The latest project at the Center for Liturgical Art at Concordia University, Nebraska uses some small pieces of art to carry the biggest of messages. Entitled The Bibelot Project, it entails giving away thousands of small, colorful, hand-crafted ceramic pieces for use as witnessing tools.
According to the CLA, each colorfully glazed bibelot (pronounced 'bee-buh-'low) will be distributed with one instruction: "At the right time, the person must give this object away, to another, and tell their story of how they obtained it and its connection to their understanding of God the Creator."
Brock Shaw, interim coordinator of outreach services at the CLA, took the project to Panama this week. A 2006 graduate of Concordia, Shaw spent time in Panama on a mission trip while a student and met his wife Esther there. In February they will work with the Kuna Indians and set up production of the bibelots.
"This project will have an impact on multiple levels," he said. "We are creating a workshop and studio environment that promotes unity in Christ, fellowship and provides financially for individuals. Once produced, we are working with churches that can purchase the bibelots and use them through ministry, workshops or youth projects. This will get them into the hands of people."
Much of the Shaws' work during their month in Panama will be on project logistics as they determine how many bibelots should be created in the first round of production. Daily updates and photos will be posted to the blog for the project. A link to the online journal can be found at the center's website: http://www.liturgicalart.org/.
"This concept has evolved and grown over the past few years," said Michael Strand, director of the center and chair of the art department at Concordia. "It is an idea that allows art to move and is bigger than just one spot or one installation. It is both very small and very big, and that is exciting."
As far back as 2003 the center's resident artist Mark Anschutz worked on a project with the members of Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kan., that used small pieces of art as conversation starters and witnessing tools. A similar project was undertaken during a church conference in Seward during the summer of 2007, involving a collaboration between Anschutz, Strand and two student assistants, Liz Hinkle and Kjersten Langewisch. Langewisch is also the one who found the word "bibelot" (a small object of curiosity, beauty, or rarity) while paging through the dictionary searching for possible names.
"This project has potential in all directions," said Anshutz. "The body of Christ is mirrored in the collaborative effort that goes into creating the bibelots and it is mirrored, especially, by the people who share about their faith as they pass them on."
