Many Parts,
One Body Mural

by Dave Weiss

We in the body of Christ bring a lot of different gifts to the table. 1Peter 4:10 (the A.M.O.K. verse) tells us that each one should use whatever gifts he has to serve others. This is a great project to use to teach that principal as well as Romans 12: 4-8 (Many parts, one body). You may also want to do this project as part of a street arts outreach, with someone presenting a message based on the above Scriptures.

Herešs how it works:
The first step is to create a picture for the finished mural. I recommend a simple line art drawing or grey scale drawing (no color). I have also seen this done quite effectively with magazine photos, but either way, the most important thing is that the drawing be proportional to the finished mural. After the drawing or photo is complete draw a grid of squares onto the drawing. You will have to try to determine how many people will be participating in the project in advace and make a corresponding number of squares. (If you are doing a large event where many people will gather I recommend that you have more than one piece prepared.) Turn the drawing over and number the back of each square. I recommend that you assign each horizontal row a letter and each vertical row a number (a-1, a-2, and so on.) Next cut the drawing into squares along the grid lines and place each piece into an envelope numbered with he number of the piece.

Next cut squares of a heavier drawing paper. The larger the squares are the larger your finished mural will be. I recommend 12" x 12." Attach one of these pieces of paper to each envelope with a paper clip. To save confusion, mark the number on the envelope on the back of the piece of paper. After you have completed this, put as many different media as you can think of on a large table: different fairly quick drawing paints, crayons, pastels, markers, colored papers, fabric scraps, glue, glitter glue (or for you traditionalists glitter and glue), feathers, colored sand, pebbles and other texture items.

The last thing you will need is a "ground" for your mural. This could be a variety of things depending on the size and scope of your mural and also whether the individual components will be returned to participants or whether the mural is permanent. If it is to be permanent, sheets of plywood or masonite attached to a frame might fill the bill. If it is not permanent, you may want to use a large bulletin board or sheets of insulation foam which are available at your local hardware store. Foam core would make a good ground for smaller murals. You could even attach the thing right to the wall. Draw a grid on your ground with squares the same size as your finished papers will be. Number the blocks on the ground lightly with a pencil.

You are now prepared to begin the mural. Give each participant one of the paper and envelope packets. Instruct them to draw whatever it is that they see on the piece of paper on the envelope. It is important that no one know what the final piece will look like (except for those coordinating the event of course.) The idea is to let the individuality of each individual come out, hence "many parts one body." Allow them to interpret what they are seeing however they wish in whatever media they wish. The only rule is that whatever they create must stay within the boundaries of the paper so that the piece will fit together at the end. As the pieces of the mural are completed, attach them to the corresponding spot on the "ground." The pieces while all different, should resemble the original drawing but much larger and more colorful. Display the piece as you present the lesson or message.

Many Parts, One Body Mural

Many Parts,
One Body Mural