Christ Comes To Life Through Painting

 

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t first when Rob Surette begins painting, there is this uncertainty of what the finished product will be. But within minutes your breath is taken away by the unbelievable portrait of Jesus Christ that has emerged from a blank canvas.

Mr Surette is a Boston-based artist who brings with him not only talent but a message to middle school aged students that it is “cool” to believe in Jesus Christ. He combines artistry with music and video that sends a Christian faith message as Christ’s face appears on the canvas called “Prayer Paintings.”

The performance is an hour long and in the end three visions of Jesus Christ appear on canvas after Mr Surette creates them in minutes, each becoming more powerful than the one before it.

“I’m trying to bring Christ to life,” Mr Surette said. “I’m trying to make it real for them.”

Mr Surette designed the program himself, hoping to reach youths with a message that they can relate to. As he paints during the performance music and video plays that pertains to the portrait he is creating.

“It’s more than just something to do,” he said. “I think the bad things in the world have always bothered me. This somehow makes me feel like I’m making the world a little bit better while I’m here.”

Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, had a philosophy that Mr Surette has also been following. “He wanted to leave the world a little bit better from him having been here. I feel the same way. He really had his whole heart behind it,” Mr Surette said.

Mr Surette begins his performance telling the audience about a dream that he had that took place 2,000 years ago. He is surrounded by a lot of people who are talking about Jesus.

“When you get up in the morning and look in the mirror, I hope you like what you see,” he said. “God has such a love for each one of us.”

He has a vase of water and a stream that keeps flowing on the stage that represents God’s great love.

“It’s like God’s love. It’s never ending,” Mr Surette said. “God loves us unconditionally. It doesn’t matter how much we mess up. He’s still crazy about us.”

Mr Surette does not speak while he is painting each portrait of Jesus. Only music and a video play as he composes the face while the audience sits trying to figure out what it will look like. At first people watching wonder what it is he is painting, because his strokes do not seem to lead to anything, but then suddenly a face appears.

“You’re missing out on what life is all about. He challenges us,” he said. “Do you have the guts to make Him number one in your life? You can still be cool. You can still have your favorite things. When I see bad things in the world, we have to have faith. He has his arms around the whole world. He has everything under control.”

Kevin Kearney thought the presentation was excellent.

“I loved it,” he said. “Because it told us to do what’s right and not be afraid to express ourselves.”

Kristen Troy was impressed by Mr Surette’s skill to paint upside down and then flip the canvas over and there appears the imagine of Jesus.

“It was really cool,” Kristen said. “It was interesting how he was painting upside down then he flipped it up.”

Caitlin Malloy spent time after the show looking at the portraits. She was in amazed by Mr Surette’s talent and the message it sends to youths.

“I think they’re amazing. It makes me feel like I can do anything. I’m in art. It inspires me to do a lot more,” Caitlin said. “It’s amazing how he comes up with this kind of thing is so little time. It makes me feel more holy to see someone who cares this much and shows his faith through his talent.”

Parent Kathleen Moonan thought bringing Mr Surette to the area to perform for the students was important.

“Bringing him here was one of the best things for religious education,” Mrs Moonan said. “It uses everything – art, music, video. He just hit it home with this art. The kids were spellbound.”

Prayers to Painting Ministries by Rob Surette took place at Newtown Middle School and was sponsored by St Rose of Lima Catholic Church through a generous donation from two parishioners.