Arts has always been a big part of my life. I have been drawing since I was a small child, painting in oils since 12, and watercolour since 15. After year 12 I completed a Bachelors of Fine Art with a major in painting. Just after finishing at Art School I gave my life to the Lord, and two years later held a show of my landscape painting with a known Melbourne painter. God radically challenged me at this time as to who was boss of my life – Himself or art and my ambitions. I chose Him.
Obedience to God took me to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1996 for a two year mission internship in vernacular language literacy with Wycliffe Bible Translators. My wife Raewyn and I met in the highlands and three years later we returned with Wycliffe to PNG with my oldest son Ryan (14). Soon after my other two sons, Samuel (12) and Eric (10) were added to the long-term trip. We were involved in local language literacy training, scripture and leadership training and guesthouse management.
Over the next 10 years with a couple of years in Australia where we are originally from, we had the chance to reconnect with family, friends and those who made it possible to be in PNG. During our times in Australia I have managed to exhibit my paintings in a couple of solo exhibitions.
Since 2011, I have been working with local artists and communities in the Sepik region in the northwest of PNG as an Arts Worker. Papua New Guinea’s rich tradition of visual arts – carving, costume, painting, weaving – is one of the country’s most distinctive features. Like spoken languages visual arts are also a form of communication.
In November 2010 I met Nanias Maira, an artist working in Wewak. Over the next two years our friendship developed. When I discovered Nanias is a ‘custodian’ of the Kwoma visual language, we embarked on documenting the complex visual languages of bark painting, carving and dance of the Kwoma people.
About halfway through the year, I challenged Nanias to paint from the Bible using the traditional designs and image of his clan. The result was a beautiful set of paintings of the Genesis creation account and the beginning of a series on the life of Christ. Nanias was transformed as he read the Scriptures to accurately translate these stories into the Kwoma visual language.
In 2012, I went with Nanias to his remote village to document their arts and culture. When the villagers saw the new “Biblical” paintings their enthusiastic response was “These are ours!” It’s amazing to think back on all this. To see how it was all in his plan to use me, my family and art in the process.
I am currently at Fuller studying a Masters in Inter Cultural Studies with an Emphasis in Theology and Arts. Fuller is one of the few places where the study of missions, culture, theology and the arts are integrated. Study here is further equipping me for ministry in PNG and as a Christian artist.
My family and I have been attending Lake since September 2013 and thoroughly enjoying being part of the Homebuilders group. We are getting more familiar with the community. Thank you for hearing our story.