SJUMC was recovering from a divisive conflict over church property, finances, and church leadership. Working with pastor Motoe Yamada Foor (SJUMC pastor, 2009 to present), the artist created The Garden Series to help the congregation imagine a new future through playing. While it was the pastor who came up with the metaphor of the garden, it was my mother’s role to translate the concept into art. She engaged children and adults in creating an indoor garden (made from wood, fabric, and paper) during worship over four weeks. The series visually mimicked the changing seasons to reflect the themes
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