Church vitalizes creative spirit

The First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque isn’t just a place for parishioners to profess their faith; the congregation’s walls are canvases for painters.

Church members Eleanor Bailey and Rod Groves conceived the Friday Painters Group in 1996, when they began painting together once a week and invited other artists to join. It became so popular that the group is now open on a space-available basis.

Senior Minister Rev. Christine Robinson said that the group is open to all artists who want to set up a table, paint and critique one another’s work. She said the church celebrates creativity.

“These growing art displays are hugely important to us because the bare walls just look terrible,” she said. “It’s part of how we believe the divine lives in this world — it’s through human creativity.”

Melva Kellet, the chair of the Arts and Aesthetics Committee at the Church, said that the First Unitarian Church is intended to be inclusive, not exclusive — and that also extends to its painter group.

“The basis of the church is that we feel that the church does not need to tell you how to behave,” Kellet said. “They just need to tell you how to be your best self without rules laid on your back to adhere to. So it’s not theologically driven.”

Inside the church is a large mosaic that features symbols from popular world religions, including Christianity, Taoism, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam.

Rev. Angela Herrera said the congregation takes pride in the art on its walls.

“The mural that’s behind the pulpit which was put in the 1960s … is definitely one of our most sacred objects here at the church,” she said.

On Sunday, the church will host an artist reception during their mini-Mercado, and people will get to talk to 18 artists exhibiting and selling small-scaled versions of their works.

M.L. Newburn, a member of the church’s Arts and Aesthetics Committee, said that popular artists are featured at the gallery, but prices for their work are reasonable.

“It’s done by mostly amateurs, members of the church, and we have to keep prices down,” Newburn said. “If we hung a picture for $1,000 you wouldn’t sell it.”