At Christian Fellowship we have an art gallery that is open to the public and a group focused on creative culture building. We believe artistic expression is one way to a more rich understanding and experience of the Creator. In our desire to foster these experiences, we seek to be a place where imagination, faith, and the arts intersect. Integrating creativity into many aspects of the church helps us to do so.
We believe that we are made in the image of a Creator, whom we can more fully know through creativity and imagination. We believe the arts are a form of hospitality, which invite us to explore universal themes of culture, community, and faith. The CF Gallery is designed to foster generative conversations, personal engagement, and spiritual reflection. We welcome collaborations with artists of diverse backgrounds in this endeavor to gain a fuller understanding of ourselves, our neighbors, and the world we live in. We believe that the bridges we form through the arts strengthen relationships for the common good of our community.
Our art gallery in Columbia, MO is located in the CF foyer and is open to the public during regular office hours. We also host receptions for our different shows to celebrate and honor the artists.
Textile Artist and Storyteller
“My art unites stitches and sacred stories. Both highlight testimonies drawn from narratives of African Americans in bondage. Their simple, yet complex lives, heartbreaks, and victories are unveiled using original appliques stitched by hand and machine.
Through story and art, the curtain is drawn back on these ‘lesser-known lights in the vast heavens of Black History,’ who sought to live out their full God-given potential.
I gift these precious stories to anyone willing to see, hear, and learn.”
Artist Bio
Sandra is a Show-Me state woman born in Sedalia, MO. Most of her life has been spent in Arizona, and most recently, east Texas. Having come full circle, she is excited to get reacquainted with the Midwest.
She is a self-taught artist who learned basic sewing skills on her mother’s antique Singer. Not long thereafter the detail and quiet rhythm of hand stitching got her attention. The twists and turns of recent years have steered her to explore textiles as art. Sandra has a longstanding interest in biographies and Black History. This in part stems from W.E.B. Dubois being in her mother’s lineage and her mom discussing life “back in the day.” When studying art masterpieces and history Sandra often asked herself, “Where are the Black people?”
Discovering the US slave narratives was like uncovering jewels. These common yet extraordinary people Sandra calls, “The lesser-known lights in the vast heavens of Black History.” Her growing compilation of historical fiction weaves color into the white spaces of their accounts.
Sandra’s artistic process is uncomplicated. When she reads a narrative, a scene becomes prominent, sparking creative ideas. Imagination and prayer lead the way in fabric choice, creation of appliques, and type of stitching. She has learned to relax and flow with the inspiration, especially since fabric is a forgiving medium. Just as life can be wild, sometimes the edges are left raw and strands dangling.
Learn more about Sandra and her art at her website Remnants Arise: Stitches and Sacred Stories.
Watch the cfGallery “Ask the Artist” video series below to learn more.
This group is designed to help you integrate your faith in your artistic interests. It’s a space for you to grow, be encouraged, and find opportunities to serve using your unique gifting.
Connect with this group by contacting Kristin Gadsden.
