For over 56 years we have worked to present in many art forms the truth of God’s call to awaken humanity to life. We have given our best efforts to express the Love and embrace of God to all who would consider our performances, poetry, stories, visual arts and media.
Why?
Society is fragmented, conflicted, and overwhelmed due to resisting the integration of spirituality with materiality. Contemplative practices which promote mental health and spiritual awakening are not included in most people’s lives due to the pressures of a production-consumption culture. Too few know the inner peace which frees their gifts and the optimism needed to relate to others and live fulfilling lives. They have not been given time or motivation to discover and nurture their true selves.
This makes creative and unitive thinking for society’s problems rare so that challenges become more complex and intractable. People need to engage their imaginations with literature and arts which introduce and encourage them to stop and awaken to the spiritual reality so neglected. This step beyond the normal constrictions results in behaviors and policies that create a better world.
Explore several ways you can support our work HERE.
Programs
We have evolved over the years from a performing arts based mission to a wider range of outreach currently working in five areas:
Writing
We offer a wide variety of original literature by our personnel including short stories, plays, poetry, novellas, art instruction, and essays. These are meant to encourage readers to discover their true selves and to grow as creators. At this writing we offer 14 books in e-book and print formats, publish monthly essays in two blogs, and distribute our poetry online in downloadable pdf’s. Explore Blogs: Sparking Imagination, Photo Musings. Explore Books HERE. Explore Poetry HERE. Explore Plays HERE.
Visual Arts & Crafts
We produce visual arts and crafts to supplement our message of spirituality, contemplative life and encouragement for personal development. Every blog post and almost every poem is published with a visual art component to amplify the reader’s contemplation. These images are also made available for purchase to further engage our constituents and help support the organization. We design crafts projects which are downloadable to print and assemble as a hand activity aiding contemplation of the message. Explore Crafts HERE. Explore Visual Arts HERE.
Art Conversation Events & Videos
We create opportunities for conversations which lead to creations around which more conversations happen, inspiring new creations. Events can be directed by leaders from our organization or self-directed using our materials. They can span a series of meetings or one-time events. The variety of genres include “Group Aloud”, exploring the benefits of reading stories and plays as a group, “Film Gallery Cafe”, using short films and the display of materials used to make them, “Word Show”, using theater skills such as script analysis, character development and improvisation to explore literature and scripture, “But Now I See”, workshopping contemplative photography for anyone with any kind of camera, and “Your Table of Creation”, following our book about the creative process in any field of endeavor. Explore Conversation Events HERE. Explore Instructional Videos HERE.
Short Art Films
Short films employ visual arts, poetic spoken word and rich sound tracks of music and sound effects. The films are intended to stimulate conversation and contemplation. These are used to stimulate discussion in a setting called The Film Gallery Café where the artwork used in the films is also on display and the producers are available to converse with. Explore this area HERE.
Your Table of Creation, book and workshop
A contemplative coloring book that takes the reader through learning about the creative process. The book is available to purchase in print and as e-book, and also as the foundation for discussion groups, workshops and retreats. A video series with the author, Mark Turner, follows the outline of the book accompanied by various graphics. Explore this area HERE.
Explore several ways you can support our work HERE.
Founders
Mark and Donna Turner founded Horizon Gate in 1980 after eleven years touring North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand as performing artists and producing films in Brussels, Belgium. They have worked full time practicing and leading the arts for 56 years.
Since Horizon Gate’s inception the Turners have produced dramatic, documentary and training films, stage plays, audio theater, visual arts, and literature in many cultures spanning five major regions of the world. As arts leaders and teachers they have guided corporations, mission organizations and many church denominations into innovations of communications and outreach. Countless artists have benefited from their counsel and example, some of whom have gone on to form their own organizations.
Mark and Donna have served on the staffs of large churches handling primary communications vehicles and leading arts programs.
Mark’s books can be browsed and purchased HERE and his artwork HERE. Donna has been developing photography as a way of sharing the beauty of Creation. See her photos and musings HERE. She is also sought after for her knowledge in natural health which can be accessed HERE.
Horizon Gate Productions is a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of California. We received our 501(c)(3) tax exemption in 1981. All donations are tax-deductible.
We are governed by a board of directors under the leadership of Mark Turner, President and Artistic Director, and Donna Turner, Vice-President and Producer.
Explore several ways you can support our work HERE.
Contact
e-mail: info at horizongate.org
