The nativity scenes featured in this issue of Alive Now (both the print edition and on our website) are from The Upper Room Museum of Christian Art collection. The museum features an annual display entitled “The Night of the Child” of over 100 nativity scenes from over thirty cultures. Photographs are by Marshall Morgan.
• Cover: Gourd, with figures woven from banana leaves; Kenya, Africa.
• Page 3: Wrought iron; Mexico.
• Page 13: Black on Black Pottery; Native American, Santa Clara, New Mexico.
• Page 35: Madonna and Child, metal and stone; Chile
• Page 39: Angel from the “Circle of Love,” by Kim Lawrence (Enesco).
The remainder of the art used in this issue of Alive Now is featured courtesy of The Lost Boys Foundation of Nashville, a non-profit organization that was chartered in 2004 to assist Nashville’s Lost Boys of Sudan. In June of 2006, The Lost Boys Center & Gallery was opened not only as a place for these young men to gather and fellowship but also as an art studio and gallery, allowing these Lost Boys of Sudan to tell of their lives in Africa, both the joys and trauma, through paintings, sculptures, and masks. Their art offers them a therapeutic outlet, while simultaneously allowing them to develop and sustain a trade and additional source of income. The Foundation is also developing much-needed programs including computer training, job counseling, social acculturation, educational scholarships and books, immigration and naturalization assistance, art training and materials, and a fund for emergency assistance. Currently the Foundation serves approximately 200 Lost Boys living in the Nashville Area. For more information, visit their website at thelostboysfoundation.org.
Pieces featured in this issue of Alive Now are:
• Page 5, “Saw Person,” by James Makuac;
• Page 8, “Spirit Crow,” by John Kur;
• Page 17, “Warrior Jungle Man,” by Gabriel Wal;
• Page 21, “Life Before,” by James Makuac;
• Page 28, “Warrior Mask,” by Johnson Chang;
• Page 30, “Smiling Queen II,” by Chol Garang (left); “Sun Prince,” by Gabriel Wal (right);
• Page 31, “Orange Man,” by Johnson Chang;
• Page 32, “Young Nuer Girl,” by Johnson Chang;
• Page 36, “Flat Face,” by Johnson Chang.
• Page 43, “Native Indian Traditional,” by Johnson Chang.