by Nancy Cupp, May 8, 2010
My mother was an Anderson College student in the late 1930s, working as a secretary at the Gospel Trumpet (now known as Warner Press). One day, as she was working, an artist came in and asked her what she thought of his work. She looked at it and fell in love with it. She directed him to the proper people at the Gospel Trumpet, and the rest is history. So, my mother is probably the first one to see Warner Sallman’s art at the Gospel Trumpet and encourage him to show it to the right people.
The story continues. Forward to 1953.
My father, Rev. Gerald R. Weaver, was a US Army chaplain stationed in Korea in 1953 along the 38th parallel, north of Seoul, Korea with the 57th field artillery of the 7th Infantry Division.
[Photo: US Army chaplain Gerald R. Weaver.]
My father was talking to an artist called “Jerry the Tramp.” Jerry was an army soldier that painted nudes on some of the soldiers’ lockers while he was stationed in Korea. My dad asked him to paint something inspirational and wholesome, instead of all the nudes he was doing. He gave him a small pocket print of Sallman’s Head of Christ, that Dad kept in his pocket.
Jerry surprised my dad by presenting him with a painted copy of Sallman’s Head of Christ, signed by Jerry, the Tramp. My father put the painting in the quonset hut they were using as a field chapel. The troops were thrilled with this picture of Christ. So this painting was used to inspire our troops in Korea.
When my dad returned to civilian life, he hung this painting in his office for years, until he gave it to me a few years ago. This painting is 23 x 30 inches on canvas. It is framed on plywood backing and is homemade, using materials they could find in the army in Korea. It is definitely a piece of history and nostalgia.
[Photo: Jerry's the Tramp's painting, inspired by Sallman's Head of Christ.]
Sallman’s art work is what I grew up with as a preacher’s kid. My dad was always carrying around Sallman’s pocket art, to give out to people. In a way, I am now carrying on that tradition, with my own artwork (www.nancycupp.com). I majored in art at Anderson University and now do Christian art that is being shown in churches. I recently painted one called The Broken Vessel that has had so many requests, that I had to start printing copies. I decided this year to start making prints of my art, so more lives can be touched with the Gospel. I write the story and scriptures on the back of my art work prints, so that God’s word can touch more people.
Some artists think it is terrible to make prints of art, because they want their original to be “one of a kind”. I have a different view. When, it comes to spreading the Gospel, it needs to be available to all. God bless Warner Press for making the Gospel available to so many people, not just those who can afford an original.
Romans 9:17 — For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.