Becoming: Art Bridges the Divides

Trinity Church in Central West End St. Louis received a 2019 New Ventures grant to extend support for the “Pray, Eat and Art Project.”

The church's 40+ year ministry, Trinity Food Ministry (TFM), offers meals at its three days per week food pantry plus Sunday Hot Lunch. In 2017, TFM received a New Ventures grant to begin a “Pray, Eat, and Art Project” that soon became known as the Trinity Art Club.

During this past year, the art club offered one more opportunity of a hot meal to those who need it. It also offered a chance for parishioners from Trinity Church to join with patrons of the food ministry congregation to create a diverse group who together share a meal and the wonders of art.

Eight to ten people gather at the club each Saturday morning. The word “club” was chosen because it offered an equal membership and investment in the work and joy of the group. For some, physical nourishment is key. For others, the chance to communicate and form bonds is important. For all, it is a space to express themselves creatively and allow others to witness their art as a group. Members discover talents they were not aware of, share their thoughts in a safe space, and enjoy a sense of community that is surrounded by respect and love.

tled “BeCoMiNG: We are not yet what we will be, but we are no longer what we were." This booklet is a compilation of butterfly paintings created by the club.

Working with the Trinity's Arts Commission, they are now creating a future exhibit for the Trinity Church Gallery. All proceeds from this show will be given directly to the artist.

This art show will be the second such one highlighting Trinity Food Ministry patrons. The first was a photography project. The patrons of Sunday Hot Lunch were offered digital cameras and asked to share their photography in the Gallery. It was a great success with proceeds from photo sales given directly to the photographer.

Poverty is isolating

This was something we discovered when we began offering meals at the Trinity Food Pantry. People came for the food, certainly. They stayed because of the fellowship.

In all things, there is a great feeling of thanksgiving. Love is a key ingredient of our “relationship exchange.” A deep and abiding love has grown between the patrons and volunteers.

From the beginning, the Trinity Church parishioners were invited to participate in the Art Club and several attend each Saturday morning. In that all things are done as equal members of a club, a Trinitarian will be found working side by side with a community member, whether that be in the kitchen cooking breakfast or at the table making art.

While the club's initial focus was to offer an opportunity in creativity for the guests of the Food Ministry, it has become a bridge between two congregations: those within the Trinity fellowship and those within the fellowship of the Food Ministry.

Not only have these two groups been enriched, but the Food Ministry and Art Club have become known throughout the Central West End neighborhood as a safe place where people gather. People who might be perceived as “less-than” are now seen as members of Trinity Church and the work that is being shared there.

The Rev. Barbi Click, Deacon at Christ Church Cathedral, Diocesan Jubilee Officer, is the manager of Trinity Food Ministry.