The Finding Divine Inspiration seminar by Scott McElroy takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at North Country Alliance Church, 7 Northern Ave., Plattsburgh. The $35 fee includes a copy of Scott McElroy's book, "Finding Divine Inspiration: Working with the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity."
Register at http://FindingDivineInspiration.com or at the door beginning at 9 a.m.
For more information, call Darlene Virgin at 570-5601.
Learn more about McElroy at: http://thenewR.org.
PLATTSBURGH — Spirituality is a vital force in creativity.
Darlene Virgin figured that out a while ago.
"I've always collaborated with God to do my artwork," she said.
"I have too many ideas," she said, laughing. "I get stuck in one direction."
So she asks the Lord which way to go.
"And he leads me."
Virgin's is not an egocentric view.
"I felt like (God) was saying, 'I've given gifts in the arts, and I want everybody who had them to get out and use them in the church and in the community to help affect the culture for good."
CREATIVE APPROACH
It was while surfing the Web for similar messages that she found the New Renaissance Rising site founded by J. Scott McElroy, who authored the book "Finding Divine Inspiration: Working With the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity" and offers a seminar on the topic.
"I thought that would be a great thing to have here," Virgin said. "What I like about it is it involves every area of creativity — written word, music, dance, theater, visual arts, even crafts.
"The Lord can work through a person who does knitting."
She hopes artists throughout the area will come to McElroy's seminar this Saturday at North Country Alliance Church. But the message isn't limited to those who call themselves artists, McElroy emphasized.
"It's for anybody, really, who is interested in creativity and wants to see that part of themselves come alive.
"We have a lot of people show up who say, "I think I'm creative; I'm not really sure."
All people search for who they are, McElroy said.
"I think that this is a piece of the puzzle."
INTEGRATING ARTS
The Christian church as a whole has begun to recognize the importance of the arts, McElroy said. Pope Benedict recently hosted some 300 artists "to talk about what could be done to bring artists back into the church."
Protestant denominations are addressing the issue, as well, McElroy said.
"It's really about connecting the church and the arts, for artists to understand how important spirituality can be in the creative process."
McElroy, host of Animal Planet TV series "Wildlife Journal" for three years, has worked in creative professions for more than a quarter century. He's an award-winning radio producer, writer, visual artist and an international voiceover artist. Among others, he has narrated projects for Visa, Intel, Land O' Lakes and the "Promises for Life" scripture CD series.
He is director of arts at Vineyard Community Church in Indianapolis.
IN TUNE
"Artists tend to be very spiritual," McElroy said.
"They may not necessarily subscribe to any denomination or religion. But artists want to be in tune with something outside of themselves, whether it be the universe, God "¦
"When we learn about (God) and know him, he will bring our creativity out in a divine collaboration."
Virgin, a fabric artist, sometimes finds herself surprised by the direction her pieces take. One work, entitled "Thirsty for Fire," took shape as a leafless tree, its branches brittle and dry on a reddish orange background.
Trees often represent people, the artist said. At the same time, they aren't thirsty for fire.
"But the power of the Holy Spirit helps restore people, helps restore their lives," she interpreted the piece, which also features a white dove bathed in golden sunshine. "This tree obviously needs some restoration."
Virgin's artwork, which was exhibited recently at North Country Cultural Center for the Arts, is something she began creating only after her children were grown up.
"I felt the Lord was telling me it's time to use my gift."
E-mail Suzanne Moore at: Smoore@pressrepublican.com
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