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Interview with an artist
Rachel VanEgmond is exploring God’s general revelation
Oil on gessoed panel, 20” x 24”
November 2024
Vivid radiance, impossible complexity, awesome love. Creation sings the praise of its Creator to all who witness it.
Artist Rachel VanEgmond attributes her love of nature to her childhood experience of growing up on a rural property near Grimsby, Ontario. Sharing time with loved ones in the great outdoors both nurtured her spiritual growth and cultivated artistic ideas. Raised in a Christian home and community, Rachel was the youngest of three siblings. She says her faith deepened when she started to “appreciate God’s love through Creation.”
Her younger self was a “crafty child,” so it was natural that in high school she was drawn toward art as her favorite subject. That passion led Rachel to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting at OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design) University in Toronto, which she successfully completed this spring.
Rachel says of the experience at OCAD U:
“It was a blessing to be able to learn technical skills and also decide what content I want to make and what message is worth expressing.”
Oil on wood, 15” x 17” March 2025 When we take up the assurance in God that is vital for us, we are rewarded with peace and vibrance. Creation not only reveals God, but shines all the more brilliantly when we love Him.
Rachel’s thesis for her Bachelor’s explored God’s “General Revelation,” the Christian belief that God reveals Himself in the natural world (see Rom. 1:18-20, Ps. 19:1-4). What interests VanEgmond the most is, in her words, “How the indescribable intricacy of the natural world speaks to attentive and diligent love.” The result of her study is an impressive collection of paintings featuring the lush interior of Canadian forests.
Working on recycled wood with various types of paint, VanEgmond capably utilizes color and value and brushwork to illustrate light and depth and space. Viewing the series is like accompanying Rachel on one of her walks in the forest. As of writing this, the entire collection has almost sold out.
Even though her own schooling is behind her Rachel is planning to head back to the classroom again in the fall. This time she’ll be a high school teacher, at King's Christian Collegiate in Oakville, Ontario. Here Rachel hopes to share her enthusiasm for art with her students. “Teachers have such a massive impact on their students, and it is really exciting to be able to spark some passion for art.” Teaching will be a dream come true for Rachel, who has always been a keen art student herself and who “absolutely loves working with youth.”
In addition to teaching Rachel is looking forward to completing a few private commissions along with building her personal collection. Follow Rachel at Instagram.com to see more of her work.
Oil on wood, 7” x 17”
March 2025
A haven is always made for the children of the LORD, even in the heaviest thicket.
News
Faded road lines symbolize faded Christian values
Having a hard time seeing the lines on the road? You aren’t alone. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is lobbying for changes to a rule from the federal government that has resulted in road lines that wear out after just a few months.
The edict, which first came from the federal government in 2012, and was updated by the Minister of “Environment and Climate Change” in 2023, pronounced that chemicals in the paint called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) had to be significantly reduced. They made this decision because VOCs contribute to smog. Smog can irritate eyes and throats.
But decreasing the VOCs meant that the paints simply don’t work like they used to. “It doesn’t stick as well, it’s not as reflective, and you can only paint in certain temperatures,” explained Tim Tierney, the chair of the city of Ottawa’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee. And as Clark Somerville, councillor for the Town of Halton Hills explained to the Globe and Mail:
“As the road painting is disappearing quicker, we are now spending taxpayers’ dollars to go out and repaint the roads more than what we had to before,”
But it isn’t just a matter of money. The current rules “create a dangerous, dangerous situation – not only for drivers, but pedestrians in intersections” noted Tierney.
In 2012, the year that the change took effect in Canada, the BC trucking industry saw a spike in complaints about line visibility. ”Drivers reported more difficulty finding roadway centre and edge markings — not a great situation for a loaded semi weighing up to 35,000 kilos,” explained John Ducker, writing for the Victoria Times Colonist. He also noted that the faded lines became the top complaint from motorists in the province.
So why is this being covered in Reformed Perspective? Because it is another example of how everything is fundamentally a worldview issue. God entrusted the civil government with the duty of restraining lawlessness and promoting good order (Belgic Confession, Article 36). Keeping lines on the road keeps vehicles on the road and protects human life. But our federal government doesn’t have any objective standards for what constitutes justice and good order. Reducing smog, even in the majority of the country where smog isn’t an issue, trumps safety on the road.
In many ways, the faded lines are an apt symbol of the faded Christian norms that this country isn’t interested in reviving, even to our own harm.
Today's Devotional
June 19 - Jesus leaves us a better testament (I)
“For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.” - Hebrews 9:16-17
Scripture reading: Hebrews 9:15-22
When God made a covenant with his people Israel on Mount Sinai (see Exodus 19-24), they all promised Moses >
Today's Manna Podcast
Opening your Heart for Others: Ecclesiastes
Serving #878 of Manna, prepared by Ian Wildeboer, is called "Opening your Heart for Others" (Ecclesiastes) and is based on Ecclesiastes 5.
