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GREENSBORO — The sculpted and painted figure, with colored wire for arms and the words “trust” and “dream” placed near the heart, has a textured crinoline skirt.

“Free the Wild Woman” by artist Dori Jalazo of Greensboro — part of an upcoming art walk through Holy Trinity Episcopal — celebrates “who you are and where you are,” according to the artists’ description.

“The church could have chosen to give itself a party,” said artist Kathryn Schnabel, who is coordinating the placement of paintings, pottery and photography contributed for the congregation’s 100th anniversary celebration.

“Instead, it offers the community a gift.”

Over two weeks, Holy Trinity’s “Sacred Space for the City: A Celebration of Arts and Spirit,” includes 10 local artists, eight musical events, four local author signings and receptions — free and open to the public.

For the art walk, local artists were asked to contribute work that spoke to spirituality.

“Art stirs the soul,” said the Rev. Tim Patterson, the pastor. “We want to offer our labyrinth, meditation garden, bookstore and cafe, our space in general for local artists, for music, for our neighbors in Fisher Park and downtown, and for anyone seeking beauty, cultural enrichment, spiritual renewal and sanctuary.”

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After a century, Holy Trinity, remains steeped in the tradition of community service and social responsibility.

“As long as I’ve been working with people at the margins of society in Greensboro, the people of Holy Trinity have been in the forefront of those who encourage and support that work,” said the Rev. Mark Sills, executive director of the FaithAction International House.

The church is one of the fastest-growing parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, which covers 39 counties in central North Carolina.

“What I love about here is the full spectrum politically, socially and economically,” said Ruth Anderson, a member for two decades and the director of the Servant Leadership School.

“So sitting on my left will be someone conservative politically, and on my right someone beyond liberal ... but we have the capacity to get to what’s important.”

Along with Temple Emanuel and First Presbyterian, the congregation started the Fisher Park Community Program, feeding and tutoring needy children back in the 1970s.

Holy Trinity was heavily involved in forming the Guilford Regional AIDS Interfaith Network and Higher Ground in the early 1990s when some people with AIDS experienced rejection rather than compassion and care from their churches.

The congregation also has led collaborative efforts in establishing the Barnabas Network furniture ministry, Environmental Stewardship Greensboro and a neighborhood garden, and is currently guiding an effort between churches and community agencies to coordinate emergency assistance and longer-term solutions.

Patterson has been a visionary along the way.

“He sees the church as an agent of social and cultural change and a healing force,” Anderson said.

Though Holy Trinity has faced challenges, the congregation has found ways to heal.

When Episcopal churches began to get questions and angry telephone calls over the ordination of their first openly gay bishop, priests at Holy Trinity set up a special Sunday school to address the issue.

“I think their legacy is in finding creative ways that really do engage people in issues — not always having to fix them but to engage people in problem solving,” said presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

The Greensboro Episcopal Housing Ministry, which they championed, folded in 1998 after a string of poor business decisions

“That failed, but we were able to bring it in for a soft landing, and no one was put out of their house,” Patterson said.

“Will everything be a success? No.”

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From its music school to its architecture, Holy Trinity has long had a love affair with the arts. As part of the art walk, a Gothic archway from sculptor Jim Gallucci has been installed at a boundary of the church property.

“You feel like you are entering a spiritual portal,” Gallucci said of “Digital Gothic Gateway,” which is made of ground stainless steel.

Print maker Maryanna Williams contributed an “Italian Beauties” series, from female images in Renaissance paintings.

“These Madonnas embody the iconic quality of women for me — inner wisdom, calm and strength and communicate a quiet, intense spirituality,” Williams said.

A friend sees something else. It is the kind of connection between art and soul that organizers hope to spark.

“She said, 'You know, these are you searching for your mother,’” said Williams, whose mother died when she was a baby. “It never occurred to me.” 

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com