Watercolor painting and artistic expression

[Southerner]

This must be on Facebook (which I don't use anymore)?

I've been keeping up with stories like these across different contexts for several years since the topic of abuse crossed my own path. Over the years I've come to see, through my observations and experience, that anyone describing themselves publicly as an "abuse victim advocate" or some such is a red flag.

Your full post here should be required reading. Very well thought out.

I know of one person with a YouTube channel who portrays herself as an abuse victim advocate, who has conservative Anabaptist background and one of whose goals is to root out and expose the cult-like and abusive aspects of the culture. So a lot of the airtime is spent criticizing conservative Mennonites. There are also regular efforts to grow the audience and expand the reach of the channel, and apparently there is a business aspect to this. But the odd thing that my wife learned about this purported victim of Mennonite culture is that she regularly gets a conservative Mennonite person to babysit her kids so she can work on her YouTube show. It's puzzling.

Angela Rose has a YouTube channel and I am curious what the monetary benefits are to her show biz. She recently posted a pic of herself painting a watercolor and then implied that artistic expression was something she didn't have the freedom to do when she was a Mennonite. It's a false portrayal. She also interviews individuals who have sad life stories, no doubt, but I find Angela's reactions artificial.

[Judas Maccabeus]

“”She recently posted a pic of herself painting a watercolor and then implied that artistic expression was something she didn't have the freedom to do when she was a Mennonite. ””

Say what????

This shoots credibility in the foot,

[PeterG]

“”She recently posted a pic of herself painting a watercolor and then implied that artistic expression was something she didn't have the freedom to do when she was a Mennonite. ””

Say what????

This shoots credibility in the foot,

I do not know who this person is or what church she was part of, but there certainly are Mennonite churches in which artistic expression is highly restricted.

[Ernie]

“”She recently posted a pic of herself painting a watercolor and then implied that artistic expression was something she didn't have the freedom to do when she was a Mennonite. ””

Say what????

This shoots credibility in the foot,

I do not know who this person is or what church she was part of, but there certainly are Mennonite churches in which artistic expression is highly restricted.

I'd be interested in learning about what groups restrict watercolor painting.

[PeterG]

“”She recently posted a pic of herself painting a watercolor and then implied that artistic expression was something she didn't have the freedom to do when she was a Mennonite. ””

Say what????

This shoots credibility in the foot,

I do not know who this person is or what church she was part of, but there certainly are Mennonite churches in which artistic expression is highly restricted.

I'd be interested in learning about what groups restrict watercolor painting.

I am not aware of any groups with formal restrictions on watercolor painting. However, I think you would agree that many conservative Mennonites are wary of the arts (and they are not entirely mistaken in this). Conversations here on Mennonet have touched on this. I think it's fair to say that in more conservative groups especially the study and practice of art beyond certain bounds would be widely considered to foster pride, represent poor stewardship of time and money, and expose one to inappropriate material. It is unlikely that the person in question was prevented from any and all artistic expression, but I do not find it hard to believe that she did not feel free to create art to the degree that she wanted to.

[Judas Maccabeus]

I do not know who this person is or what church she was part of, but there certainly are Mennonite churches in which artistic expression is highly restricted.

I'd be interested in learning about what groups restrict watercolor painting.

I am not aware of any groups with formal restrictions on watercolor painting. However, I think you would agree that many conservative Mennonites are wary of the arts (and they are not entirely mistaken in this). Conversations here on Mennonet have touched on this. I think it's fair to say that in more conservative groups especially the study and practice of art beyond certain bounds would be widely considered to foster pride, represent poor stewardship of time and money, and expose one to inappropriate material. It is unlikely that the person in question was prevented from any and all artistic expression, but I do not find it hard to believe that she did not feel free to create art to the degree that she wanted to.

Some restrictions exist in the evangelical world as well. I would not have felt free to take an art studio course in college because of the likely exposure to models. I can't even list the problems that would be created. So the existence of "bounds" is almost certainly a good thing. Where we might differ is where to draw them and why. I would find watercolor painting a rose to be a bit off the chart. But on further reflection, I remember talking to an ex Old Colony person, who said that art and beauty in general were discouraged. My suspicion was that the survival instinct in some groups may be the cause. Interesting topic to consider.

[Ernie]

I do not know who this person is or what church she was part of, but there certainly are Mennonite churches in which artistic expression is highly restricted.

I'd be interested in learning about what groups restrict watercolor painting.

I am not aware of any groups with formal restrictions on watercolor painting. However, I think you would agree that many conservative Mennonites are wary of the arts (and they are not entirely mistaken in this). Conversations here on Mennonet have touched on this. I think it's fair to say that in more conservative groups especially the study and practice of art beyond certain bounds would be widely considered to foster pride, represent poor stewardship of time and money, and expose one to inappropriate material. It is unlikely that the person in question was prevented from any and all artistic expression, but I do not find it hard to believe that she did not feel free to create art to the degree that she wanted to.

I do not disagree with any of what you say. I am sad whenever artistic expression is highly restricted.

If I understood correctly, the claimant referenced earlier was indicating that she was not allowed to do watercolor painting and I was curious if there are any groups that would actually discourage this. In my experience, watercolor painting was the kind of art that was encouraged and even taught.

[JohnH]

I do not disagree with any of what you say. I am sad whenever artistic expression is highly restricted.

If I understood correctly, the claimant referenced earlier was indicating that she was not allowed to do watercolor painting and I was curious if there are any groups that would actually discourage this. In my experience, watercolor painting was the kind of art that was encouraged and even taught.

I can’t think of any either. The Vanguard regularly has pen and ink type artwork on it (although it isn’t printed in colour so watercolours would be irrelevant). Maybe such a group does exist but it would be rather obscure and not the norm at all amongst Old Order groups.

[Neto]

I'd be interested in learning about what groups restrict watercolor painting.

I am not aware of any groups with formal restrictions on watercolor painting. However, I think you would agree that many conservative Mennonites are wary of the arts (and they are not entirely mistaken in this). Conversations here on Mennonet have touched on this. I think it's fair to say that in more conservative groups especially the study and practice of art beyond certain bounds would be widely considered to foster pride, represent poor stewardship of time and money, and expose one to inappropriate material. It is unlikely that the person in question was prevented from any and all artistic expression, but I do not find it hard to believe that she did not feel free to create art to the degree that she wanted to.

I do not disagree with any of what you say. I am sad whenever artistic expression is highly restricted.

If I understood correctly, the claimant referenced earlier was indicating that she was not allowed to do watercolor painting and I was curious if there are any groups that would actually discourage this. In my experience, watercolor painting was the kind of art that was encouraged and even taught.

How would you all view 'play-acting' as compared to painting as an art form? (The Beachy A-M congregation my wife grew up in after her parents left the Old Order Amish in 1964 did not approve of even skits, where any person was portraying someone that they weren't. Maybe someone read about where the English word 'hypocrite' comes from....)

[Ernie]

I am not aware of any groups with formal restrictions on watercolor painting. However, I think you would agree that many conservative Mennonites are wary of the arts (and they are not entirely mistaken in this). Conversations here on Mennonet have touched on this. I think it's fair to say that in more conservative groups especially the study and practice of art beyond certain bounds would be widely considered to foster pride, represent poor stewardship of time and money, and expose one to inappropriate material. It is unlikely that the person in question was prevented from any and all artistic expression, but I do not find it hard to believe that she did not feel free to create art to the degree that she wanted to.

I do not disagree with any of what you say. I am sad whenever artistic expression is highly restricted.

If I understood correctly, the claimant referenced earlier was indicating that she was not allowed to do watercolor painting and I was curious if there are any groups that would actually discourage this. In my experience, watercolor painting was the kind of art that was encouraged and even taught.

How would you all view 'play-acting' as compared to painting as an art form? (The Beachy A-M congregation my wife grew up in after her parents left the Old Order Amish in 1964 did not approve of even skits, where any person was portraying someone that they weren't. Maybe someone read about where the English word 'hypocrite' comes from....)

I suggest we start a new thread for this topic.