Heavenly Keys
By Sarah Fuller
Artist Statement:
The Synodal documents highlighted the need to listen deeply and communally to all voices, while maintaining the structure of church authority- but a structure imagined as deeply oriented towards care, servanthood, listening and the welcoming of people sometimes left out or left behind- the nature of Christ's ministry. Considering this, I came across the idea of revisiting the symbol of the “Keys of Heaven” from Matthew 16:17-19. As the Synodal documents seek to re-envision understandings of authority, I wanted to gently conceptualize an ancient and powerful symbol as an object that is also soft, comforting, inviting and made of humble materials and humble methods- something that could be interacted with, safe for children, and at home in a variety of contexts. In addition, I hand-printed the keys with Biblical quotations and concepts that invoke context and memory for the conceptualization of Christian authority. I also included patterns and images of natural objects, invoking community with the natural world and also the natural world as a source of wisdom. I wanted the objects to be beautiful, unpretentious and winsome. As a woman growing up in an extended family of women who sewed their own clothes, decorations and household objects such as blankets, I also wanted to acknowledge the artistry and resourcefulness of my female relatives, who often repurposed materials at hand to delight and care for their communities. In a similar way, the Synod on Synodality is taking stock, it seems, of the resources of the faith community, and seeing what new and lively creations it can make. Finally, I am asking other people to participate in the project by photographing the keys, and including these photos as a part of the artwork. This communal dimension of the art piece explores the idea that a loving, humble kind of authority can enliven the world, fostering connection and community.
About the Artist
Sarah Fuller is an artist living in Ventura, California. She lived and worked for 9 years in Catholic service communities, spending most of that time at the Los Angeles Catholic Worker soup kitchen and hospitality house in Los Angeles, California. She is a Mennonite, and makes religious and liturgical art as well as art inspired by nature. She is interested in social justice, text, scripture, icons and mysticism, working mostly in the medium of linocut printmaking. She is an enthusiastic birder and is originally from Canada. Some of her favorite artists are Ade Bethune, Fritz Eichenberg, Corita Kent and John August Swanson. Her website is sarahfullerart.com
