“..if we acknowledge that beauty touches us intimately, that it wounds us, that it opens our eyes, then we rediscover the joy of seeing, of being able to grasp the profound meaning of our existence, the mystery of which we are part; from this mystery we can draw fullness, happiness, the passion to engage with it every day..”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, "Meeting with Artists"
the art
Beauty is what led me to encounter and believe. I was taught that God existed, but He seemed absent, so I was not convinced. Years into my indifference, I was struck by the order of the world—the intricacies of the human body and the distinct roles found in nature. It was clear that creation had to have been created. A higher power appeared necessary.
God was made visible to me through His creation, but my heart was still closed to Who He Is. I did not give Him a chance. The God I had learned about was someone I perceived to be selfish, controlling, and uncaring—I did not care if He existed.
He did not force me to choose Him, nor did He force me to see Him differently. Instead, He presented me with a new encounter of His Beauty. I traveled to Italy, and I was struck with awe as I viewed the majestic churches and sacred art. It was not so much an amazement with the expertise in skill, but with the meaning for its application. The art was made to glorify God. It was beauty created by men who perceived God differently than me, and it helped me to see Him through their eyes.
I did not yet understand, but I became open—ready to receive from the next who would come along to teach me about Who God Is and, therefore, who I am as His daughter.
My mission now, through various artistic expressions, is to share what I see—to invite others to encounter God through Beauty and be transformed by Him.
"..do whatever He tells you.."
John 2:5
the artist | MIKAYLA REED
Home: Vincennes, Indiana
Hometown: Minot, North Dakota
Part-Time: Director of Marketing & Donor Relations for Mary’s Refuge (follow @cloakedinlove)
Former: Campus Missionary with FOCUS - The Fellowship of Catholic University Students, 2012-2016
Degree: B.S. in Human Development and Family Science from North Dakota State University, December 2012
Instagram: @mikaylaruthcatherine
Facebook: @mikaylaruthcatherine
YouTube: Mikayla Koble
Blog: www.mikayla-ruth.blogspot.com
The Logo
My logo is my name, because in all that I do and create, I am offering myself.
My first name - Mikayla - is a feminine variant of Michael, which means, "Who is like God?" Like Saint Michael the Archangel, I want to communicate that we could never take the place of God, for we are not like Him in that sense. I also want to communicate that we were created in His Image, according to His Likeness (Genesis 1: 26). Though we cannot replace Him, we are meant to reflect Him.
My middle name - Ruth - comes from my maternal grandmother, who gave me early art instruction that the purple paint was not supposed to be applied to my arm (oops!). Its Hebrew meaning is, "companion, friend, vision of beauty," and the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament is one of my favorite stories -- filled with inspiration to Trust and act in Courage.
My confirmation name - Catherine - is from Saint Catherine of Bologna, the patron saint of art. She was a painter and writer in the 1400s. I was neither painting nor writing when I chose her many years ago, but I really cannot be surprised that I am now primarily doing both. The French meaning of the name is, "pure, clear."
The wing in my logo is meant to symbolize my role as a messenger. I desire for my entire life to reflect and communicate the Beauty, Truth, and Goodness of God -- whether it be through personal encounters, writings, or visual art.