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The Novelty Collective is more than just a festival—we are a community in support of making art accessible, illuminating its value, & empowering the artists who create it! Our moth logo was designed with a couple of our core beliefs in mind. These ideas continue to inspire us & inform our mission:

The Moth: Glacies coracina, also known as the Black Mountain Moth, is a rather unusual species. It can only be found at high altitudes in the highlands of Scotland where it spends most of its life in a humble state, crawling over rocks & lichen when it's cold & windy, only taking flight in June & July.

"Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. Those who humble themselves will be exalted."  – Matthew 23:12

The Decay: All twelve mentions of moths in the Bible are linked with references to decay & ruin, contrasting the value & longevity of earthly things with that which is eternal.

"Sell your possessions, & give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches & no moth destroys."  – Luke 12:33

The Thread: The golden thread stitched through the moth's broken wing represents the concept of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. The idea is that in embracing the mistakes & imperfections, one can restore a work of art to create something  more unique, more beautiful, & more valuable. Every gold "scar" becomes a prominent part of the piece & a testament to its resilience.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."  – 2 Corinthians 4:16

The Circle: As early as the Middle Ages, the golden halo motif was commonly used in Christian art to depict the holiness of Christ, as well as the saints. The thought that God can set apart unholy creatures for holy purposes—that you or I could be considered saints—is a captivating mystery.

"…being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance & patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness & transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son."  – Colossians 1:11-13

We have all been broken because of circumstances beyond our control, our own limitations, or others who have done us harm. We believe that it is not only possible but biblical to "become better for having been broken." The Novelty Collective community exists for broken, hurting people to come together & be renewed. We believe creative expression is not only powerful in its ability to connect, to unify, & to heal, but it also points to a greater hope—that one day all of creation will experience ultimate connection, unity & healing.