art as a powerful expression for Christians

This is a minor reworking of a previous post entitled should art have a place in the church.

I don’t think that it is an overstatement to say that art has power. It has the power to move and shape our understanding as both individuals and collectively. The power in art partially comes in the reality the makers of art are in some way showing forth or imaging forth the creator God in their creating. They are acting as little representatives of the truth that God is a good who creates. All art in some manner tells something about God and good art by Christians intentionally tells other about God.

As I continue to work through and pray about the development of Ktizo a community of Christian artists I want to highlight three ways in which art is able to tell about God. These three are: reflection, illustration and illumination.

Reflection - The first thing we encounter in the Bible is the reality that God reveals himself as creator. The earth is formless and void and God creates. He brings things into existence out of nothing. “And God said ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.” Over and over God creates life out of nothing. Over and over we see that God restores and renews what is broken. He creates new life in all of us. God is a thoroughly creative being.

We as his image bearers are made to reflect his nature. The artist is a great conduit for reflecting this fundamental characteristic of God. The artist creates beauty out of nothing and in their work reflects what God is like.

So what makes art different? I think it has to do with the next two areas: illustration and illumination.

Illustration - Art has a tangible way of making reality knowable. Biblical truth, the nature of God, the real working way of love, the brokenness of sin, the fragileness of life, the futility of life lived apart of dependent obedience trust  can be know by all when they are illustrated. By illustrated I don’t just mean drawn but written, sung about, performed, sculpted and photographed.

I’m a big fan of books and when I read I am drawn into the story. A good story has a way of illustrating truth and reality clearly. In Oscar Wilde’s fairy tale “The Selfish Giant” I’m able to understand the mercy and transformative power of God. In the boy, who is clearly intended to be seen as a Christ-figure, I understand the reality that by Christ’s life and wounds we are changed and because of his wounds we are assured that when death comes we will be with God. Or think of Aslan, the great lion, in CS Lewis the Chronicles of Narnia in his death for Aslan we understand substitutionary atonement in a way that makes sense and we can get our heads and hearts around. Songs can illustrate as well. One of my favorite hymns is It is well with my soul. This song clearly illustrates the dependence and certain confidence that believers have in both peace and trouble. Or think of a photograph of impoverished and orphaned children living in Kenya. Doesn’t the photo illustrate the reality of the fall, the pain of death, and the dehumanization that oppression brings?

Art has unique ability to illustrate Christian truth, beauty and reality in a way that an outline or simple recitation of facts often can’t and leave an impression that sticks with you beyond that moment you see, hear or read the piece.

Illuminate - Art is uniquely suited to illuminate Christian truth, beauty and reality. I want to define what illuminate means in a very narrow and specific way. By illuminate I mean it lights a path where we can hear or see God and where we can respond as he reveals himself and calls and draws us to him. Art creates space for God to work in us.

“Then for any who would express themselves creatively, there is the realization that our art can’t bring change, that our art isn’t the source for change.  But also there is the challenge to create beautifully, intelligently, with such passion, such deliberation, such obedience that we may create a space, a physical space or a pause in time, in which God can draw us and draw near to us.”

Art is uniquely suited to illuminate our path and create space for God to change us. As I think about why I love singing  It is well with my soul so much I have to admit that the song completely wrecks me every time we sing it. Through our singing God reveals my sinfulness in doubt and in letting circumstances drag my confidence away from him as the good, faithful and merciful God. Singing the song illuminates my brokenness and brings me to my knees hoping for God’s mercy and transformation to turn my doubt into confident trust. It also creates space for me to hear the gospel and to find hope in the mercy of God. God doesn’t just illuminate my brokenness and sinfulness but he also illuminates my only hope “My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”

mission statement for Ktizo

Recently I have been working through some things regarding my goals as a photographer and my passion as a follower of Christ. Currently am praying about the potential of starting a group that strenthens, supports and provides a format for Christian artists to develop and utilize their gifts and talents for the glory of God, the good of the church and to provide a counter-cultural movement in the world through arts both fine and literary. Ktizo is a Greek verb that means I create. Here is the potential mission statement. Would love to get some feedback and if anyone is interested in working through this theologically as well as practically I would love to start a dialog. Also please join me in praying for God’s leading.

Kitzo is about enabling a community of artists within the church who through their artistic expression reflect the reality of God and his redemptive purposes for the good of the church and humanity.

older interview (2007) with ND Wilson

ND Wilson is a children’s fantasy writer and a Christian. I came across a great interview with him on the Novel Journey blog. read the full article here.

Encouragement to write or work on any art form for that matter:If you want to write, do it. Don’t talk about it, start. Don’t have time? Do it anyway. It’s easy to hang out in a coffee shop and wish and hope; it’s hard to sit at a computer night after night disciplining yourself. When I started my first novel, I didn’t own a computer, but I could use one at work after hours. My wife would come down with me and our son would sit in a wind-up swing until I’d finished my word-count quota. When I’d finished, it wasn’t any good. But you won’t get good at anything until you’ve been bad at it.

The kind of books Christian’s should love:

Ha. I’m going to cheat here. Any good story is a Christian story. Look at it apart from the author. Is the story beautiful? Does it pay tribute in execution, content, texture and personality, to the worthy things in this reality of ours? Then who cares who the author is or what they think? Christians should love it. Factor in the authors and things get funny. Some of the worst books I’ve ever read were written by Christians as explicitly “Christian” books and painted pictures (in my opinion) entirely antithetical to a joyful, laughing, Christian view of reality, making them anti-Christian (while perhaps well-intentioned).

painting prodigy

An interesting article about a child painter in England. I found him really refeshing and just doing the painting thing because he loves it. Not entirely sure if I buy the parents not pushing him but maybe we should take them at face value. The kid seems to be genuinely happy. His painting is really fresh and quaint and he is really good especially since he is only seven.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/29/boy-paints-like-old-master

check out the new link entitled portfolio

If anyone is looking for some nice seascape or scenic photos please feel free to refer yourself or them to my site. I really would like to make a go of being an artistic photographer. You can see some photos on the right or follow the link here to my site.

Prints and custom framed works are available.

creative projects

I need some help. I tend to be strong at coming up with ideas but for many reasons (lazy, insecure, distracted, on to a new idea) am terrible about following through with these ideas to completion. Over the last year I have been really exploring some creative avenues. I really enjoy them but am having trouble moving beyond the initial stages. As a result I have started several projects or at least worked through them in my head but haven’t taken things to the next step. I could really use some encouragement to keep working and some accountability to make sure that I keep working. If you would please check in with me to see how things are moving. Here is a list of projects that I would like to see completed this year in photography, art and writing.

Writing: Symbols of our making (novel)

Art: Church sponsored art festival in early spring of 2009.

Photography: 1. Land of Plenty: homelessness, poverty and the recession in the OC (photo journalism style) 2. DOF still photography series 3. Soul of surfing (photo portfolio for submission in the 2010 Follow the light Foundation photo contest in August of 2010) 4 HBAC photography salon show in January (2 photos) 5. HBAC Centered at the Center summer salon exhibit in June (2 photos) 6. Houses of worship

Thanks.

symbols of our making chapter 2 part 1

Here is the link to chapter 1: The verdict. It is in three posts so follow the links at the top of part 3 to start at the beginning.

                                                    Chapter 1: The verdict

Here is the first installment of chapter 2: Two homes and journey

(c) All material is copywrited by the author please do not reproduce or use without the express written consent of the author.

Symbols of our Making

Chapter 2: Two homes and a journey

We sat in silence on the small prison cot for about forty-five minutes. Sierra lying against my chest sobbing as I held her in my arms and stroked her hair. She has always been so strong and able to keep it together; yet here in my arms she clung to me vulnerable and afraid. Fourteen years of buried pain and anguish came bursting forth in one sudden explosion. As I lay there holding her close my mind wandered between  happy memories of days spent at the Channel Island beach home together to the painful reality of what this war has cost both of us.

“Si – Sierra, I’m sorry they sent me to tell you that Jacob’s visiting time is up,” said Gregory as he interrupted the strange comfort of the stolen moments we shared. Sierra got up wiping tears from her eyes. As she reached the door she turned back to me and said, “Jacob, please don’t leave me I need you.”

“I love you beautiful I’ll make things right I promise,” I responded as the door shut behind her.

“Sierra is- is everything ok,” asked a shocked and shaken Gregory. I’m sure that is the first time he had ever seen his heroic sister cry.

“No, Gregory things aren’t ok,” whispered Sierra as she walked away.

———————-

My mind raced as I tried to take in what had just happened. I was so sure that Sierra would have been strong and supportive of what I must do. I have spent so much time idealizing my wife that I completely missed the depth of the hurt this war has wrecked on her. Uncle Eric’s death changed everything. From the moment he died we started descending down a rabbit hole that we should have never explored. Lying on my small sheetless cot staring at the cold grey wall of my cell images of Sierra’s crumpled crying body in my arms kept chasing sleep from me.

———————-

“Wake up Jacob” frantically my father called as he turned on the light in my room. “Jacob get up we have to leave now.”

“What – Why do we have to go,” I said as I realized that we weren’t alone. My father, his friends Hector and Amir were in the room with us. Hector was holding a shot gun and Amir had his hunting rifle. “What’s going on dad” I asked.

“Jacob it isn’t safe here anymore pack whatever clothes you can in this bag” he said placing a large green army duffle bag on the bed next to me. “Hector and Amir are going to stay with you to keep you safe.”

“But I don’t want to go – we haven’t done anything,” I said protesting, “I have a big test and game at school tomorrow.”

Raising his voice my father said, “Jacob don’t argue with me. We are leaving tonight. You can’t go to school they will pick you up. Uncle Eric’s death has changed everything. We have to get away and change this or we will never be safe.”

Looking at the determined and frantic expression on my father’s face I realized that we were leaving our lives behind forever. Before Uncle Eric’s death my father was an English teacher at my high school. He was a popular and good teacher. My mother was an artist. She made beautiful pottery and loved to paint moving and dramatic seascapes and sunsets. We lived in a small three bedroom post war track home in Garden Grove, California. It was a good house with a big backyard with a pottery studio for my mother. My sister’s and I used to spend hours swimming in our kidney shaped pool and playing explorers and soldiers in the tree house that my dad and Uncle Eric built in the old Elm tree. I was sad and angry as I packed my duffle bag. It was a good house. While I packed  Hector looked out the window and Amir stood nervously guard that the door I realized that we would never play in the pool or start an adventure by climbing the wooden planked ladder into the tree house again. We were starting a great scary adventure where playing soldier would be replaced with real life adventures as rebels, soldiers and leaders in something new.

As Hector, Amir and I walked into the living room I saw my mother and my sister’s Sissy and Mara standing packed like the Israelites ready to flee Egypt with suitcases in hand. Each had had a scared and anxious expression and were standing amidst a similar duo of guards as I was. “Jacob, come here please” said my father.

As he handed me a small 9 millimeter hand gun my mother tensely said, “Gabriel, he’s just a boy.”

“Justina we talked about this. Things have changed and he’s not just a boy and needs to be safe.”

“Jacob, he said, “Don’t ever go anywhere without this. You need to be prepared to protect yourself. You will be traveling with Hector and Amir”

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Hector and Amir will keep you safe but you need to be prepared to help them”

“Yes father.”

“Justina you and Sissy will be going with Oliver, Micah and Danny and Mara will be traveling with me,” my dad said as he ran his hands through my six-year old sister’s hair.

“Gabriel, why can’t we travel together,” said my mother pleading with my father.

“Justina, it isn’t safe for us to all travel together. We will be too easy to spot. Beautiful, I promise it will be ok.

———————-

Matthew Smith Concert in Brea

Matthew Smith Concert Location:Grace Covenant Community Church, Brea, CA Time:7:30PM Friday, November 6th

photo Quotable mondays (pQm)

I got away from this but trying to get back to it. Hopefully we all will draw inspiration from other photographers.

I discovered Zoe Strauss through Wiki (read her page here) and she has an awesome vision for her photography. She lives in South Philly and takes photos that capture life in her neigborhood and she started an art show that displays photos under the I-95 in her community. Check out her blog here:

Here is her quote about her neighborhood project.

“When I started shooting, it was as if somewhere hidden in my head I had been waiting for this.”

Really cool hearing her passion as she makes tangible the vision she had. I have a couple of projects that I’m thinking through and hope to see the fruits start to sprout to life like this.

how can the church and art cooperate for the gospel

As you know a growing area of interest for me is the gospel, Christianity and the arts. I discovered a great two part interview over at rethink mission with the directors of four church related arts centers throughout the country. I think it has a lot of great thoughts to stimulate thinking about arts and church. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Below you can find the links and a sample of the great responses. The quotes are from Michael Winters of The 930 part of Sojourn Community Church in Kentucky.

here is the intro to the series from Rethink Mission

As a local church how do you engage and inspire artists? Today we begin a two part interview aimed at answering that question with the directors of four different art centers that were started by, based out of, or sponsored by local churches in four different cities:
Joanna Taft with Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis
Michael Winters with The 930 Art Center in Louisville
James McAnally with The Luminary Center for the Arts in St. Louis
Grace Hwang with Salt Art Space in New York

Read the full interviews below:

The church and artists roundtable part 1

Rethink Mission: Tell me about the vision or philosophy behind your arts center or gallery.

Michael Winters, The 930
The overall mission of Sojourn Church, which operates The 930 Art Center, is to see the gospel transform everything – individuals, the church, the world.  So, the 930 supports that mission by seeking to see the gospel transform artists, the work they make, and the local scene in which they work.

Our philosophy of ministry for the 930 gallery really leans on the idea of ‘imago dei’.  All humans are made in the image of the Creator God, so we each have creativity in our nature.  An art gallery can become a hub for that creativity and hopefully reveal something about human nature and a shadow of God’s divine nature.  Art can deal with all the issues of life, so it’s very useful for creating an intersection between the church and the world.

The church and artists roundtable part 2

Rethink Mission: What pitfalls that you would warn a local church to avoid in creating a ministry for artists?

Michael: I’ve seen a lot of churches get into doing things with art, but not really understanding why they’re doing it.  Somebody just told them art is a good thing.  I think it’s valuable to experiment with incorporating art into the life of the church, but don’t do it for the art.  Do it for the mission of Christ.  Think about the mission of your church and then see how artists might be able to serve that mission.  You’ve got to have gospel-centered reasons for incorporating art into church