Lessons on canvas

When I first travelled to the Dominican Republic (DR), it was to “skip” Christmas in Winnipeg. Life was a bit of mess for me so, in the midst of some big loses, the trip was meant to be a time of stepping away from situations back home. Little did I know how much it would affect my life, both through the people and through the beautiful works of art I encountered.

Being a Third World country, the Dominican had a lack of things we consider so essential for life in the West: no clean tap water; ineffective infrastructures; no medicare; poor educational systems; low-paying jobs.

Yet, how rich Dominicans are in faith!

A vibrant faith

I met some incredible Christians while visiting the Dominican, including Joel Phyls, a Haitian pastor living in Sosua, a small but busy town on the north coast. Joel moved from Haiti to the DR years ago. He felt called by God to be a pastor and to provide a spiritual home for other Haitians in the DR.

Joel is an art lover. He opened a small seaside business where, among other things, he sold artwork to tourists, using the funds to support his family, church, and a number of Haitian orphans.

I had the opportunity to meet four of Joel’s featured artists, many of whom live in poverty. What affected me most was the depth of their faith and how they loved God, even with so little. These artists experience real hardships, yet are open enough to see miracles. For some of them, waking up each day, seeing God’s beauty, and breathing the air is a miracle. They thank God for providing spiritually and day-to-day.

They view painting as a means of sharing their God-given gifts and praising God through art. Not all the paintings are “religious,” but the gift behind them is recognized as coming from God. They may not have eaten that day, or sold a painting in a while, but they still paint. For these people, God is alive and real. Whether life is easy or hard, this belief doesn’t change.

Bringing the art back to Canada

When I returned to Canada, I approached Ray Dirks, curator of Mennonite Heritage Gallery, and mentioned the artwork done by Haitian Christians. I brought back some pieces and displayed them at the gallery in fall 2005. The show heightened people’s awareness about the deep faith of many impoverished people in the Dominican Republic. It also raised funds to support pastor Joel’s church and start a school for Haitian children. Pastor Joel has now sold his store, but the artists and their impact continue.

As I reflect on my trip to the DR, I’m learning to focus my life on the riches I have been given. I have lost much (due to my own lost-ness and fault), but am still rich in Christ. In stepping away from my life in Winnipeg and encountering some incredibly faithful artists and their work, I realize I have been given many, many gifts. The artwork is powerful and helps me feel free in spirit, even in the midst of the guilt of past sins.

James Friesen is 39, single, and starting his life over. He travels to the Dominican every 3–4 months, and attends Portage Ave. (MB) Church, Winnipeg. Paintings by Dominican artists can be purchased through Mennonite Heritage Gallery. Call 204-888-6781 or 866-888-6785.

Painting by Jean Ceus Mario

Painting by Joel Rodriquez

Painting by Wilfred Pierre