Artist: Brooke Ochs
Title: Home Church
Media: Original Acrylic
Size: 24x24"
 
Artist Statment:When we had home church during the Covid Pandemic, I felt a new freedom to consider what I believed. Issues surrounding LGBTQIA+ people and women became larger and the pain I felt about hurtful church policies became more acute. For the first time in my life I was able to step away from weekly church meetings without guilt. And so, for the first time in my life I felt free to explore my spirituality. I found a great deal of nuance in my faith and I found so much love for people in the margins. Contrasting the confusion and pain that began to surround church teachings, home became a refuge of love and peace. My focus became teaching my children love and grace — our focus became the Savior and how He genuinely loves everyone. Home became our church. After the pandemic faded, we returned to church with all those questions and struggles, and home remains a haven and a joy.