The Essence of Grace

~ artwork ~

Art 634’s final show in The Power of Words series — The Essence of Grace: A Multifaceted Exhibition — explores the profound meaning of “Grace,” bringing together a wide range of artistic interpretations, touching on the physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of grace.

I’m greatly appreciative to Art 634 for this opportunity to showcase three of my artworks selected for this group exhibition.

Details below…

Artwork #1:

“Handling Grace” (photography + poem)

Poem:

These hands
held the hands of my one true love;
these hands had to let him go.

These hands
nurtured four beautiful girls;
two now await me in heaven.

These hands
held those who needed comfort, and
they have been comforted in return.

If eyes are the window to the soul,
it is the hands, through purity of action,
that heals and makes one whole.

Artist Statement:

I had the privilege of meeting Wilma, the above hand model, three years ago. We met at a ladies game night she held at her house. My mom had invited me as I never turn down game nights. Four months later, I ended up buying a condo across the street from her. Since then, we have ritualistically played cards every other week. She tracks our wins and losses and is currently leading by 6 games. To her satisfaction and my annoyance. Kidding on the latter, truth on the former.

She is an amazing and strong 92-years young woman who’s company I cherish. She has shared many life stories which inspired this artwork.

I am blessed to call her friend.

Artwork #2:

“Living Grace” (mixed media + poem)

Poem:

grace is learning to forgive yourself
grace is learning to accept yourself
grace is learning to love yourself
look in the mirror, can you see
the grace within that sets you free

Artist Statement:

I had a very powerful moment a few years back when I was dealing with the loss of a loved one (though, now I like to say her move to Heaven). As my friend Diane says it … I was “feeling a lot of feels” — mostly frustration and anger — when I caught a view of myself in a mirror. This happened a couple times and eventually I looked into the mirror and dealt with my feelings as if conversing with another person. I found it therapeutic. As I look back I realize I was giving myself grace. A healing grace that can only come from within.

Two of the artworks I’ve made this year involve mirrors. I have found, with my own healing, dealing with what I’m feeling is a necessity. Learning to forgive, accept, and love oneself in the midst of our vulnerability is a very liberating act — an act of grace.

I speak to it from experience.

Artwork #3:

“Balancing Grace” (readymade + poem)

Poem:

grace is
a balancing act
of compassion and discipline

give and receive compassion
when you’re too hard on yourself
give and receive discipline
when you’re too soft on yourself

this balancing act
teaches forgiveness and gratitude
it allows a new start

only when you’ve been forgiven
are you able to forgive
that is why the sun rises, and
that is why the sun sets

a remembrance of
God’s gift within
the gift of grace

Artist Statement:

I’m not sure if this is the norm or an outlier position, but I tend to create art and write poetry intuitively, and only after the fact do I see relevant connections that could be viewed as an inspirational starting point. That’s how this poem, and most things I write, spring into existence.

After the words flowed freely, what came to mind was “thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me,” from Psalm 23. I’ve heard sermons about how the rod and staff are used by the shepherd for different purposes — a rod for protection from predators and the staff for guiding, catching, and rescuing sheep as needed. I see these aligning symbolically with the discipline and compassion of grace noted in the poem.

Balancing discipline and compassion is also what parents must do when raising their children. I’ve heard it said, “how do you know which is necessarily the appropriate action?” And the response was “if a child is giving himself too much compassion, you must give him discipline. If he is disciplining himself already, you must give him compassion.” Such is how God – as father and mother – covers us with wholly grace. And, in our response, we make a choice – to surrender or to resist.

This again ties back to the poem as God within desires to heal our brokenness, bringing us into oneness and wholeness. For this is the fullness of God, parenting within, the redemption and restoration through acts of “Balancing Grace.”

“The Essence of Grace” is truly a beautiful show to be a part of. Grace is divinity come to life, grace within ourselves, grace for ourselves, grace flowing beyond ourselves into the world around us for grace covers all.

Might grace be the One thing
that holds our world together?

The Essence of Grace: A Multifaceted Exhibition
Exhibition runs now through Nov 30, 2025 at Art 634
634 N. Mechanic Street, Jackson, MI
(517) 740-9703

(See the artworks from the other exhibitions in the Power of Words series: “Expanding Horizons: An Exploration of Space” and “Facing Realities: An Exploration of All Facets of “Face“)

Angel K Will