Rise & Shine
Mixed media: Acrylic and collage on canvas
30″ x 40″
Email: crystalkf@me.com
Website: 2ckdesigns.com
Artist Statement
“Rise & Shine” was inspired by the combination of 3 related “morning” worship songs along with my own personal experiences and feelings about waking up in the morning from childhood until present. All the songs seem to reflect this scripture, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1. The Title & Artist of the Songs include: Hymn= “We will Rise & Shine” by John T. Benson, Jr.; and Praise= “Good Morning” by Mandisa featuring Toby Mac
I am not naturally a morning person so my mom use to come in our rooms bright and early, when the birds are singing, clapping her hands and singing loudly, “Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory, children of the Lord!” I was not good at getting up at my alarm either so my dad would come in to make sure I was awake. My childhood memories stirred my interest in researching the actual lyrics to the hymn, “We will Rise & Shine.” I found that my own interpretation of the song in my life was much different from the meaning of the words written in the original hymn. I grew up thinking the “Rise & Shine” chorus was a very happy, upbeat, get out of bed, good morning, praise God kind of song. But, the actual lyrics make more reference to being a strong “soldier of the cross” by climbing Jacob’s Ladder, reaching higher, and trusting God in order be cleansed, receive blessings, and have glory through Jesus’s death on the cross. The actual words gave me a new perspective of my interpretation of the lyrics so I decided to combine my childhood interpretation along with the new meaning from the original classic. I have also been highly influenced and inspired by Mandisa’s “Good Morning” song. The “Good Morning” song is a new version of a great way to wake up singing and praising God. This specific song really makes me happy and gets me energized in a positive way to start my day. I am still not a natural morning person, but the combination of these songs and my experiences help me try to rise, shine, focus on God, and give Him the glory so His light can shine in me (even in the morning).
Meaning & Ideas of visual images for “rise & shine” artwork
The sunrise is placed at the very top, center of the canvas to represent God and His light, power, presence, and glory that radiates into our lives. The water flowing down into the birdbath symbolizes the blessings that God washes down into our lives constantly.
The lineup of birds is actually a poster of the painting called “The Bird Perch” by Hector Giacomelli (French, 1822-1904) that hangs in the Ryerson Library Collection at The Art Institute of Chicago. I collaged this poster into the piece since it was a gift from my mom because my kitchen is decorated with a “Chirp/Bird” theme. Mornings just aren’t the same if the bird’s aren’t singing. All the birds placed along the top represent all the special people that have watched over me and helped me in my life.
The bottom includes a self-portrait with me sleeping peacefully and dreaming, right before I wake up to the sunrise and the bird’s singing. The sheet and pillow is made from the collaged hymn music of “We will Rise and Shine.” The bird on my shoulder represents my mother as she came in singing to us in the mornings as little girls.
The mountainous horizon line represents the dream world that includes the iconic image of the sculpture of the soldiers “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima,” but I replaced it with a cross since we are “soldiers of the cross.” The other image is taken from the sculpture “Jacob’s Dream” created by my college art professor Jack Maxwell and is located on the ACU campus grounds. I love this sculpture and it allows me to add another personal element from my past experiences into the piece as it captures the image of Jacob’s ladder in the song.
There are tree branches of apple blossoms coming into the composition from both the left and right sides of the canvas. The bird perched in the branches on the left represents my dad watching and overseeing the family each new day. The nest placed in the branches on the right with 3 eggs representing my 2 sisters and me (3 girls). One egg is hatching an alarm clock as my wake up call I always try to ignore.
Audio/video on YouTube
Lyrics
Good Morning, by Mandisa with Toby Mac
Wave away my yesterday
Cause I’m leaving it behind me.
Hello sunshine, come what may.
I feel something new inside me.
I hear the birds singing
Now my alarm’s ringing
Get up, get up, hey!
It’s a good morning!
Wake up to a brand new day
This morning,
I’m stepping, stepping on my way
Good morning,
You give me strength,
You give me just what I need
And I can feel the hope that’s rising in me.
It’s a good morning
Slow down, breathe in,
Don’t move ahead
I’m just living in this moment
I’ve got my arms raised, un-phased
Jump out of bed
Gotta get this party going
I went to bed dreaming,
You woke me up singing
Get up, get up, hey!
It’s a good morning!
Wake up to a brand new day
This morning,
I’m stepping, stepping on my way
Good morning,
You give me strength,
you give me just what I need
And I can feel the hope that’s rising up in me.
It’s a good morning
Now I’m smiling, and I’m kissing all my worries goodbye
Got the feeling, if I spread my wings I might even fly
You are my truth, my way
Give me the strength to say
Get up, get up, get up
Cause it’s a good morning, hey
Mr. Mac to the mic
[Toby Mac]
Hey, top of the morning to you ‘disa
You smoothie, me ice cold pizza
Cafe au lait, latte dah
You do the zumba, but I do not
Give me like half a marathon,
I’ll give you the gospel of St. John.
Hits me like a wake-up bomb
Cuz’ we both know that His mercy flows,
In the morning.
Wake up to a brand new day
This morning,
I’m stepping, stepping on my way
Good morning,
You give me strength,
you give me just what I need
I can feel the hope that’s rising up in me.
It’s a good morning
Wake up to a brand new day
This morning,
I’m stepping, stepping on my way
Good morning,
You give me strength you give me just what I need
I can feel the hope that’s rising up in me.
It’s a good morning
[Toby Mac]
Top of the morning to you ‘disa
Hey, top of the morning to you girl
To-to-top of the morning to you ‘disa
Morning little Miss Sunshine.
[Spoken]
Man, you morning people.
No, I’m serious.
IMAGO Houston 