GARDEN GROVE, CA (ANS) -- A diamond in the rough was my initial reaction to an art exhibit held at Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA.

The funny thing is that it was not the scheduled exhibit, Let There Be  Light, which was the diamond; rather, it was a non-publicized collection of art by George Chann that caught my eye, and rather impressed my artist friend, Jeff Lefever, and myself.
 

Brian Nixon in front of a George Chann painting

After viewing the illustration-based art in the Let There Be Light exhibit, I thought, “My kids would sure like this!” The art was well-crafted realism, largely from some of the popular artists in the Christian illustration world: Ron DiCianni, Tim Solliday, Thomas Blakshear, and Michael Dudash, among others. The themes, as expected, were Biblical: Noah’s ark, angels, Biblical stories, nature, Jesus, and such.

Most of the art was technically advanced, indicative of illustration-based art. Yet, here in lies the problem, at least for me.

After viewing the art I felt that the artists left little for the imagination, of pondering and probing; they spelled everything out for me in nice, clean lines and colors. Overall, the exhibit lacked vigor, power, and as another artist friend of mine, John Shaffer, stated, sophistication (largely due to fact that many images in the exhibit were commissioned works).

This may sound funny, especially when talking about Biblical-based art (which should have power and depth), but I thought this exhibit was too predictable and sterile. Hence the reason I thought my kids would like it: familiar themes with nice art. It was like looking at picture books or greeting cards.

I admit that the technical ability of some of the artists was impressive (Blackshear being the most impressive), but I felt that the lack of penetration in capturing a real-life, human, or even, mysteriously divine, quality was missing.

After walking out of the exhibit Jeff and I discussed the art. He suggested that we walk around the beautiful grounds of Crystal Cathedral so he could take pictures.

George Chann

On our short walk, we stumbled upon George Chann’s art around the corner from the main exhibit (which was being held in the impressive new Visitor Center building).

When I saw Chann’s work, I thought to myself, “Now were on to something.”

Unlike the Let There Be Light exhibit, the Chann collection was not sterile. Rather, it had depth, power, and Biblical explosion.

If you are like me, you have never heard of George Chann. A small plaque by the art at Crystal cathedral stated that he was from a missionary-ran orphanage in Stockton, California and a prolific artist.

As it turns out, George is a wonderfully complex individual. According to a website biography on him, he lived in Northern California, and at some point had to choose between art and the ministry. He choose to minister through his art.

He entered the Los Angeles Art Institute (then known as the Otis Art Institute) in the years 1934-1936. After graduation, he joined the faculty.

Painting from George Chann

Throughout the 1940’s, Chann was featured in several prominent museums: Legion of Honor (San Francisco), San Diego Fine Arts, M.H de young Museums (San Francisco), and the Los Angeles County Museum, among them.

In 1947, Chann went to China to get in touch with his cultural roots. There, he met his wife to be, Yvonne Chun. After the communist take-over, Chunn, with his wife, returned to the United States, settling in San Francisco, CA.

Though the Crystal Cathedral described his style as Impressionistic, it is certainly not. He is very much in the Expressionistic school, with hints of the artists, George Rouault and Emil Nolde, found in his work.

It was during the 1950’s that Chann began his series of Biblical paintings, eventually donating all 250 to the Crystal Cathedral. The collection housed in the Crystal Cathedral is called the Bible Series.

And to tell you the truth, it is worth the visit to the Let There Be Light exhibit (though it is not part of the exhibit). True, you will find some beautiful paintings in the Let There Be Light exhibit, but do yourself a favor and go around the corner to see depth, beauty, and haunting images that profoundly represent the heart of a man, and the story of God.

Brian Nixon is a pastor, writer, musician, and family man. He currently resides in Costa Mesa, California.