Artists

Espin, John and Harrorld, Tim - VM - Tim Harrold

John Espin & Tim Harrold: The Doors of Perception 

 

The Doors of Perception

by Tim Harrold

This assemblage contains four themes. They can be observed in any order. The Bible quotes are from The Message.

 

Open your mouth

If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way. John 7:38

Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. Revelation 22:1

Water falls from another dimension through a rip in the fabric of time and space. God pours out his abundant blessing into the world. Heaven is invading earth. The stream brings transformation to the desert. It’s God’s river of life, free, boundless, and never-ending. The Holy Spirit falls from God’s dimension through the open heaven over each believer’s life. God pours out his abundant blessing into us. Heaven is invading us. The stream brings transformation to the lifeless desert areas of our lives. It’s God’s river of life, running free, boundless, and never-ending – in and through and out of us. 

Meditation

Am I infilled? May heaven invade my earth.

Am I broken through? May heaven transform my earth.

Am I outflowing? May heaven invade and transform the earth, the world, around me.

May the dry parts of my inner and outer life experience new growth, lush and lavish. 

 

Does it roar like the Lion?

The people will end up following God. I will roar like a lion - Oh, how I’ll roar! Hosea 11:10

A lion’s roar and a trumpet’s blast. Both announce God’s presence – his triumph, his victory, his being here. Extraordinary trumpets fall from the sky and enter the ordinary world. Heaven is invading earth. Like a huge trumpet blasting in the middle of our lives, the message of Jesus roars like a lion – the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Jesus uses the ‘little’ people who wait on him, who listen and watch, to deliver that message. And they become roaring Lions, blasting trumpets, and roaring fires. The Lion baptizes and empowers with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Meditation

Do I hear the trumpet blast, like the Lion’s roar, in the middle of my life?

Am I a trumpet blast, like the Lion’s roar, in the middle of life around me?

Am I being empowered by the roaring fire of the Holy Spirit?

May I have God’s burning passion, raging love and warming joy, to deliver the message of Jesus.

 

A white stone. A new name. What is it?

I’ll also give a clear [white], smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name. Revelation 2:17

I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church. Matthew 16:18

Pure white stones fall – or rise – through a window open on another dimension. It’s the space-time / eternity interface. On each stonemarks suggest another language, or new words beginning to form. On the ground are the rough rocks of the earth. Each has a name, and the name is Rock. This is the natural foundation for King Jesus’ supernatural kingdom.

Meditation

Have I begun to know my ‘new name’, who I really am?

Do I know my identity in Christ?

Have others begun to know who I really am?

May I be naturally supernatural, rock solid and kingdom-minded.

 

Can you count the stars?

Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Genesis 15:5

Starfish on the seashore and stars strewn across the sky. Each has a number. There are countless other stars and starfish outside of the scene. Everything in the Creator’s creation has meaning – and comes with a promise. We are unique and significant.

Meditation

Do I see meaning in creation?

Do I see my Creator’s meaning and purpose in creating my life?

Do I believe the promises of God for my life?

May I live in the joy of knowing I have been created by my Creator to be unique and significant.

The Doors of Perception

If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake

The title came after the completion of the piece. Doors connect each of the four scenes. Each door leads to somewhere else. Doors to be knocked on and doors to be opened. Jesus said, ‘I am the door,’ the Gateway for the sheep.

Meditation

Jesus is the door. Am I a door to Jesus?

Am I happy for seekers to knock on my door, for me to open the door and to show them Jesus?

What doors of perception do I need to be cleaned?

May I be a doorway and a gate for lost sheep who are hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd calling them.

******* 

John Espin & Tim Harrold: The Doors of Perception,  2014, mixed media assemblage, 45 x 45 x 90 cm, for ENAS (Essex Network of Artists’ Studios, UK). Photos by Dennis Brockhurst.

To watch a video about The Doors of Perception, go to http://youtu.be/dsFp9TsWzJ0.

John Espin and Tim Harrold have known each other since 1980 when the former was employed and the latter was a student on the Art Foundation Course at Thurrock Technical ollege. In 1987 they became colleagues, but it wasn’t until 2010 that they both began exhibiting their work. In 2013 they both took studios at High House in Purfleet in Thurrock. In 2014 they collaborated on a work for the first time, commissioned by the Essex Network of Artists’ Studios (ENAS).

John Espin originally hails from Rossington near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. He attended ThurrockCollege and graduated from Maidstone College of Art where he was tutored by Roland Piché and Anthony Gormley. He achieved a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Sculpture/Fine Art. He worked at various studios in the South Essex area and in Art Education for 30 years. He is now retired from education but continues to produce art work at the High House Artists’ Studios. 

Tim Harrold is an expressive arts graduate with performance art experience. He creates assemblage by intentionally arranging found objects and words from a variety of sources into serendipitous tableaux. New metaphysical narratives emerge; playful perceptual parables appear; and re-imagined worlds on rediscovered natural materials or in recycled boxes full of unlikely juxtapositions hint at hidden realities. He has worked as an art tutor in both secondary and further education, and as a community and youth worker using creativity in contemplative installations. 

ArtWay Visual Meditation December 28, 2014