It is my great honor and joy to introduce Makoto Fujimura, an internationally acclaimed artist, speaker, writer, and founder of the International Arts Movement, to the Story Warren family. Mako is sacrificially generous with both his time and tremendous gifting. When I asked him if he’d be willing to write a brief introductory note to you, he responded within minutes.
Dear Story Warren Community,
As I write this in my office in NYC, at the International Arts Movement space, my son C.J. and his girlfriend Tina are preparing to present “Vacant Lots: An Exploration of Fear, the Unknown, and Detroit” theatre piece that they have developed this summer. They are moving to Detroit to start a theatre company there, appropriately called Sparrow Theatre Company.
It was but twelve years ago that I feared for CJ’s life, escaping from P.S. 234 in downtown Tribeca, two to three blocks from where the Towers stood. I walked about there today, reflecting on that day, as I plan not to be in TriBeCa next week on 9/11.
In many ways, what CJ has decided to create and to co create today, is the culmination of his journey from that fateful day till now, wrestling with how to live toward restoration from destruction. As a parent, the journey has been a slow, day to day, journey often filled with doubts and failures, often wrestlings with my own faith and my art. Imagination, therefore, is linked to grace, residing even in the midst of ashes of Ground Zero, nurtured in the every day within our children. May your journey find grace in the midst of your own “vacant lots” or “Ground Zero” realities, and may your children create out of them something beautiful.
Makoto Fujimura
Most folks become familiar with Mako through the world of art. My story is different. A few years ago during the Easter season, I stumbled upon an essay entitled The Beautiful Tears. I was stopped. The words were provocative, beautiful, and life giving. My curiosity was piqued. I followed the trail of virtual breadcrumbs to Mako’s site.
Within months, I had ordered and devoured his book, Refractions. I read it a second time with a group. We were stirred in unique and substantial ways. Significant conversations about life, faith, creativity and hope were the outcome, and my family is different as a result. A copy of the Four Holy Gospels, illuminated by Mako in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version Bible, is among my most treasured possessions.
Mako’s art and writings have become an important voice of hope in the midst of darkness, both internationally, and within the four walls of my home. We live in a culture which largely values performance, results, and the bottom line. How do we reconcile the realities of our culture with the ideals (and promises) of the Kingdom? Mako gives us the great gift, not of answers, but of important questions:
What does it look like to live out of faith, not fear?
How can we create a family culture of creativity, imagination, and hope that will spill out into the world?
How can we become creators of culture rather than solely consumers of culture?
What does it mean to be generative and generous with our stories, gifting, and resources?
The dialogue is important. I’m delighted to invite you to join the conversation.
How will it work?
For the next four Wednesdays, we’ll post a link to one of Mako’s (online) essays. Take a few minutes to read and consider. We’ll pose a few questions as fodder for conversation. You’re invited to do the same. The hope is that folks would reflect on the ideas presented and engage in discussion.
What if I miss a week?
No problem. Each essay stands on its own. Although you’ll glean more from the conversation if you can read along all four weeks, join us when you can.
Is there a way to follow the conversation without checking the blog every Wednesday?
Sure. Just fill out the boxes here (ignore the pink error – it will go away when you fill out the information). Every Saturday, you’ll receive an email from us that contains links to the prior week’s posts.
The following video is an excellent introduction to what you can expect. Please take a few minutes to watch (and get a pencil and paper to scribble down quotes that are meaningful to you). Invite a friend to do the same. Be generative. Spread hope.
If you prefer to read rather than listen, you can find the essay here.
- What ideas from “What Do You Want to Make Today?” resonate with you?
- Think of a few examples where your imagination has the “power of life or death” in your everyday life. Would you be willing to share one?
Please speak up and share your thoughts. Others will benefit from what you have to offer.
* * *
Week 2: The Beautiful Tears
Week 3: The Five Hundred Year Question
- A Few of My Favorite Things - February 1, 2021
- The World Needs the Class of 2020 - June 22, 2020
- Books for Boys – A Show and Tell - February 5, 2020
This sounds amazing, and I cannot wait to read more of this series. Thank you for hosting this and inviting us on the journey.
I have just finished watching the video, and journaling two pages of notes and thoughts that surfaced in the process. What strikes me right now, is this idea that asking a simple question, can lead to years of asking more questions, and pursuing answers:
Imagine that – answering a simple question can lead to spending four years discovering, pursuing answers.
“What do you want to make today,” is not just a question, it is inquiry, it is a way of life.
This is where I find myself in this stage of life–right full of questions and in pursuit daily for the answers, learning to wait for God to speak, to lead, to reveal and learning to live in the moments in between when I simply do not know.
I’m just rolling all of this around in my head–thank you for the nudge.
Kris – “It’s not just a question – it is a way of life.” Isn’t it amazing – that one simple question can open worlds of possibilities? I wonder what would happen if we were willing to ask more questions (that didn’t have immediate answers) – to be willing to dream.
I’m so glad that you’ll be joining us on this journey. Looking forward to it!
The whole essay is heartening. These three sections in particular resonated with me:
They resonate because I, like so many people, have spent far too much time searching for something meaningful to do with my life. Good art is not an escape from this longing. Good art shows us that meaning comes from doing LIFE – and choosing to do it in love.
A simple example: Every time my children come to me with a trivial-seeming request for my attention, I must choose between putting them off, or laying aside what I have already in hand. It seems a small thing in the moment. But the culmination of those choices will be a story, either of a father who loved and made time for them, or of a father who never quite treated them like they were valuable.
Lord help me. (And thanks to Mako & Julie for helping by this reminder!)
James, This, what you said right here:
” It seems a small thing in the moment. But the culmination of those choices will be a story, either of a father who loved and made time for them, or of a father who never quite treated them like they were valuable.”
Oh my. Thank you for putting it that way. Truly.
“Good art shows us that meaning comes from doing LIFE – and choosing to do it in love.”
James – Yes. I’m growing to see that “doing Life – and choosing to do it in love” is perhaps the highest form of art. That reframes everything. Everything.
Fujimura is awesome. His illumination of the KJV gospels is amazing.
Indeed.
First, my apologies if this is a duplicated post, I don’t see my earlier one and I was working on getting my DISQUS profile up-to-date.
The whole address was meaningful to me and where I needed to focus on this date. The two quotes that resonated: “What if our churches asked the same question, ‘What do you want to make today?’ to every person entering the door?” And, “What can I create today, and how can I help you create?”
I, too, found Mako’s art and writing via a circuitous route, as part of my journey to build a creative life. Thanks for posting and I look forward to the coming weeks’ discussions.
Renae – I’m so glad that his words met you. What a great question to be asking – “How can I help you create?”
So glad that you’ll be joining us. I hope to hear more about your creative journey in teh upcoming weeks.
Will join in. I still am fed by Mako’s words and art. He has changed the way I see.He has worked the Gospel into his mind and heart so his imagination keeps pulling from the his moral landscape. I have thought much about ” What do you want to make today? ” after first hearing his commencement address. I loved reading about what CJ and his wife are doing and thinking about theater coming into bankrupt Detroit. Art to a very , very dry place.
Oh, Bonnie, he has changed the way that I see as well. I’m so, so grateful.
This is powerful and moving….thank you for sharing! As a Christian artist, the question “What do you want to make today? resonated with my soul. Blessings, Caroline Simas (Multiple Blessings by Caroline Simas)
Caroline – I’m so glad you stopped by – you’re a kindred spirit, indeed. I hope you’ll be joining us for the next few weeks 🙂
Julie,
Thank you so much for sharing this. I found it both challenging and encouraging. The idea that we either create toward the love of God or away from it resonated with me deeply. There really can be no in between when creating something that either brings light and life or darkness and death. As believers, we have the serious and wonderful calling of being creators of that which points back to the Supreme Artist. Therefore, what we create is inspired by His love shown toward us. It becomes, as Harold Best describes, a continuous outpouring, not simply a artistic project that is begun and completed. It defines us, invading the very fiber of all that we are and all that we do.
James KA Smith writes in “Desiring the Kingdom” that all of what we do and worship derives from what we desire. The similar idea is seen in Fujimura’s essay. We are either desiring to create from the depths of our engagement with the Father’s love, or it is something else directed at something other than Him (most likely ourselves, our ego, our agenda, etc.).
I believe that my imagination has the power to bring life giving thoughts or selfish, destructive thoughts. The life and death contrast is evident in the great influence that my imaginations have on me and how such desires greatly influence how I create. But if I imagine Kingdom-oriented visions and open myself to the Spirit’s work within me, my imagination will be conformed to the likeness of Christ, and the Father’s love will be seen in what I create.
Looking forward to next week!
Stewart – “It defines us, invading the very fiber of all that we are and all that we do.” That’s what I’m growing to understand. So often, we limit the definition of “creating” to activities that fit in specific categories – when in reality, we create (for good or for evil) every day. As we plan and make dinner, plant a garden, build a spreadsheet – each small act can be an act of worship.
I wasn’t famiiar with Harold Best and was curious, so I did a little sleuthing (googling). For the benefit of those who may be reading these comments, I’ll attach a link – it’s well worth the read. I’ll look foward to discovering more of his work. Thanks for introducing me.
http://www.leaderu.com/offices/haroldbest/diversity.html