When aerosol artist Chor Boogie, who was part of the original Paint Your Faith event in Toronto, showed up at the recent Vancouver PYF event, no one expected him to paint. He had come to Vancouver to share his art at the Paint Your Faith show at Ayden Gallery and connect with PYF Vancouver artists Indigo, Titi Freak, Faith 47, and Peeta along the way while they worked on the new PYF mural.

While at the mural site, Chor also connected with Sandra Severs of First United Church Mission, which was co-sponsoring PYF Vancouver along with WonderCafe.ca. Chor asked if he could paint a section of First United's roof and Sandra said "Go for it!" And soon Chor, along with the Paint Your Faith documentary team, were climbing several levels of ladders to reach the steeple of First United Church, high above the Downtown Eastside.

Art is a powerful way to convey spirituality and faith. Connected with a church building, art can be the occasion for reflection and conversation on the meaning of faith and the role of "organized religion" in our culture. Many church buildings are intentionally designed to share a message through their very architecture - steeples towering heaven-ward, stained glass filling interior spaces with colour and light, arching cathedrals hinting at the expanse of God's love. For generations, the local church shaped the public space of many communities. In many neighbourhoods, they still do.

Imagine if more churches were open to adorning their walls and steeples with graffiti-style urban art? Whose attention would this catch? What kind of conversations would ensue? How might the addition of contemporary public art re-orientate the place of your church in your community?

It's something to think about.

-Aaron McCarroll Gallegos

Thanks for First United Church Mission for the pictures of their steeple. If you would like more information on how to launch a Paint Your Faith event, please take a look at the Paint Your Faith congregational guide (free to download, but you must log in to the Emerging Spirit site to access).