“But hold fast what you have till I come.”

The Book of Revelation opens with a compelling vision of holiness, light and intimacy.  The author John describes his vision of Jesus Christ standing amidst seven golden lampstands, which represent the seven churches in Asia Minor to whom the book is written.

From his place among the lampstands, Jesus admonished, commended, and made promises to each of the seven churches. Leslie’s art installation of seven woolen garments, entitled Hold Fast, reflects each of the seven churches and communicates a portion of their story, warning and welcoming us into a larger narrative.

Where are we rooted? Where are we going? What do we hold on to? What holds us back? What propels us forward? How do we piece ourselves together? What—or who—are we becoming? To what—or whom—are we holding fast?

Art Performance Program*

• Art Performance (45 minutes)
• Group Reflection and Q & A with Leslie (45 minutes)
• Post-Performance Reception with Refreshments (30 minutes)

*Note: the Hold Fast art performance will run twice on Saturday, November 16. Please plan to attend at either 2:00 pm or 7:00 pm. Both performance times will follow the same program.

Leslie Iwai is an installation artist and sculptor. With an undergraduate degree in mathematics and chemistry from Wayne State College in Nebraska and a Master of Architecture from Virginia Tech, her work is multidisciplinary and material rich. From the Midwest, Iwai cut her artistic teeth in Omaha, Nebraska. Leslie was the first recipient of the Bemis Community Arts Fellowship (2005), and most recently was the Artist in Residence for Urbana 2018 amongst many other awards and residencies. She now enjoys living and exploring Wisconsin with her husband where she makes art, collaborates, and connects with her local community.