This presentation invites to you make an art work on one of our five themes. The National Association of Teachers of RE will give some prizes to the winners. See more details on our web art gallery at

 ‘Art in Heaven is an annual competition for pupils in RE that gives you a chance to be creative and imaginative. It is all about spiritual ideas and your skills  There is a wonderful web art gallery. If you enter this year, perhaps your picture will be on the gallery next time. Have a look, and choose some favourites of your own from the gallery.  Teachers and pupils are warmly invited to join in with their own ‘Art in Heaven’. The closing date is 31 st July 2008.

 Art in Heaven has five themes for Your teacher will choose a theme with you for you to enter. Have a look at some work from each theme now.  The themes are: ◦ Mystery! On life’s big spiritual puzzles ◦ Open Minded! About how we get a big vision ◦ “Life is sacred” To do with the priceless gift of living ◦ Justice for Everyone: looking for a fairer world ◦ Who is God? Trying to express insights into the divine

“This piece shows my soul. I have drawn my soul using colour and shapes. The different shapes represent different aspects of my personality. The plants singing my youth because they are small and have no flowers because they haven't reached oldness yet and have buds.” John is 16 MYSTERY

“Based on the six main religions as subjects (Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Hinduism). All religions are the same but different so I moulded all the symbols into 1 in the very middle. Equality but also differences. I decided to make my piece of work a design that you had to look into hard to see things - just like religions. I think I have achieved this look by scattering related pictures around the six sections to create a collage effect. I used a Sun at the side of my design, as a light that everyone is aiming for, our goals in life. I created a border including things to do with religions. For each religions I chose two images: Sikhism: Kirpan and Khanda – among the five Ks and is sacred to Sikhs still today Judaism: Menorah - At special times (Seder Meal), Jews make sure they have one on display. Torah Scroll - a way of teaching and includes special Laws. Christianity Angel - spiritual beings that some people believe are messengers from God. Crown of thorns – worn by Jesus when he was crucified. Hinduism Lotus - A water Lily that Hindus believe are a sign of Purity. Fire - used a lot in Hindu worship of Siva, symbolising controlled destruction Buddhism Yin-Yan - This is the Chinese Buddhists symbol for peace Islam Globe - I used this to show that Islam was a world spread religion. Star and Moon - This was the main sign of Islam, as I mentioned earlier I used this as a sign of individuality. Fiona, girl, age 12 OPEN MINDED

Two worlds in two trees Eliot, Age 9 “This picture is all about good and bad using bright and stormy colours for the trees and sky to show things that are dead or alive. To make the image I used paint. I am proud of my work because I put a lot of effort into it. The main point of the image is to show that there is a good and bad way of living. I have thought a lot about a Fairer World and would like to say that I feel sad for the poor they should be helped a lot more.”

Yellow Jesus Alanta, Age 6 “My picture is about Jesus dying on the cross. He looks very sad, but later he was happy. When I am sad, I think of Jesus. It is based on a painting by Paul Gauguin called the yellow Christ, that's why it is yellow.”

 “This picture and poem is a prayer for the unborn child from the mother. It uses the theme of ‘life is Sacred, but from a spiritual point of view rather than a religious argument.”  Daisy is 14

 Who is God? What do you think? Is God a person like us, or completely different? What image will express your ideas? Atheists and agnostics may say ‘God is nobody’ or ‘God is a person no one knows’ Different religions say some things similar and some different about God’s identity. What do you have to say about this, and how will you express it artistically?  Look at the next four pictures to see how some others have done it.

 Jumping up to God By Ethan, Age 6  “Up in heaven there is God. All of these are planets and God made them. I am jumping up to give God a flower from the hill. God looks just like me.”

 Where's God When You Need Him? By Hannah, Age 12  When you ask a strong believer in God why are all these people suffering in the world they would probably say "they're being tested by God to make them a better person". I disagree. I'm agnostic. Why are people being tested to death when they probably don't deserve it?  The white/yellow circle around the boy's head is where I believe God should be (hence the Godly colours) looking over this poor, hungry, suffering, dying boy's shoulder caring for him.

 Who is God? By Rebecca, Age 14  “Fish have no certain knowledge of what is outside the pond. In the same way, we humans cannot literally find God. We have to be content that he is watching us and protecting us, like the man on the side of my pond.  The stone falling into the pond can be interpreted as all the bad things that fall unexpectedly into life, but could also stand for something heavenly, falling from the realms of God like a miracle.  The Earth asks Where is God? Who is he? Because we cannot leave the fishpond alive, we cannot find God unless he reaches down to us, as I believe he did with Jesus Christ. We must find God through the things he does on earth.”

 You have seen a lot of examples of the brilliant entries to the Art in Heaven competition.  Now think over your own idea, beliefs and skills  Plan to make a super entry of your own, to send in before the end of the summer term  Write a note about how good it is – you can use the prompts we suggest.  All the best!  Don’t forget - you can see hundreds of interesting entries and other winners on the web gallery