Birthed in the early winter of 2003, Maranatha is the collective pseudonym representing the collaborative work produced through a variety of artists coupled with its founding creative duo (yours truly), the Brothers Wright. Inspired by the thought that Pythagoras was actually a collective of Greek scholars dedicated to the pursuit of their goals, found in the common purpose of their work; rather than to the vain pursuits of the individual, seeking self-gratification through personal recognition. The statement itself is Aramaic, translated (depending upon context) either to say, “The Lord comes.” or, “O Lord, come!” Our purpose is founded in this single self-effacing notion lying at the foundation of our art.

        Prior to its conception, Brandon and Brian Wright had already been working together for a number of years. Their interest in photography began in High School and eventually took its form as music/rock photography soon after, in their early adult years. As their passions for both music and photography grew through the years, so also did their artistic and technical capacity therewith. Nearly completely self-taught to that point, they decided to seek some form of formal education and enrolled in the advanced photography program at Palomar College.
        Since, they have both grown creatively and intellectually, with their strong rooted appreciation for art, philosophy and religion, pursuing more intently photography in its application as a fine art. When the question of authorship eventually arose, the answer seemed to come quite naturally. It felt nearly impossible to separate their creative abilities, without it having a subsequent effect, detrimental to the quality and nature of the work itself. The Idea of a collective pseudonym seemed to fit perfectly.

        When we work, together or apart, we do so in symbiotic manor; though not always agreeing, always working in union with our parallel approaches moving towards a single cooperative end. During a shoot it is not uncommon for one of us, assisting the other, to be inspired and for our active roles to be smoothly and effortlessly exchanged, so that in the end when we look at the proofs, we cannot find where one of us stopped shooting and the other began. Even on work shot separately, it is still sometimes hard to determine which one of us it was that actually shot it. Many times we will even come up with the same idea at the same time, so that verbalizing it fully is of no consequence. We have faith in the continued existence of this union, for it has lasted now 22 years (longer than most modern marriages). May God, in His good favor, grant us with such blessed lasting marital unions?

        We consider any opportunity we may have received up until this point, not to be that due to us, based on some suitable accomplishment, but rather a generous honor, disproportionate to our actual credit. Our work is by no means complete and the full realization of our artistic vision seems to be sill ever further off. Although, we know we have just begun to scratch the surface of what God may have for us, so we are excited for what lies ahead.
        And we look forward; working with and deriving inspiration from fellow artists and close friends alike, who’s relationships we find to be of instrumental value toward anything we could ever conceivably achieve, though they be frail in comparison with the intrinsic value of our ever-developing relationship with and understanding in God. Anything we can do in and of ourselves, without the power and direct inspirational guidance of He who created and upholds all things created, is in essence and shall always be so utterly futile.
        “Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does, the better.”–Andre Gide (1869-1951)
        What we create is only an expressive extension of who we are and is thus formidably limited by our own incompetence and inadequacy to perceive what it is that is good, purposeful and true.
        “For, of a truth, thoroughly to know oneself, is above all art, for it is the highest art.”–Theologia Germanica, CH. IX (author unknown)
        For until that art is mastered, through an abandoning relationship with Christ, our art will always be, as a result, limited through our own incomprehension of that which is truly essential. Only then, when we finally define ourselves wholly in Christ, shall we truly know ourselves; then we shall know Him who knows all; all that is good, all that is real, and all that is true (including that in ourselves); just as we too, truly are known.
        “Give up yourself, and you will find your real self.” “Even in literature and art, no man who bothers with originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.”–C.S. Lewis in Beyond Personality
        And so is it our hope for it to be so with our own art. So that, whether our aim should be to convey the truth of a universal or only that of a particular, we would be as honest and forthcoming as possible in doing just that, conveying truth. We cannot allow the opinions of others or cliché social trends to determine our actions or guide our perceptions concerning thereof. For art for the sake of art; wherefore, we create strictly for the sake of appearances (not considering the application or fundamental value of the work); is a complete and absolute waste of intelligence and God given ability! Conception and design with a defined and purposeful end are among those intrinsic virtues that make “art” the meaningful form of expression, communication and in its true application, worship, that it potentially can be. That is our hope!
        Know God! Know yourself! Stand for truth! …Or do nothing at all…for such shall be your trustworthy commission for a life stayed without sense or direction.