Find Art All Around Orange County Florida
Sponsored by Arts & Cultural Affairs
Featured Work
Pioneer Beginnings
Window/Panel (INTERIOR)
Central Christian Church
About the Artwork
This window, one of a series of 16 in the church, represents the historical roots out of which grew the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the early 19th Century American frontier. The center suggests the "big three" of the movement: Thomas Campbell, his son Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott. These three represent the Pennsylvania branch of the movement which preferred to call itself the Disciples of Christ. The rugged pioneer spirit is represented around the figures and extends to the left panel with frontier scenes including a covered wagon, wooden buildings and a gathering of pioneer folk.
The right panel is a Kentucky frontier scene showing Barton W Stone, "Racoon" John Smith, and other prominent figures in the struggle of the frontier church to realize a uniquely American Christianity without the divisive histories and creeds of the European churches. The Kentucky movement preferred to be known simply as "Christian", considering all other names as non-biblical.
These two branches, Christians and Disciples, joined in 1832 at Lexington, Kentucky to form one stream thus giving us our name; the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
One of the first apologists and historians of the Restoration Movement was a New Castle, Pennsylvania industrialist, Thomas W Phillips, who assisted in funding the "Christian Publishing Association," and who wrote the widely read book, The Church of Christ. His portrait is found in the upper right hand corner of the right panel. He was the father of Grace Phillips Johnson who donated the series of windows.
Did you know?
Todd Warner created a different whimsical animal scene for each level of the Orlando aiport's garages, in part to help people remember where they are parked.
Discover Art in Central Florida!
For those who have eyes to see, there are hundreds of works of art around them.
This web site provides some information on many of those works of art that can
be regularly viewed in Orange County by any member of the public without an
admission fee. They are outside in public view, or located in an interior area
that is normally open to the public.
Look around this web site and find something that interests you. Then go see it
in person. The information you find here will add to the pleasure of exploring
public art in Central Florida.
If, in your travels around Orange County, you come across some public art that
is not listed here, please let us know so we can add it. If you are aware of
additional information about art or artist that is included here, again, please
let us know. Together we can make this an incredible resource for people seeking
to spice up their life through exploring art.