Artist Statement and Bio: Jim Baker is a New Mexican multi-media artist working in the creation of three dimensional altered Bibles and Christian art. Jim’s art is noted for combining antique altered Bibles with Biblical symbols, metaphors, and artifacts to inspire devotion and worship of God, to provoke spiritual conversations, and uncover the often hidden meaning in Holy Scripture.
It's not surprising that Jim's 40 years of experience as a Southern Baptist minister in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee informs his sacred artwork. "My art conveys the belief that Holy Scripture cannot be fully interpreted and applied without metaphor, symbol, and story. Jesus modeled this when he took what he saw around him... animals, flowers, trees, vines, bread, wine, yokes and used them as metaphors and parables to communicate truth. My art reflects the deep connection between the Holy Scriptures of my Judeo-Christian faith tradition, the Torah and the Bible, and the metaphors, stories, and symbols requisite to their understanding."
The pages of each worn and weathered Bible are carefully and prayerfully torn and sewed back together with an ancient Ethiopian Coptic stitching and draped over a religious metaphorical or symbolic structure. Jim says, "The inspiration to reclaim and re-stich old Bibles (1700’s – 1800’s) of different languages that are no longer in use comes from the word religion, derived from the Latin word Re-ligio, meaning to re-bind... a word used in scripture to reflect God's desire to re-connect us to Him, to our true selves, and to others. My prayer is that my art will move people to reflect upon the divine image and likeness of God in themselves, others, and all creation, and that they will be inspired by the truth found in Holy Scripture."
"The U-shaped drape of each repurposed Bible represents God’s Word as a container providing a vessel for our belief system and direction and guidance for our lives. The inside of the U-shaped container represents the contents of our inner spiritual lives, the communing with God in our spirit through prayer, reflection, contemplation, and creation. The structure that each Bible is draped over represents the systematic framework, discipline, and order necessary to anchor and nurture one's spiritual life."
Jim's art can be found in homes, churches, colleges, and businesses throughout the South and Southwest. Jim’s art is represented by the Jemez Fine Art Gallery in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, Convento Gallery in Espanola, New Mexico, Seraphymn Sacred Art Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and The Benedictine Monk Gallery and Gift Shop in Taos, New Mexico.
|
