Art Inspired by Faith: New PBS Documentary Premieres This Weekend at Penn Center
'The Art of Believing' will be screening 1PM, Saturday, August 1 at Penn Center's Frissell Community House on St. Helena Island.
Editor's note: This Saturday, the Lowcountry gets a first look at The Art of Believing, a documentary I had the privilege of helping produce as associate producer, alongside Luke Frazier.
Inspiration can come from joy and from tragedy. That's at the heart of The Art of Believing, a 30-minute documentary on the ways faith and creativity intertwine in the lives of three Sea Island artists.
Produced by NOW Communications and Harden Creative, the film profiles Rev. Johnnie Simmons, Susan Stone, and John M. Bradley. A question-and-answer session and an artist reception follow the screening.
The Art of Believing Documentary Screening
Saturday, August 1, 2026 | 1:00 to 2:30 PM | Frissell Community House, Penn Center. RSVP here.
RSVP here: The Art of Believing Documentary Screening
Meet the Artists
Their stories are different, but they share a common thread: art as a way of processing, healing, and believing.
Rev. Johnnie Simmons, a self-taught Gullah folk artist and Vietnam veteran who found his way to pyrography after a moment of clarity during PTSD treatment. He now etches Gullah folk scenes and biblical imagery into wood, captioning much of his work in the Gullah language.
Susan Stone, a Port Royal-based artist, author, and healer whose life changed after being struck by lightning in 2010, an event she credits with opening a deeper spiritual awareness that shapes her art today. She's a Certified Crystal Healer, Reiki Master, and founder of The Arts Port Royal.
John M. Bradley, known for his large-scale spray-painted mural work, including a striking tunnel installation at the Technical College of the Lowcountry. Bradley calls his current practice "Ministry Art," pairing bold imagery with scripture to carry messages of faith.
Event Details
Saturday, August 1, 2026 1:00 to 2:30 PM
Frissell Community House, Penn Center Campus, St. Helena Island, SC
The screening is free, with a $5 suggested donation benefiting the York W. Bailey Museum. Afterward, stick around for a Q&A and artist reception with the featured artists, along with producer Luke Frazier and me.
RSVP now on Eventbrite: The Art of Believing Documentary Screening
Can't make it Saturday? The Art of Believing is scheduled to air on SCETV (PBS) this September, so the entire community will get a chance to see it.
In the News
A few outlets have already covered the film. Worth a read if you want more on the artists and the story behind the film:
- The Post and Courier: A new documentary explores roles of faith and creativity in work of Lowcountry artists
- The Island News: Penn Center to screen premiere of 'The Art of Believing'
- Lowcountry Weekly: 'Believing' In Art
- Hilton Head Sun: New documentary explores faith and art through Sea Island artists
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