Some of nature’s most stunning vistas aren’t found here on earth. Inspired by starscapes that include galaxies and nebulae, Imago Dei has done several amazing ceiling murals for clients who wanted a dramatic statement. These murals are air brushed by artists to replicate actual astronomical images obtained by high-powered telescope. The colors and patterns may seem wild, but these are the actual hues and designs of these features as carried lightyears across space.

For this stunning media room, designed by Keron Weathered of Designer Showcase for Bayou Bend Homes, miniature fiber optic lights were used for stars that actually twinkle and shine to make this ceiling mural come to life. We worked with the designer to make sure that a moving light shooting star was given its full potential as it occasionally blazes across the ceiling.

A distant nebulae was custom air brushed for this spectacular sectioned barrel vault entry into a game and entertainment area in a Houston residence designed by Vaishali Mody of Mody & Mody.

designershowcasehouston.com
http://www.customhomeshouston.com/
http://www.modyandmody.com/

http://twitter.com/ModyandMody

http://heritage.stsci.edu/gallery/galindex.html

http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/index.html

http://vimeo.com/5552144

Check out this film about sheltering your soul as well as people’s bodies, designing for the real world, Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of Rural Studio. Watch the trailer here. We’re inspired. Coming to PBS this summer.

ASID Gulf Coast Chapter is having a Showrise tour at Commerce Towers, 914 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002, February 13-14 and 20-21. $15 presale at www.asidtgcc.org. Hope to see you there. For more info and reservations, click here.

http://www.asidtgcc.org/

Flowers fade and candy boxes empty, but fine art lasts forever. This Valentine’s Day express your lasting affection with the gift of art. Available in original paintings or museum quality gallery-wrapped fine art prints. Check the Imago Dei store today.

This original Oil on Canvas, Ponti Vitorio Emanuele by Jamie Wells, is available, as well as fine art print on paper or canvas.

http://www.imagodeigallery.com/store.html

A recently completed project in a Houston area home included several ceiling domes and a groin vault done in a stylized Moroccan theme. The client want to bring Eastern patterns and mystique into their Western style home. These custom designs by Imago Dei’s Bella Stencil line were executed in natural and jewel tones adding an exotic ambiance that complements the interior design.

The recent tragedy in Haiti makes our many blessings standout in stark relief. As our heartfelt prayers go out to those in such desparate need, Imago Dei is partnering with Living Water to drill new wells in several Haitian communities for a permanent source of life’s most basic need: fresh drinking water. Click here to give.

Living Water Website

In a hands-on business that creates art, murals and decorative finishes that often employ ancient techniques and materials, you might think it strange that technology plays such an important role. At Imago Dei, everyone is tech-savvy and well armed. It’s all about the efficiency, accuracy and range of capability that has cemented this low tech – high tech relationship. From the beginning, Imago Dei has embraced this power. It would be hard to find a bigger Mac fans anywhere, most of the staff are equipped with mobile technology that allows for instant voice, data and visual communication between office and jobsite.

In all aspects of business: designing stencil art, developing prototypes for murals and paintings, even the actual mural art itself, accounting, client services, catalogs, inventories, process documentation, training, marketing and website—from pixel to paintbrush—the latest technology lets us do more, better.

The Houston Chronicle included Imago Dei in its beautiful coverage of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition event of last week. The Jan. 14 Life section had a special feature in which Mary Vuong covered the story of local famiy with 13 children who received a new home courtesy of the ABC show. Imago Dei was one of the local businesses who contributed time, talent and materials to the extreme event. The entire text of the article is included here.

Many volunteers who participated in the project were organized through area churches and faith-based organizations.

Behind the past week’s whirlwind construction of a house in Kemah by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was a Texas-size group of church goers hungry to volunteer.
Many said they were driven by the charitable nature of the popular ABC show, which custom-builds houses for deserving families across the country. The show’s cast and crew swept into the Bay Area last week to surprise the Beach family, who were living in a travel trailer parked behind their Hurricane Ike-flooded house. The family was sent to Disney World as thousands of volunteers descended on the site to raze the old house and erect and furnish a new one in just seven days.
“We think this is a really suitable and worthwhile family,” said Chris Seay, the Beaches’ pastor at Ecclesia Church in the Montrose area of Houston. “Day after day, you’re just overwhelmed by the love of this family.”
Seay has known Melissa and Larry Beach for about 15 years. Earlier this week he flew to Florida to officiate a “dream wedding” celebration for the couple, who have been married for 23 years. The couple has 13 children, nine of whom are adopted. They range in age from 23 years to 22 months.
The show’s episode featuring the Beaches is expected to air sometime in March.
“So many people are thrilled to see this up close,” Seay said. “I think there’s something very basic in all of us that wants to see what’s broken made whole. I think that’s what’s so appealing about this show.”
Jeremy Wells, an elder at Ecclesia, called it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to participate. He and wife Jamie — through their custom mural and faux finishes company, Imago Dei — offered art and donated the time, materials and labor needed to create a peeling plaster finish for one of the bedrooms.
“I just love the show,” he said. “I believe in what they do.”
That Wells and the lucky family attend the same church is a bonus. “I can’t think of a more deserving family for this,” he said.
Cary McDonald, a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Pearland, doesn’t know the Beaches personally, but she was happy to work in the chilly weather last Friday. McDonald helped build a walkway and install temporary fences. She also delivered refreshments to construction workers and collected trash.
“It was a new experience for me,” McDonald said. “I watch the show every Sunday, and I’ve always thought how neat that is for people to come out to support (others).”
Erika Steele, a parishioner at Clear Creek Community Church, described the scene as “organized chaos.” She is not a skilled laborer but jumped in to help whenever she could last weekend, such as unloading deliveries.
Hollis Baugh, who attends St. Christopher Episcopal Church in League City, served as the windstorm engineer on the project.
Seay hopes people remain excited to volunteer post-Extreme Makeover. “I hope that it spills onto the island,” he said. “There is still so much need on Galveston.”
When Chad Clarkson, pastor of church planting and missions at Clear Creek, learned of the project, he knew not to announce it during Sunday service. “I knew they wouldn’t be able to manage hundreds of volunteers” at once, said Clarkson, who instead posted the opportunity on the Web and sent out e-mail (which, of course, was forwarded to countless people).
But not everyone interested in volunteering has been able to. Jimmy Hemphill, a member of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Kingwood, and a seasoned volunteer at construction sites, signed up with other folks from Good Shepherd and First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood. But after driving to Kemah at the assigned time, they learned the show had overbooked the number of volunteers needed for that shift.
Still, Hemphill stayed positive last Saturday as he observed the construction site from across the street. As long as it all works out for the family in the end, he reasoned — and besides,isn’t it better to have too many volunteers than not enough?

mary.vuong@chron.com

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6816235.html

http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition

New home in Kemah

Last week in the pouring Texas rain the order was given to “Move That Bus!” Imago Dei owners Jamie & Jeremy Wells were thrilled at the opportunity to participate in the national phenomena of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to benefit a Kemah family.  Lead by Jeremy Wells, Imago Dei artists Eva Ann Shepherd and Rissa Thomas worked with other volunteers on the project. Although the details can’t be described or shown until after the airing of the show sometime in March, their contribution included custom plaster finish on the walls and four unique three-dimensional custom guitar display for one of the older children’s bedrooms. The guitar cases were built from wood, painted, distressed and then mounted to the walls where sound-actived lighting would light up from within when a guitar was lifted off the pressure sensitive switch. Other work included wall finishes in other rooms, assembling furniture and other detail work.

Jeremy Wells

That Wells and the fortunate family attend the same church is a bonus. “I can’t think of a more deserving family for this,” he said. Larry and Melissa Beach, who have been married for 23 years, have 13 children, nine of whom are adopted. They range in age from 23 years to 22 months.

The Houston Chronicle reported that thousands of volunteers “were driven by the charitable nature of the popular ABC show, which custom-builds houses for deserving families across the country. The show’s cast and crew swept into the Bay Area last week to surprise the Beach family, who were living in a travel trailer parked behind their Hurricane Ike-flooded house.” The old house was demolished and a new one erected and furnished in just seven days.

Chris Seay, Pastor of Ecclesia Church in Houston where the Beaches attend, said “So many people are thrilled to see this up close. I think there’s something very basic in all of us that wants to see what’s broken made whole. I think that’s what’s so appealing about this show.”

Eva Ann Shepherd

Beach family sees new home for first time

Crane at new home site

Extreme Makeover construction

http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition

Also featured in Houston Chronicle of Jan 14 in an article by Mary Vuong
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6816235.html

Extreme T-shirt

Please consider supporting the Hands & Feet Project. This is a wonderful group of people that we have supported for sometime and we can promise you that your support will be put to good use.

~ Imago Dei

DEVASTATION IN HAITI

“I’ve never been in a situation
where you feel so helpless,
fearful, and small.”

-Mark Stuart, via email from Cyvadier, Haiti

Donate Now

Earthquake in Haiti Causes Major Devastation
Hands And Feet Project Needs Prayer and Support!

We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of benevolent compassion we have been receiving from friends of the Hands and Feet Project regarding the current devastation as a result of the recent earthquake. Many of you are asking how you can help, even expressing the desire to pack your bags and head down to Haiti to start relief efforts today.  Because of the poor infrastructure of Haiti even before this catastrophe, it has been difficult to even get information on what the specific needs are at this time. In addition, the logistics of transporting workers and supplies to the affected areas are extremely complex. Roads have been damaged, and the Jacmel airport is currently closed. However, we are unyielding in our efforts to gather information and will be coordinating a relief and support effort as swiftly as possible. We need your help now more than ever.

Please pray. This is the most important thing you can do. We need God’s guidance, and the people in Haiti need His mercy. We will update the Hands and Feet website with specific requests as they come in.

Please give. As I’m sure you can imagine, the financial need is huge. Right now we are being presented with an unprecedented opportunity to glorify God and reflect the love of Jesus to the Haitian people. The people of Haiti need you to act on your compassion and donate now.  We will make sure that these funds make it to the areas most affected in and around the Hands and Feet Village.  To donate visit the Hands And Feet Donation page.  For the most current updates and more information, please visit our website at www.handsandfeetproject.org .

“Lord, we pray for your continued protection over the children and staff of the Hands and Feet village.  In these desperate times, we also pray for the entire country of Haiti – that through this rubble your people will rise to demonstrate your mercy through being the hands and feet of Christ. Amen.”

Kids at the Hands and Feet Children’s Village in Cyvadier. Thankfully,
no one in the compound was hurt.

Recent Updates from HAF Personnel…
(From Mark Stuart, currently visiting The Hands and Feet Children’s Village in Cyvadier, Haiti))
Everyone here is OK, but we are all very scared.  The buildings held up great, but there are several houses right around us that have collapsed.  Hotel Cyvadier had major damage, while the brand new three story “Peace of Mind” Hotel was demolished.

Francine, one of our teenage nannies was in afternoon school and escaped while the building was collapsing around her because she was sitting by the door. However, many of her classmates died yesterday.

Many houses and and buildings have collapsed in Jacmel including the hospital.  I know most of the news there is coming from Port au Prince, but there is substantial loss of life here on the south coast.  We need prayer for wisdom and strength.  Its very chaotic here.

We were able to buy diesel this morning and hopefully get more propane for cooking tomorrow.  Last night was crazy…slept on the dirt in the center of the village…away from the buildings.  Tonight we may venture back indoors, but that is yet to be decided.  We (only) go in and out to get necessities.

The Haitian people are numb, and sadly, very used to death. However, this has created what seems to be a hypnotic state.  I’ve never been in a situation where you feel SO helpless, fearful, and small.  The tremors are coming again as i type this. Whoa!!!”

Facebook post from Renee in Grand Goave
(I have) cried twice. Once when the orphanage began crumbling in the middle of the night. Again when I saw all of your comments. Thank you sooooo much for all your prayers. The earth is still shaking. I’ll write a more detailed note for whoever is interested, while we still have some electricity in our batteries to run the internet.