cleansing, washed as pebbles
washed as ‘grains of sand’ we descendants of Abraham.
Washed and make clean all over.
deliverance – waves
Imagine the waves of Boomer Beach
They come with such force you have to judge when to dive in & through the wave Jumping out of the other side taking a deep breath as you break the water’s surface Joyous at being alive. If you got it wrong you would have been dumped on the Sea floor. That’s the breaking though the water – Being delivered.
We enter into Christ’s baptism – into his dying and rising back to life.
This is coming through the waters.A deep peace can be found in the water of Christ.
Colours of blue = compassion, visualised in the cross.
reborn – pearl
Having come through the waters
We are reborn –
Pearl is an ancient symbol of rebirth
Thing of beauty coming from an oyster shell.
How does this rebirth take shape?
Imagine the grain of sand overtime layer by layer the grain of sand with its own beauty
is transformed by “mother of pearl’ where again like the pebbles on the beach
have the abrasive edges worn down and they become smooth & now rich with colour.

Washing of these waters brings healing.Past is left behind. It is not a once off.
We each have one ritual baptism But the action of it is continual.
God washes us regularly.
If we allow it, every time you sea bathe or are drenched with rain or shower
God washes & heals – Every day is a new day – we are made clean & new.

Archangel Gabriel

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Archangel Gabriel, Mark Hewitt 2008, Paper, 1500x 2500mm.

In Luke’s account of the birth nativity narrative the Archangel Gabriel is busy letting the women know that they are pregnant. First Elizabeth then Mary. Gabriel is a messenger of great news and so watched over us the whole Advent, Christmas season.
Advent Yr B / Yr C.

The Tree of Life on the banks of the River of Life in God’s Garden

Tree of life with the water of the river of life flowing under on both banks.
Revelation 22:1-2. Mark Hewitt 2007. Pastel & Acrylic.
The garden is full of eucalyts. The tree fruits 12 times a year, the fruit being quondong (australian native fruit)

Due to parallels in the message of Jesus Christ and the Tree of Life, Christian thought over the centuries has equated the Tree of Life with the Cross of Christ and Jesus himself. The Tree of Life is eternal and brings life globally and individually, as does Jesus Christ. The Tree of Life was there at the beginning (Genesis) and is there at the end/coming age/messianic age/new world (Revelation). The Tree of Life is the source of food (life) and healing in the new world, coming age. It is a source of hope. These are all theological concepts that Christians believe Christ to be.

By its description, as a part of apocalyptic writing, the Tree of Life remains mysterious, part of a deeper truth and wisdom. The Tree of Life may be referring to Jesus or be part of a wider wisdom. As it is a part of God’s mystery I don’t think we can ever be sure and it doesn’t really matter. The image of hope and of God’s desire that humanity be healed, at peace, and with full life is consistent with the image of the Tree of Life and in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Both are congruent messages of life and of fullness to come.

The Tree of Life is one of many ways God wishes love to be shown to humanity.

River Red Gum

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River Red Gum, Mark Hewitt, 1996
Paper, gelatin silver, pencil, acrylic, wood, aerial photograph, topographical map. 930W x 880mmH

There are so many layers to Country. River Red Gum is a visual depiction of those layers. A piece completed after doing a course on aboriginal spirituality with Dr Anne Patel Gray. When this was first exhibited A Aboriginal elder from a people who’s land covers the flinders ranges came up to me a said he knows that tree.
This tree can be found by a walk thorough Sacred Canyon in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. You climb out and on a bank in the middle with a creeek bed running either side is where this River Red Gum is to be found.

There are many layers it illustrate beauty in this piece. Western ways – photography – collage & drawing – aerial map & photo pinpointing tree. Indigenous ways – the frame representing connecting between heaven & earth – Song line – campfire
Each layer in itself is beautiful & together is a rich beauty.

This country has multiple layers of beauty. Scripture like our country has multiple layers With different ways of seeing. A Christian Aboriginal theology, enables another way of seeing.

Christchild through a window

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Christchild  through a window, Mark Hewitt, Dec 1996. Mixed media, corrugated iron, wood, cotton, silver gelatine photographs, oil paint.
870Wx1080mmH

Luke’s account of the birth is simply put ‘And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger’ Luke 2:7 NRSV. This Christchild is set in an Australian setting as if looking into a shed through a window. This setting could be urban or rural as corrugated iron clad sheds are found in both. The Christchild is wrapped in a flour bag placed on a potato sack as Luke presents the Christ as food for the world.
Christmas