FARGO — This Christmas, Justin Morken has transformed the festive atmosphere at Hope Lutheran Church through his unique liturgical art. A prominent figure in the local crafting community, Morken has been instrumental in the artistic vision of the church, balancing both secular and spiritual elements. As the director of technical arts for the past 15 years, he has consistently brought creativity and depth to the church’s Christmas services.
Each year, planning for the Christmas decorations begins as early as July. Morken collaborates closely with the pastoral staff to determine themes, moods, and scripture readings that will resonate with the congregation. This year’s theme, “A Thrill of Hope,” inspired Morken to delve into the etymology of the word “thrill,” which translates to “pierce.” He explained, “There’s lots of piercing imagery in both the Christmas story and certainly in the story of Christ. I wanted to capture what a piercing hope might be.”
The centerpiece of Morken’s installation is a series of lanterns designed to cast light and shadows throughout the church. The main lantern consists of three parts: a half dome depicting earthly nativity figures like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men, and an upper section featuring heavenly figures such as angels and stars. Suspended between these two elements is the Christmas star, symbolizing the connection between Heaven and Earth through Christ’s birth.
Morken employs advanced techniques in his creations, utilizing a laser cutter to shape 180 individual pieces from thin plywood. Each installation is crafted in triplicate for the church’s three campuses, ensuring a cohesive experience across locations. The installations also feature LED lights that change color and intensity in harmony with the Christmas services.
“I turned my home this year into a factory,” Morken shared, noting he has dedicated approximately 16-hour days for the past month to complete the project. He attributes his artistic talents to his upbringing, being the son of an art teacher and a homebuilder. This diverse background has allowed him to explore various creative outlets, from furniture-making to sound system design.
Morken acknowledges that while he invests significant time and effort into these installations, their lifespan is brief. “I don’t feel bad about taking it down. The art participates in the service. This is Christmas art for Christmas,” he explained. Once the season concludes, he aims to repurpose the materials or find new homes for the pieces, with the exception of some works like the rebar crucifixes designed for the Lenten season.
The creative process for Easter art installations presents unique challenges compared to Christmas. Morken noted that Christmas comes with high expectations regarding songs, decorations, and color schemes, while Easter offers more freedom for artistic expression. “There’s not a lot of popular culture demanding things ahead of time,” he said, allowing for greater latitude in creativity.
Despite the demanding nature of his work, Morken feels a profound sense of gratitude this year. A back surgery he underwent last year limited his ability to physically create and install the artwork. He relied on friends, including fellow artist Jesse Suppa, for assistance. “I was in a very vulnerable state that year,” he recalled. “It was probably one of the smallest pieces I’ve done, but it turned out incredible.”
Now fully recovered, Morken is eager to showcase his work to the church community. “I haven’t been this excited to make art in a long time,” he remarked, expressing joy in being able to contribute to this year’s celebrations. He appreciates the positive impact his art has on the congregation, stating, “I love hearing that the art is a reason for people to invite their friends to Christmas, or that it makes people excited to be a member here.”
Morken’s artistic contributions have established a cultural expectation within the Hope Lutheran community, where art is valued and appreciated. “As an artist, to have a patron and an audience — that is all you can ask for,” he concluded.
