Project Abstract

The Āhopian Tō art exhibit and thesis draws upon block logic and includes four major components: apologetics, experiences, imagery, and application. First, the thesis provides important insight into the intersection of Christian apologetics and the arts and its ability to draw people to Christ. Second, the Āhopian Tō art exhibit incorporates apologetic imagery, writing, and a sensory experience to draw attendees in to consider God’s truth. Finally, the project has a missional component by encouraging attendees to invite God into their story.

Art Exhibit Summary

The title of the art series is, Āhopian Tō: A Meta-Narrative of the Ultimate Narrative. The main title is in Old English and means “to hope for and trust in” in reference to 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV):

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

The exhibit invites viewers into my meta-narrative, to consider God’s ultimate narrative of salvation. Each piece portrays apologetic proofs as I encountered them, which helped lead me to faith in Christ and have continued to bolster my faith. The title and poetry or prose that accompanies each painting assist in conveying meaning. In order to provide a many-sensory experience, and to draw attendees into my narrative and toward God’s truth, I include music and scents which are drawn from my experiences and relate to each piece. The exhibit is open to the public and after attendees have had time to view the exhibit, I open up time for Q & A. Attendees are also given a pamphlet that tells the story behind each piece and the philosophical argument being presented.

Thesis Summary

The thesis is titled The Intersection of Christian Apologetics and the Arts: The Power of the Arts to Convey Truth and Change Lives. The paper is a graduate-level survey on the impact the arts have had in conversion experiences, particularly those experiences which provided an apologetic (a reason) for considering the gospel of Christ and only within the United Kingdom, from 350 AD-1999 AD. The arts I included in my research are not those exclusively created by Evangelical Christians and include literature (drama, poetry, and prose), the visual arts (architecture, ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, and sculpting), and the performing arts (dance, music, and theatre). The various art forms and conversion testimonies are the primary sources for this research. Now that the thesis is complete, I am busy expanding my research into the 21st century and into other countries with hopes to develop a book on the topic.

If you would like to download and read my thesis, please click here. © 2019, Rachel Shockey.

Gallery Information

The exhibit is free to book for your church, school, organization, or other venue. This is a missional exhibit, so there is no cost to make it available other than shipping the materials to and from your venue.

Previous Venues:

3rd Annual Women in Apologetics Conference at Biola University in La Mirada, CA | January 24-25, 2020

Our Savior Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, FL | September 6-22, 2019

St Pete First Art Collective in St Petersburg, FL | August 1-4, 2019

How You Can Support This Project

Financial Need: The expanding exhibition requires significant funding in the form of shipping, painting materials, and printing costs. This project encourages Christian artists in their ability to impact the culture and compel greater incorporation of the arts into apologetic and evangelistic ministry. I would be grateful if you would consider supporting this important exhibition. To give, please use the PayPal link below (you do not have to have a PayPal account). Thank you for your support!