Sewing and Gleaning: Artistic Contemplative Practice as Invitation
Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality March 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1353/scs.2025.a956954 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn essay explores how the biblical practice of leaving harvest edges for the needy can frame contemplative artmaking and community engagement. Artmakers act as contemplative 'sowers' who create gleaning spaces—publicly offered artworks that invite strangers into moments of contemplation. A project called Pocket Wisdom exemplifies this concept. Stitching is highlighted as a pathway for contemplative practice, and artmaking offers communities and individuals opportunities for contemplation. The artmaker 'sews and sows,' while the beholder 'gleans.'
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Art |
| Key finding | Argues that contemplative artmaking, exemplified by stitching and the Pocket Wisdom project, can create 'gleaning spaces' that invite community contemplation. |
Abstract
Abstract:The biblical concept of leaving the edges of the harvest for others in need frames an exploration of contemplative artmaking and community engagement. Artmakers are contemplative “sowers” who create gleaning spaces. Publicly offered, they invite strangers to moments of contemplation. An exemplar project, entitled Pocket Wisdom, demonstrates the concept in practice. This essay highlights stitching as a pathway for contemplative practice, and artmaking as an opportunity for communities and individuals to find moments of contemplation. The artmaker “sews and sows,” and the person who beholds it “gleans.”