Exhibit coincides with seminary conference on migration, border crossings
by Columbia Theological Seminary | Special to Presbyterian News Service
Photographer and spiritual director Katie Archibald-Woodward
LOUISVILLE — The Center for Lifelong Learning announces a new exhibit featuring the work of Columbia Theological Seminary alumna Katie Archibald-Woodward. The CLL hosted the artist’s first exhibit at the seminary’s Decatur, Georgia campus in the spring of 2013.
The exhibit complements the seminary’s annual alumni gathering and the upcoming conference, Migration and Border Crossings, both being held during the first week of February.
The two multi-media projects will be housed on the second floor of the Harrington Center on campus during the spring semester from Feb. 3 through March 8. Visitors are welcome to view the exhibit Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. For more information about the exhibit, call 404-687-4577 or e-mail lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu.
About the exhibit
The exhibit features 26 pieces in all. Most of the works are from Archibald-Woodward’s exhibit “Through the Checkpoint,” augmented by four pieces from her “Children of Bethlehem.” The combination portrays the diversified experience of life in the Holy Land today, paired with a specific look into the lives of Palestinian youth.
“I hope to help our global community gain a fuller picture of life in Palestine/Israel and motivate viewers, like you, to join movements to end a dehumanizing status quo and catalyze peace and equity for Palestinians, Bedouins, and Jewish Israelis alike,” Archibald-Woodward said on her website.
“Through the Checkpoint” consists of 22 photographs mounted on foam board and hung by wire, ranging in size from 16×24 inches to 36×48 inches. The four portraits belonging to “Children of Bethlehem” are photographs printed on 16×20 rolled canvas, hung by wire strung from a dowel mounted by grommets at the top of the canvas. Each photograph is paired with an audio interview accessible by smartphone.
“Through the Checkpoint” was created in 2016 in partnership with the Creative Visions Foundation to provide vision and voice to life lived amidst the conflict in Palestine-Israel. In 2018, “Children of Bethlehem” was initiated in response to witnessing depression, anxiety, and other trauma among Palestinian youth primarily caused by being among four generations in Palestine-Israel who have known life only under military control and colonial power. “Children of Bethlehem” is being developed in partnership with Creative Visions Foundation and Dar Al-Kalima School in Bethlehem.
About the artist
Katie Archibald-Woodward was born in southern California and moved to Atlanta to earn her Master of Divinity degree at Columbia Theological Seminary. Formative travel experiences and a growing desire to help connect people through visual and voiced storytelling led her to then earn a certificate in Digital Photography at Emory University and a certificate in Spiritual Companioning through the Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C. She is currently an Atlanta-based photographer and spiritual director and is in the ordination process with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
She guides groups to the Holy Land for immersive travel experiences, meeting with local people, exploring the holy places that have captured hearts and minds throughout the ages and growing in awareness of our global community and ourselves.
Columbia Theological Seminary seeks “to educate and nurture faithful, imaginative and effective leaders for the sake of the church and the world.” As an educational institution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Columbia Seminary is a community of theological inquiry, leadership development and formation for ministry in the service of the Church of Jesus Christ. Columbia Seminary offers six graduate degree programs and dozens of courses and events as a resource for church professionals and lay people through The Center for Lifelong Learning. For more information, visit www.CTSnet.edu.
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