The Creative's Journey cohort, mentors and Crea staff
Nine months, four Crea staff, eight mentors, 16 mentees, multiple volunteers, book studies, community gatherings with talks and art-making, three local internships, two overseas art residencies, 16 final project presentations, and an art showcase—all these brought Crea’s inaugural The Creative’s Journey (TCJ) project to life.
Creative expressions through art jamming at Crea Gathering
Crea’s mission is to make disciples in and through the arts. Partnering with mentors who are making an impact in the art and social good arenas, TCJ was a bold attempt to curate an immersive, holistic mentoring discipleship journey for Christian creatives to explore how their art and faith intersect, and gain a deeper understanding and acceptance of who they are as artists and what they are called to do.
Over three phases, mentees reoriented their hearts through community and book study, expanded their minds through real-world local and overseas exposure, and exercised their hands through personal projects exploring courage, goodness, and mental health. Their journey culminated in an exhibition at the TCJ Graduation Ceremony.
Okinawa art residency meeting
“A key way that I've grown during this time was learning to let go of perfectionism in my art. The book study discussions taught me to see my ability to create art as a gift from God and a way to imitate Him. Learning that I could create as an act of worship—simply to bless Him and no one else—was very freeing. This set the stage for Phases 2 and 3, where I felt free to try my hand at different mediums and art forms. The more I was assured of His love for me, the less I feared failure.”—S. Tan
“Under Wally's mentorship and within the community of my mentoring group, I learnt a lot about my inner world and social systems that I didn’t expect to explore so deeply in a creative mentorship. Yet the depth of introspection and interaction created an awareness and acceptance of who I am, what matters to me, and a more authentic understanding of my faith. These implicitly shaped my creative process and identity.”—S. Low
“I am thankful for the wellspring of knowledge that challenges our inner lives, thought processes, and motivations as artists. I’ve come to see that using art solely as an outlet for coping with trauma or negativity is too small a scope to live for. There is strength in recognising how my insecurities—shaped by mental heuristics and limited perspectives—affect my engagement with others. God has also shown me that I don’t need to create merely as a coping mechanism; this gift can be used for His purposes—to encourage others and help them see their own potential.”—V.F. Tan
The Creative's Journey Closing Showcase
Crea Gathering
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