Seeing God in the Lamplight

Somewhere between the great oaks on Government Street is a side road, and down that road is a building next to a church. Inside that building, up the stairs of what used to be a school, you'll find a gigantic room full of artwork. Paintings everywhere. Paintings on easels, paintings on the walls. Giant paintings. Medium paintings. Small paintings. Paintings leaning against tables, paintings on tables. Paintings, everywhere. And if you wait a minute, you'll see her bursting through the door:  the effortlessly energetic and charismatic Stephanie Morris. 

Stephanie’s smile will jump out, and so will a welcoming voice. You’ll see in her that classic Mobilian, hair done in that gentle swoop, pearls casually hanging, hands moving every which way while she jolts around the room, making sure you are comfortable. Like the paintings, she has the ability to be everywhere in the room at one time, and simultaneously focused on you, the person in front of her. Stephanie is a portrait artist, and a staple artist in Mobile. If you’ve seen a portrait and it’s great, chances are its Stephanie’s. But Stephanie is more than just a portrait artist. She’s a personality, she’s a person of deep faith, she’s a person that deeply desires healing in our torn apart culture, who feels deeply about the need for a stronger and more connected faith-base to help people. It is something she will discuss for hours, something she wants to see: mutual understanding and respect for all people, the celebration of their dignity, no matter their walk of life, no matter their station in society. And you can see this in her studio: her many different ways of seeing the world, of seeing people.  Her own work varies from the large murals of familiar Mobile faces, to impressionistic, transcendent experiences with God, to more immediate works, like Christ embracing His Bridegroom. And you’ll see other people’s works too. There are so many styles from so many people. Each one she is equally excited about, and she’ll point them out quickly and exclaim, “Well isn’t this just amazing? Isn’t this just fabulous? Can you believe they put this together?” 

And in all of it, she sees God. Everywhere. 

She sees God in the light of the lamps in the paintings. She sees Him in the brushstrokes across each mural. She sees him in the artists that painted the great works. Beauty everywhere, and it is all God’s work. 

And if you converse with her, she’ll tell you how she sees God in the great sunsets that drop over Mobile Bay. She sees God in a well decorated room. She sees God when she sees beauty. It is the beauty and goodness of a world that speaks to and through Stephanie constantly, and this energy is something that is truly miraculous. 

Right now Stephanie is planning. She’s got a beautiful little room at the vivace event, where she will present various works of others...and of her own. You’ll find this space in between the two large panels that The University of Mobile has to offer. The room is greatly anticipated, be sure not to miss it.