An exhibit exploring the intersection of faith and tattoos opens Sunday at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway.
The gallery show, known as "Faithmarks," will be held at The Morgan House on the church's campus. The show is a ministry of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., and has been exhibited in houses of worship, community centers and other locations throughout the country.
Faithmarks
What: Tattoo exhibit
When: Sunday to Feb. 18
Where: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1826 Prince St., Conway
Group tours: jerusalem.greer@stp…m, (501) 329-8174.
Information: stpetersconway.org/…
The Faithmarks show at St. Peter's opens just before the 40-day penitential season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and will continue through Feb. 18. Services on Ash Wednesday often include the imposition of ashes, in which the minister or priest smudges each worshipper's forehead with ashes, most often in the sign of the cross. The mark serves as a physical sign -- of faith, repentance and mortality.
Jerusalem Greer, minister to children, youth and families at St. Peter's, said the timing of the show was deliberate to showcase the parallels between the marks of Ash Wednesday and tattoos.
"On Ash Wednesday, we mark ourselves on the outside to show an inward story, and tattoos are just a more permanent action of the same thing," she said. "In the Episcopal Church, our sacraments are outward and visible signs of an inward grace, so we feel like this is a similar thing -- an outward sign of an inward story of grace."
The Lenten show highlights photographs of people who have permanently marked their bodies in expressions of faith. The show will feature photographs of their tattoos along with the stories behind each one. The gallery includes images of Christian, Jewish and agnostic tattoos.
The show will be open to the public from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, 1-7 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, with an opening reception at 6 p.m. Other hours include 1-7 p.m. Friday and Feb. 17, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 13, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 16 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 18, with a closing reception at 6 p.m. The show is free.
Greer said local residents with tattoos will be on hand during the two receptions to share their stories. She also hopes to have tattoo artists share their experiences in creating tattoos as expressions of faith.
The Morgan House is located at 1926 Prince St., Conway. Information on scheduling a group tour is available by contacting Greer at jerusalem.greer@stpetersconway.com or by calling (501) 329-8174. Information on the show is available online at stpetersconway.org/faithmarks.
Religion on 02/06/2016