As I finished the final two pieces in this church window series, I found myself returning to the same question that inspired the collection in the first place:
What if beauty isn't optional?
What if creating beautiful things, things that are true, meaningful, and full of hope, is actually part of how we participate in the Gospel?
I've spent a lot of time thinking about the Church and its relationship with art. There was a time when churches were known for cultivating beauty. Stained glass told stories. Music, painting, and sculpture were all considered worthy pursuits because they reflected the creativity of the One who made us.
Somewhere along the way, beauty became secondary and art became entertainment or decoration rather than an expression of truth. Yet I believe artists still have an important role within the body of believers.
We are called to tell stories and to point people towards the beauty and love of God.
And we are called to create beauty. Not for beauty's sake alone, but because beauty can soften hearts, stir wonder, and remind people of the goodness of God.
These final two prints feel like the culmination of that idea.
Carrying the Message
The fifth piece features a church window with a crane carrying a fish.
Christ called His disciples to be fishers of men. The Church was never meant to exist only for itself. It was created to carry the Gospel into the world and to bear good news, delivering hope, and serving as a reminder of God's provision.
The crane carries the fish away, not hoarding it or hiding it, but bringing it somewhere new.
The Church is meant to be an ambassador of the Gospel. And in many ways, believers are called to do the same. We carry truth into our homes, our communities, our friendships, and our work. We are entrusted with something precious, and our lives become the vessel through which that message is shared.
I hope this piece serves as a reminder that the Gospel was always meant to move and be shared, carrying with it the hope, grace, and provision of God.
The Center of It All
The central piece is the largest in the series and, to me, the heart of it.
A grand church window frames three swallows in flight. The three birds representing the Trinity and they form the center focal point of the entire collection.
Every piece leading up to this one explores something important: beauty rising from brokenness, truth reclaiming its place, peace found in God's promises, and the call to carry the Gospel.
But all of those things point to something. The Trinity, aka the source of peace, truth, and the Gospel itself.
Without God at the center, beauty becomes hollow. And this piece serves as a great reminder that when Christ is at the center, beauty has purpose.
That's the vision I've been chasing with this series.
An Invitation to Create Beautiful Things
I don't believe this calling belongs only to artists.
I hope churches are inspired to embrace beauty again! Not as extravagance, but as a reflection of God's character.
I hope congregations encourage creativity and craftsmanship and I hope individual believers see their gifts, whatever they may be, as worthy offerings.
And I hope artists remember that creating beautiful things is not frivolous or a luxury, it's necessary.
Beauty and truth matter.
And when those things come together, art becomes more than an object. It becomes an invitation to wonder, to worship, and to remember that our Creator is still making all things new.
That is the beauty I hope to carry.
And I pray the Church carries it too.
Coming Soon!
These pieces and this series will be launching at the Onyx & Alabaster Art Crawl on July 3rd. If you are local to Nashville, I would love to see you there and chat more about this collection.
With the excitement and hard work that I've put into this series, I wanted to give back. I'm running a giveaway for 5 free prints from this series. You can register to win in person at the Onyx & Alabaster art crawl or on my Instagram.
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With ink-stained gratitude,
Emily Ciecka