Art Lives at Unity Church

Art provides another medium through which human beings experience gifts of the spirit.  Response to a work of art may be on intense, profound levels. As with poetry or literature, theatre, dance or music, the visual arts provide meditative and emotional opportunities and appreciation of life's process, our cultures and society. Unity's Art Team serves the congregation by hosting exhibits in our Parish Hall gallery, cataloging and sharing information about Unity's extensive art collection, and inviting the congregation into art appreciation through various events and learning opportunities. For more information about the work of Unity's Art Team, please email [email protected].

​Evergreen Quilters Exhibit and Sale

From March 26 to April 26 you can enjoy the quilted artwork handcrafted by the Evergreen Quilters of Unity Church. The artwork they created will fill Parish Hall with eye-candy for viewing and for sale. One hundred percent of the money that the quilters raise from the sale supports special projects and operating expenses at Hallie Q. Brown Food Shelf, Project Home, and Jeremiah Program. All these agencies, in turn, provide services and support to families facing food and housing insecurity in our neighborhood. 

Please visit Evergreen Quilters' exhibit ”Cultivating Hope” in Parish Hall, enjoy the quilts, and consider adding one or more of these creations to decorate your home. Quilts, wall-hangings, runners, and other quilted items are included in the exhibit. 

But that's not all! If you'd like to meet the quilters who created these beautiful items, please attend their opening reception on Friday, April 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 
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Another opportunity to meet the quilters and buy their wares is at the quilters' Buy-It-Now Boutique on Sunday, April 19 and 26, after each morning service. Smaller quilted and sewn items will be available for your personal use and enjoyment or for gifts — think Mother's Day! Featured items for purchase will include table mats and runners, zipper bags, gift bags, and handbags, pillowcases, scarves, and more!

May Parish Hall Artists

Tou Her

Karen Weaving Circle

Tou is an artist from the Twin Cities area. He earned a BFA in Illustration from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in 2003 and started his own company, Studio Tou, in 2018. His personal work is based on the folklore and history of the Hmong people and he creates his art through traditional and digital mediums. His notable works include two self published books on the Hmong: Diaspora, a mix between Hmong folklore and history, and Perilous Journey, stories of the journey to Thailand after the Secret War. Along with these personal projects, Tou also does commercial work illustrating children's books and covers for Disney. Through these outlets, he hopes to spread awareness and representation of Hmong art to the next generation.

All Under Heaven | Artist Statement
My journey to finding peace in a troubled world starts the same way most mornings. A hot cup of coffee while I flip through my stash of reference photos taken from family trips and outings. What I am looking for are moods of the lighting or colors that made me stop to take the photo. Even if the pictures don't do justice to the real view, it still captures the moment for me to remember and paint. It is these moments that make me appreciate the gift of life and the knowledge that all under heaven is made by Him. 

All under heaven are created equally and made with the same care and attention according to its design. We see it in everything around us, the complex colours of a sky or the simple shapes of fruits packed with life giving nutrients. Artists throughout the years have tried to mimic and interpret these works and will remain so until the end of time. I am no different in my pursuit of the arts. I strive to capture the moment and try to represent reality as close as possible. Always keeping in mind that I am but a shadow reflecting off the cave walls, seeking to peek at the hand of creation. 

Here is a collection of my work that emulates the beauty of my world. From the little things in life to the paintings of family and faith. I hope you enjoy the paintings and can glimpse a bit of the divine in the world around us. 

The Karen Weaving Circle is pleased to present a selection of their weavings at Unity Church. The Circle meets weekly to weave, socialize, and receive support for needs beyond weaving, including social services support. Many participants learned to weave as children in Burma or Thailand. They create a variety of handmade woven products, including bags, shirts, sarongs, table runners, scarves, and dresses which are available to purchase. Each piece is crafted entirely by hand on traditional looms, featuring intricate patterns and colors that are distinct for men’s and women’s garments. The care and love woven into each item carry forward the cultural heritage and memories of the weavers’ homelands. 
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The Karen (K’nyaw) people traditionally live in the hill tribes of Thailand, with ancestral lands along a narrow strip of Burma bordering Thailand. Decades of civil war and ethnic persecution by the Burmese/Myanmar regime forced many Karen to seek refuge in camps in Thailand. Since 2005, some Karen have resettled in the United States, including in St. Paul. 

The Weaving Circle is a collaboration between the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM), the East Side Freedom Library, Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB), and Metro Regional Arts Council (MRAC). The Weaving Circle provides Karen refugees with a space to preserve and practice their cultural traditions, passing weaving skills on to the next generation. The Karen Organization of Minnesota, the first social services agency in the U.S. founded by Karen refugees from Burma, offers a range of programs to help refugees transition to life in a new country and achieve their personal goals. KOM also provides resources for organizations to better engage with the growing Karen community. Its mission is to build on the strengths of refugee and immigrant communities while removing barriers to economic, social, and cultural wellbeing.