For the City // Through the Arts

A Night of Hope and Reconciliation: For the City, Through the Arts was an event that brought together the many and various expressions of the arts (including visual arts, dance, spoken word, and music) as a means toward healing, hope, reconciliation, and restoration in our city.  Julie spent most of 2016 writing and composing for this event, the songs meant to serve as catalysts for this large scale city-wide collaboration among the disciplines of the arts.  “There was an incredible humility as we came together to serve one another, making ourselves vulnerable to the process of collaboration, giving of ourselves for something bigger than ourselves, and seeking a greater unity as brothers and sisters in Christ.”  There were 73 contributing artists involved in this night!

* Here’s a video that talks more in depth about the heart behind this event, filmed just before Julie took the stage to open the concert

Visual Arts

The evening began with an art opening for the visual artists who created pieces specifically for this event: Cristina Ford (featured artist), Jennifer Knight, Chicho Lorenzo, Richard Montoya, Ashley Walton, Rebecca McEntire, Kaitlin Jungles, and Lorelei Laaman.

This event brought together more than 45+ musicians and singers including a full band, strings, bell choir, children’s choir, and adult soloists and choir.

Dance

Featuring dancers from The Farm House, choreographed by Lauren Stonestreet, co-founder of The Farm House (a studio and co-working space for artists, entrepreneurs and community leaders in Charlottesville, VA.).

Spoken Word

Spoken word by local artists Bernard Hankins and LaTasha Strother.

Videos

Says Julie, “I was blessed to bring you some of the deepest most heartfelt music I have ever written from the albums You Are My Joy and Fire In The Night. To see these songs come to life in the way I had always imagined was a very personal gift to me that night. Who can ever forget the holy moments we all shared during “Seal,” which talks about the love of God that burns like a mighty flame, many waters cannot quench this Love! The prophetic gift of “Psalm45,” the wedding song that talks about the bride making herself ready and proclaiming with prophetic unction “GIRD YOUR SWORD UPON YOUR SIDE, O Mighty One!” And the gut-wrenching cry of “Help Me,” from Psalm 91, the emotion captured beautifully by the dancers. “The Cross,” featuring children’s choir Higher Voices and dancer Becca Lee, encapsulating the emotional depth of Philippians 2. And worshiping together to the song “My Desire,” joining together with the unified heartfelt desire to give to God all that we have and all that we are. My heartfelt thanks to everyone involved!”

Many thanks to these local organizations for their many contributions to make A Night of Hope and Reconciliation: For the City, Through the Arts possible!