Feeding of the 5,000
Artist: Michelle Vanderzandt
The Feeding of the 5,000 is a miracle of compassion and faith. I wanted to celebrate the Christian fellowship of a simple feast of loaves and fishes. joyful colors, active lines and interconnected shapes gather the crowd. I chose the parrot fish, which is a food fish in the Mediterranean, because of its beautiful colors and striking patterns. The fish remain in the sea as vital creatures of God for us to celebrate and honor. The unique figures in the crowd are deliberately abstract so that the viewer might find oneself in a color or posture and participate in the story. Like the young boy who offers 5 loaves and 2 fishes, we can offere our gifts, however meager. In aggregate, we, thus, begin to meet the needs of the 5,000. I am humbled and priveleged to have been a part of this generously collaborative artwork.
John 6:1-14
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’
