The next community exhibition, Mending a Heart: One Brushstroke at a Time, demonstrates “painting through tragedy, tears, illness, despair, regrets, fear, forgiveness, courage, survival, joy, hope, and healing. It is amazing how creative grief and love can be,” says artist, Suzanne Accetta.

All are welcome to come and see the exhibition located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Galleries at First Pres.

On Friday, November 7 at 6:00pm, we will host an opening reception and welcome works from the Japanese print artist, Sadao Watanabe, to the Lenz Gallery. He is best known for his prints that meld biblical imagery with the traditional Japanese folk art known as mingei. Watanabe's work portrays the Christian gospel with a distinctive use of crumpled wet paper mixed with mineral pigments suspended in soy milk, known as katazome.

"Witness to Faith" serves as a visual testament ("witness") to his Christian faith through biblical scenes. Stay tuned for more details soon.

ACTIVATE: An Invitation to Making, is coming February 26-28, 2026 to First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC.

Conferences and art have something in common: they can both be very erudite, lofty, and disconnected from everyday experiences. It is our goal to push against that tendency. We would like to take the important intellectual and theological foundation to making of any kind and help you put it into practice in your lives in ways that serve you and your communities.

With keynote speakers, Esther Lightcap Meek and Andy Squyres, we hope to help you activate your own call to make, because your community needs your art! ACTIVATE will give you more time in smaller groups with local artist-presenters, applying what we hear and learn together and dreaming of what might be on the horizon.

Registration is open NOW at the link below!

Cost: $150 per person. Student rate: $40 (email cfraser@firstpresgreenville.org for the discount code)

Schedule:
Thursday evening: concert with Andy Squyres and post-concert mixer, hors d’oeuvres
Friday: keynote with Esther Meek, breakouts, and closing worship time, on-site breakfast and lunch included
Saturday: optional field trips