Christmas at Lincoln Street United Methodist Church

Epiphany

What Do You Fear?
Fear Doesn't Stop Us

King Tingz
by Nicolette Faison
A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
Inspired by Matthew 2:1-12, 12-16
30"x40" Acrylic, paper, markers, and synthetic hair on canvas

If there is one thing I can’t stand, it is when people  disregard the spiritual use of herbs, metals, and the stars. For years, there has been a nasty practice of shaming indigenous practices, such as the usage of sage, when high church settings actively use incense in worship. We have come to a tension where anything that does not look like a particular type of Christian practice is perceived as pagan or satanic. For years, I have been reminding people that Jesus was gifted gold, frankincense, and myrrh by people who followed the stars to find him. That is the heart of my piece, King Tingz. I wanted to emphasize the sky and the importance of the stars, a reminder that this was essential to their witness. I wanted to bless each king with a different gift which is found in different places of their attire.  

Of the magi, the one bowing is marked with the flower of frankincense on their robe. On their left shoulder is a map of modern Persia, reminding us of their journey back home having to take a new route because they defied the request of Herod. They are crowned with cornrows and covered with more  greenery because of their position to the ground. While we celebrate the stars, I wanted there to be some grounding to the earth. As Jesus is both divine and human, he holds space in both worlds. 

The king to the right has soft myrrh flowers on her elbow and collar. Her outer arm is holding an infant, not Jesus, while her sleeve holds the Palestinian flag with the Arabic word Nakba,11 reminding us of the genocide of 1947.  She is weeping for the children that Herod commits to murdering because of their defiance. She holds a child in  the palm of her hand with deep lament. Her golden crown is surrounded by a blue bandana, a quiet nod to Chola culture found on the West Coast, as Latino Christians have always emphasized the importance of los reyes.12  

The one to the left is dripped in a starry durag and plated in gold. He has a subtle gold bottom grill and his face is celebrated in a gold pattern. He looks up to the sky, more concerned about navigation, as he is the  guiding force for the three of them. I gave this king a durag after some research on Persian magi showed me variations of headwear or turbans that emulated that of a durag.  

Above all, if there is something I have learned from living in a Hispanic community and attending a  Spanish-speaking church, it is that BIPOC13 communities do not play about los reyes. I wanted aspects of  my culture and other American subcultures to be able to see bits and pieces of themselves in this art. But to also see our connection to the stars and the earth alike. I urge this to be a reminder that even if your  church does not celebrate herbs, crystals, metals, and the stars, that does not mean they are not Christian  practices nor that they are satanic. —rev. nicolette faison 

11 Meaning “the catastrophe,” this refers to the events of the 1948 Palestine war in which Palestinian Arabs were ethnically cleansed and  displaced from their homes. These events continue to shape the ongoing Israeli-Palestine conflict.  

12 Meaning “the kings.” 

13 This is an acronym for “Black, Indigenous, People of Color.”