Featured photo: Pastors Anthony and Davida Artis stand in front of a slide featuring Anthony’s Uncle Ronald Artis’ drawing ‘The Dancer’
Written by L.M. Land, with photos by L.M. Land
Anthony and Davida Artis are co-pastors of Dedicated Believers Ministries. Both love the Lord. They also love art, and in 2009 they started to buy art by Black artists, which they display at their church. They are attracted to art that tells a story of faith and family, and their collection is now around 80 pieces strong.
Pastor Anthony Artis’ lecture was during downtown’s ArtWalk on February 9 at the First Presbyterian Church. Pastor Davida Artis let him do all the talking. Artis shared the fascinating stories of the artists and what moved them to purchase a specific piece, and the beautiful friendships that have developed with some of the artists. The Courier will share a few here.
The etching, ‘The Disciples See Christ walking on the water’ was one of their first purchases,
Artis explained. “This picture just speaks to me over and over and over.”
“What gets me is the fact that only one out of the 12 took a chance” to walk out on the water to Jesus. “I wonder how many people are like Peter and they are willing to step out and go to wherever Jesus is.” This etching is by the artist Henry Ossawa Tanner.
‘Lotus’ is a print by Sanford Biggers. “From afar it looks like a symmetrical lotus, with petals all a similar size and shape, but if you look up close…at any one of the petals, it is actually a floor plan of a slave ship,” explained Artis. “We went to a show on mental illness yesterday, and they mentioned that the average length of time a slave would be in a slave ship was three weeks to a year. This wasn’t the top deck.”
He then proceeded to detail the horrific conditions the slaves endured. “To know that a portion of the cargo would die and wouldn’t make it…but for those who did survive, for every Black person I see in here, you had a descendent who was a survivor.”
“From all those who came to America, we are the only race of people who were brought here in chains.”
“I had someone ask, do you collect only Black artists, or African American? I said no. But all the art works in the collection highlight African Americans in some way.” explained Artis. White sculptor Michael Aaron Hall is an example. Hall is a huge fan of Martin Luther King, Jr., and created a sculpture in his honor, Martin Luther King, Jr. “The night before the ‘I have a dream’ speech.” Artis saw the original plaster sculpture in a magazine which Hall had won an award for. Artis loved the piece, and called Hall, who mentioned that he was thinking about casting one in bronze. Of course Artis was interested. “The first piece that was ever bronzed by him, it is sitting right outside these doors.” Artis said proudly, pointing to the hall where the art is located.
A beloved uncle, Ronald Artis, is also represented with his drawing ‘The Dancer’. This was always hanging in Artis’ grandmother’s living room. The drawing is of Artis’s aunt when she was young. He did not like the piece, crinkled it up and threw it away. His mother took it out of the trash, ironed it, and hung it in her living room.
Speaking of family, the Artis’ were grateful that both sets of their parents were in attendance. The Artis family was one of the first Black families in the Flint area, and the Artis pastors were born and raised here as well.
“Opening up to the arts has changed our lives, and it might change other people’s too,” concluded Artis. The Flint Institute of Arts and the MW Gallery art also influenced their love of art and desire to collect. He highly recommended that everyone visit both places. The Artis’ are especially grateful to Tracy Glab, director of the Flint Institute of Arts, for her recommendations and interest.
The collection is on display for the month of February, weekdays 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is free! Please call ahead with questions.
Dedicated Believers Ministries is located at 4242 Marianne Drive, Flushing, MI 48433, 810-744-4633, dedicated2u@comcast.net
The First Presbyterian Church of Flint is at 746 Saginaw St, Downtown Flint, 810- 234-8673, fpcf.org. Rev. Dr. Joseph Novak, Senior Pastor.
