This is Sleepers ‘Wake number 38.

I created this Sleepers ‘Wake in correlation with a piece of music written by my dad, Leonard Payton. 

In January of 2023, I arranged a new setting, heavily inspired by Michael E. Owens (genevanpsalter.com). While working through the arrangement, I found myself having difficulty sleeping as I choreographed a dance, of sorts, that followed the music. The dance was not performed by people though. It was performed by pencil, pastel, marker, and brush strokes in collaboration with symbolism. 

If you scroll down, you can view a video of the dance.

Some of the symbols are pretty obvious. For example, in verse one, “King Herod” is sung as I draw a three pronged crown. A minute later, I sing, “seeks not the kingdoms of this earth,” as I trace Herod’s crown a second time.  The letter ‘E’ is written as I sing about “the eastern sages.” Immediately afterwards, I sing about the “guiding star” they follow, as I fill out the star which doubles as a map compass. Then there is the blue watery area, symbolizing “the Jordan’s sacred flood.“ A cross is drawn through the middle, as I sing about “He to whom no sin was known.” More blue is added, but then some red and purple as we hear the words, “water reddened into wine.”

Some of the symbolism would be impossible to guess, however, unless you are very deeply familiar with my work. 

This image is a part of my Sleepers ‘Wake series. It’s a very lengthy and ongoing artist statement. You can read the whole thing at www.aprilparviz.art/#/sleepersawake

For now I’ll just explain that the very tall point coming out of the bottom section often symbolizes the death of something old. As I draw that peak, I sing about when Christ’s appearing “was made known.” 

The point just above it often symbolizes the birth of something new. As I draw that point, I sing about He who offers “heavenly birth.” Then in verse three I sing the lyrics, “might cleanse His people from their own [sins]” as I draw three little cognitive distortion burrs. I include these symbols in a lot of my work as I attempt to organize the various thoughts flowing in and out of my head. Health.Harvard.edu defines cognitive distortions as internal mental filters or biases that increase our misery, fuel our anxiety, and make us feel bad about ourselves. When I first was being trained on how to identify these little brain-bugs, I thought, “oh my goodness! This is Satan’s language. And it’s in my head!” So I sing for Christ to cleanse me from my sins as I draw three little cognitive distortions.

As I sing, “so this His glad Epiphany,” I paint a golden ring around the map compass, transforming it now into a new symbol I’ve been using lately which I call a “reproof.” I’m new at describing how the reproofs fit into my pieces, so this will be sloppy, but without listening to God’s reproofs, we often fall back into the bottom portion of the piece - the asleep part. (Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. Proverbs 10:17) But if we listen to God’s reproofs, we get to experience epiphanies after epiphanies, and we are alive in Christ! And we get to live in the top portion of the piece - the awake part. (If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:23)

All glory unto Jesus be. Who with the Father we adore and Holy Ghost forever more!

The Dance of When Christ’s Appearing Was Made Known: