CHAPTER 12 UNITY AND COHESION  THE ULTIMATE BLESSING Has there ever been a time in history characterized by perfect unity? Since Lucifer’s rebellion, our planet, perhaps our solar system and even our universe suffer disunity. Scripture tells us that one-third of the angels abdicated their God-given positions and joined forces with Lucifer.  Fast-forward to the first century, and we find the good angels announcing the birth of the Christ child: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will toward men” (Lk. 2:14). About thirty years later Jesus gives His disciples a pattern for prayer: “...Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth” (Lk. 11:2). He came to restore peace and the will of the Father by establishing His kingdom on earth, the re-creation of unity, harmony and peace. There are two workings of unity: The unity between God and man, and the unity between man and his neighbor. Until the day of its fulfillment (as seen in Revelation), disunity plagues humanity, resulting in our innate desire to restore unity. Creation, God’s art gallery, is not a random assemblage of matter, but the result of all things unified, categorized and ordered, synchronized and interrelated. Our Creator expresses His personality; He exposes His hankering for unification and the reconciliation of all things. God will put the devil and his following in their place through His relationship with His people (Rev. 20:10, Rev. 12:11). God will ultimately restore the unity that He had with Adam in the beginning. Amen!  These few Scriptures attest to the glorious truth of ultimate unity and restoration. “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD” (Num. 14:21). “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Rom14:11). “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Col. 1:20). WHY IS UNITY IMPORTANT? 1. BEAUTY: Aesthetics, the study of beauty, relies on unity, which is the visual cohesion of the parts that make up the whole. Everything must fit together with a purpose. Without visual unity, art lacks its ability to speak clearly. A work of art must posses a sense of meaningful relationships between its parts to be attractive. A striking example of this stunned me on the first day of summer. I was driving with the windows down. The sky was clear blue and the temperature was eighty. Stopped at red light, I heard a hit tune from the vehicle to my left. I turned to check it out - a spotless Jeep, Barbie in the passenger seat and Ken at the wheel, as if someone had just released them from the toy store. There they were, the jeep and the two very real and very beautiful people. They looked like matching dolls, unified - contrived aesthetics, a little plastic, yet picture perfect. 2. COMMUNICATION: The unified parts of an artistic work are more likely to communicate meaning than senseless chaos. Just as random clanging on a cymbal is meaningless, so random arrangements of the visual elements can be meaningless. The clanging cymbal requires a structured tempo to make sense in our ears. Likewise, visual unity carries an artist’s message. The psychological and spiritual meanings in art are conveyed through the magnetic arrangements of its parts. Magnetic arrangements? Yes, they are held together by a mutual veneration. The whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. For example, a thirty-second television commercial maximizes every millisecond of media flashing before your face to reach into your head, heart and wallet. Advertising prospers because every part of the commercial builds the whole. Unity communicates. How amazing to see two people at opposite ends of a busy room communicate with a glance, a raised eyebrow or the slightest expression. Why? They enjoy unity in their relationship. Their unity enables speaking without words. 3. SIMPLICITY: God gave Habakkuk His secret to advertising His vision. He told Habakkuk to “... Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it” (Hab. 2:2). If we want people to run, to be excited with our graphic messages we have to take God’s advice: “Make it plain.” Keep it simple. Build it unified and simple. The Apple Computer Company logo serves as a perfect example - a bitten apple. What connotations does that image conjure? Food for thought! 4. SATISFACTION: Unity quenches a thirsty soul and spirit. “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” these words of the Rolling Stones hit song, express the angst of emptiness and disunity. Unity comes from peace with God and others. This is the way to real satisfaction. The desire for friendship radiates from the center of the human spirit. We have a natural affinity for oneness with people. We scan the social landscape to make connections and live in community with those who are likeminded. Therefore, we quite naturally respond to imagery that satisfies us, imagery that smacks of succinct order. It feels good; it quenches the thirsty soul. CONNECTIONS Connections make for unity. A genius friend of mine became wealthy by inventing a connector used in the automotive industry. Vehicles around the world have his patented connector under their hoods. This small invention connects parts so that the whole assemblage of parts is a roadworthy machine.  Likewise, the inventor within the graphic designer must be a master of connection-power. He fits his picture pieces together; line, shape, form, texture and color become friends, living in harmony on the artist’s canvas. And when these visual elements are at odds, it’s the artist’s intentional inclusion of disunity to make a point. All of the goodness of unity, seasoned with the spice of disunity, heightens the visual and psychological impact. COMMON DENOMINATORS  Amos 3:3 asks a perfect question, which leads us directly to the central issue of unity: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Agreement, a commonality of some sort, pulls people into relationships. Golfers share golf stories and fishermen tell of the one that got away. Old folks commiserate over joint pain and bladder issues. Companions share their common denominators. The same is true in graphics. When one of the visual elements (color, line, shape, texture, form) is a common factor throughout a graphic work, the overall effect is unity. It produces a visual punch. In a sense, a predominant visual element is like a lead singer who is heard above the others. The many voices of a choir can make it difficult to comprehend the words; articulation is muddled. A soloist is clearly heard. This concept applies in the visual arts as well. Visual unity happens when the lead singer, the predominant visual element, can be heard above the music, back-up singers and the choir. Scanning eyes catch the wow-factor of unity and tune out the noisy clutter. WHATEVER UNIFIES BECOMES THE KEY TO UNITY What makes Gospel music Gospel music, or Hip Hop distinctively Hip Hop? First Corinthians 1:10 holds the answer: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Look at the words in this verse that pertain to unity: “the same thing...no divisions...perfectly joined together...same mind...same judgment.” The most repeated word is “same.” Sameness builds unity. Gospel music is Gospel because of the sameness, the shared characteristic that defines its category. The same-factor in the church, in creation and in creativity fosters unity, and unity is power throughout God’s word. Remember the unity at the tower of Babel, where everyone spoke the “same” language. “...They have all one language...and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” (Gen. 11:6). God confused their language because their purpose was not right. He dispersed them. Fast forward to Acts 2 where the disciples were in one accord. We find God blessed his sanctified ones with new languages and new hearing to reestablish communication and oneness. They could all hear the same thing. Unity is powerful. The point is that sameness establishes continuity with God, with others and in graphic design.  This image is “bent” to the curvature of the fisheye lens. This factor unifies the entire picture plan. The limited color palette also establishes a visual unity as well. The colors don’t have to get along with a multitude of hues. They only have each other.   The color palette of this book cover is limited, yet dynamic by virtue of the artist’s exclusive use of blues. See how the color sings the blues in perfect harmony with its backup friends, yellow, white and hints of green?  We are gripped by the simplicity of lines converging on the horizon line. Perspective overwhelms the viewer with a single destination. Devoid of all color, these monochromatic photos monopolize the use of contrast for their sense of unity.   This crackle raku glaze fractures the entire glassy surface of the pot. Although many warm hues randomly grace this form, its texture creates its wholeness. The pot is unified by one irresistible visual element, texture. One must touch this form with more than his eyes. It’s compelling.  This Mexican city is unified with several visual elements. Continuity of color intensity and the repetition of similar lines and shapes hang well together like good friends. This digitally edited photo also exudes unity because of the use of several Photoshop filters. It’s like wearing yellow sunglasses; everything is unified through yellow lenses.  Although this single subject image of a bike is unlike the busy Mexican street scene, the same unifying factors empower the wholeness of this photo.   Attitude is the connective element that fosters unity in the photos above. The colors and lighting style buzz about the images, but the playful attitudes of the teens capture the viewer. A personal identification with the imagery trumps the visual aspect of the photos. DIVERSITY WITHIN PARAMETERS A KEY TO UNITY God loves diversity. He actually builds unity in His church with the most unlikely and uniquely different characters. Rich Abraham and poor Lazarus, educated Isaiah and unlearned disciples, masters and slaves, Jews and Gentiles and ethnic blends like Timothy and Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus is not only the Son of David, He is the Son of Ruth, the Moabite, and the Son of a Canaanite harlot, Rahab. Wow! Paul was resolute about the need of diversity for perfecting, maturing and unifying Christians. He wrote Ephesians 4:11-13: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” According to this verse we need five, very different ministries to grow. A new Christian nurtured exclusively by only one of these ministries will grow up lopsided. Diversity is God’s idea, His way to perfection and maturity. This same truth applies in the arts. Unity needs to be accessorized with the diversity. I’ve met few women who thought they were fully dressed if not accessorized with color-coordinated jewelry, handbag and shoes. “In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity.” These good words set healthy parameters for unity in the body of Christ.  God loves diversity. He actually builds unity in His church with the most unlikely and uniquely different characters. Rich Abraham and poor Lazarus, educated Isaiah and unlearned disciples, masters and slaves, Jews and Gentiles and ethnic blends like Timothy and Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus is not only the Son of David, He is the Son of Ruth, the Moabite, and the Son of a Canaanite harlot, Rahab. Wow! Paul was resolute about the need of diversity for perfecting, maturing and unifying Christians. He wrote Ephesians 4:11-13: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” According to this verse we need five, very different ministries to grow. A new Christian nurtured exclusively by only one of these ministries will grow up lopsided. Diversity is God’s idea, His way to perfection and maturity. This same truth applies in the arts. Unity needs to be accessorized with the diversity. I’ve met few women who thought they were fully dressed if not accessorized with color-coordinated jewelry, handbag and shoes. “In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity.” These good words set healthy parameters for unity in the body of Christ. OVERLAPPING - A KEY TO UNITY When the parts of a graphic live in the isolated spaces on a picture plane, the overall effect lacks integration. The parts don’t hang together with the oneness of friendship. This principle of overlapping the parts of a graphic applies very specifically to commercial layouts for publication. When the individual parts of a graphic page are isolated from each other, it’s as primitive as cave paintings - a hunter here and a wild beast over there. These examples are loaded with overlapping layers of subtle transparencies. The parts of these graphics live together; they live on top of each other. Each is one graphic made up of interrelated parts, not isolated parts. People and graphic elements that live together should live in happy oneness.    When the parts of a graphic live in the isolated spaces on a picture plane, the overall effect lacks integration. The parts don’t hang together with the oneness of friendship. This principle of overlapping the parts of a graphic applies very specifically to commercial layouts for publication. When the individual parts of a graphic page are isolated from each other, it’s as primitive as cave paintings - a hunter here and a wild beast over there. s live together; they live on top of each other. They are one graphic made up of interrelated parts, not isolated parts. People and graphic elements that live together should live in happy oneness. CHALLENGE ONE Above all applications of unity, the unity of the Godhead is supreme. Matthew 3:16-17 illustrates the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in total agreement at Jesus’ baptism. The second most powerful unity is that between God and man. Scripture is full of great examples like Abraham, David, John the Beloved, the Apostle Paul, and others. We often disqualify Jesus, the Son of Man, because He was also the Son of God. However, He is the supreme example of One who emptied Himself to become human. Then as a human He was empowered with the Spirit to do the Father’s will. Jesus said, “I and my Father are one” (Jn. 10:30). At the close of His ministry, the man Jesus prayed for us in John 17:11; “That they may be one, even as we are.” “I in them and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me” (Jn. 17:23). These words of Jesus encourage us as we see how Jesus became one with the Father. “I can of mine own self do nothing” (Jn. 5:30). Jesus only said and did what the Father said and did. What a way to live! This is possible if we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and lead us. The third most powerful unity is between people. Our study of visual unity is far less noble than our ministry of unity in the body of Christ. “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous” (1Pet. 3:8). This verse speaks of four unity connectors: compassion, love, pity and courtesy. It is our job, by grace, “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eh. 4:3).  Herein is our challenge. Can you create a greeting card that builds unity, one that binds hearts with appreciation and love? An image and heartfelt words can be a huge encouragement. A beautiful image and prayerfully chosen words touch hearts. Words are powerful. Words can wound and kill, and words can heal and bring new life.  This student relied on original photography of candy canes and color editing in Photoshop. He could not settle on one image so he duplicated it and created four variations of a Christmas card.            Downloaded Photoshop brushes give these two Valentine cards a visual edge. CHALLENGE TWO - A UNITY OF WORDS AND IMAGES When we combine images and words in graphics, we communicate with precision. People easily connect with the visual aspects of graphics, while the verbiage carries a concise message.  1. We have two purposes in this challenge: a. to create a powerful unity between imagery and words in the form of a poster. b. to promote a greater unity between God and people. This is a rather broad goal; it’s a big target that should be easy to hit.  2. Choose a favorite quote or one of the following quotes to illustrate. “Complainers die in the wilderness.” “His piercings were not fashion statements.” “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Corrie Ten Boom “You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” “A miser isn’t much fun to live with, but he makes a wonderful ancestor.” Modern Maturity “The greatest advantage in being a misfit is that you are not easy to replace.” Alan Brine “Not only do we not know God except through Jesus Christ; We do not even know ourselves except through Jesus Christ.” Blaise Pascal “God desires to be loved by men, although He needs them not; and men refuse to love God, though they need Him in an infinite degree.” Plaintes Du Saver “We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.” Johann Wolfgang “He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.” Benjamin Franklin “The desire of love is to give. The desire of lust is to take.” Unknown Nature teaches us to love our friends, but religion our enemies.” Thomas Fuller “God loves with a great love the man whose heart is bursting with passion for the impossible.” William Booth “Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays.” Andrew Murry “He that loveth little prayeth little, he that loveth much prayeth much.” Augustine “Anything will give its secrets if you love it enough.” George Washington Carver “You can take nothing greater to the heathen world than the impress and the reflection of the love of God upon your character. That is the universal language.” Henry Drummond “Where love is, God is.” Henry Drummond “A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.” Leonard Ravenhill “An angelic life is spent between ascending in prayer to fetch blessings from above, and descending to scatter them among men.” Robert Leighton “Work as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God.” D.L. Moody “By the time the average Christian gets his temperature up to normal, everybody thinks he has a fever.” Watchman Nee “Prayer is not learned in a classroom, but in a closet.” E.M. Bounds “Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is still greater.” E.M. Bounds “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” Unknown “The Christian on his knees sees more than the philosopher on his tiptoes.” D.L. Moody 3. Pick a standard poster size so that framing will be easy. (11x14, 14x18, 16x20, 22x28, 24x30, 24x36) Create a dynamic poster that inspires with words and imagery that powerfully unite to speak volumes to your audiences. Your work could finds its way onto this webpage. CHAPTER 12 NUGGETS - UNITY AND COHESION - Disunity is the result of Lucifer’s rebellion. - Jesus came to restore unity between God and man. - God will ultimately restore the fellowship and unity that He had with Adam in the beginning. - Graphic unity is the visual cohesion of the parts that make up the whole. - Television commercials communicate so well because they maximize every second in a unified structure to sell their product. - Simplicity is a key in fostering unity. - People, generally speaking, have an affinity for oneness and unity with others. - An artist can purposely include disunity in his work to spice it up a bit. - Commonality builds unity in friendships. Commonality of visual elements builds unity in the arts. - Language is a unifier. - A graphic attitude and personality create a prevailing mood that unifies an image. - As God’s diverse people interact and share their unique perspectives and gifts, the body of Christ is unified. - Static unity can be boring, so it’s important to include a little sparkle of something quirky or at least appropriately interesting to keep your audience interested. - Overlapping layers of imagery is a key to visual unity. - The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is perfect. - The second most significant unity is between every individual and the Lord. - Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, is our perfect example who shows us the way to becoming one with Our Heavenly Father. - The third most powerful unity is between people.

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