Looking at Culture and Faith from Other Angles.

In order to be effective Christian artists, we must learn about various philosophies, religions, and even denominations within Christianity.  All perspectives on culture and faith and how they relate to thoughts, actions, and lifestyles are pertinent pieces to the puzzle we are creating. 

In this entree, I am recommending a look at one Atheist opinion on the matter of faith and culture.

The recommendation......  A facebook friend posted a book review for Alain de Bottom's, 'Religion for Atheists' written by David Brooks in the New York Times recently.  I think it poses key thoughts on the connection between culture and faith through the eyes of an Atheist philosopher, as well as, the author of the review.  Alain de Bottom writes about the gap between Art and the human condition.  He says that art has the potential to affect the soul, impart wisdom, and fill a void. As the writer and freelance philosopher Alain de Botton argues in “Religion for Atheists,” cultural and intellectual institutions are no longer about the salvation of souls: He states that is has been effective in the past, but not in today's political or cultural scene.

"De Botton looks around and sees a secular society denuded of high spiritual aspiration and practical moral guidance. Centuries ago, religions gave people advice on how to live with others, how to tolerate other people’s faults, how to assuage anger, endure pain and deal with the petty corruptions of a commercial world. These days, he argues, teachers, artists and philosophers no longer even try to offer such practical wisdom.

'We are fatefully in love with ambiguity, uncritical of the Modernist doctrine that great art should have no moral content or desire to change its audience,' he writes.

Museums were once temples for the contemplation of the profound. Today, he says, they offer pallid cultural smorgasbords: 'While exposing us to objects of genuine importance, they nevertheless seem incapable of adequately linking these to the needs of our souls.”

In order to create palatable art that encourages meaningful dialogues and connections and imparts truth, we must first understand sources of hunger by the masses.  I found that Alain de Bottoms thoughts on art, education, politics, and other social matters to be interesting, but lacking.... of course. The solution lacks the cohesive 'glue' that binds all things. It is a call of hunger for soul satisfying existence.  Boy, could we contribute to that!

We know the solution to the issues de Bottom describes is a relationship with our Creator, and not religion.   Through prayer, discernment, grace, and our acquisition of knowledge and wisdom, we will deliver this Truth through our media.

Here is the full article: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/books/review/alain-de-bottons-religion-for-atheists.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

A little more about Alain de Botton:
His website:   www.alaindebotton.com/

Other Christian sources on Alain de Botton:
http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/Browse%20By%20Category/features/alaindebotton.aspx

http://m.christianpost.com/news/athiest-alain-de-botton-insists-society-needs-guidance-from-religion--69941/

Be blessed!  Be Inspired

Aldys

My participation in Christian singer, Carlos Carcache's Music Video, Tu Reinas (You Reign)

Tu Reinas - Carlos Carcache from Vertical Link on Vimeo.

First and foremost, Happy New Year to you all!  My prayers that you have a year that opens doors, enriches dreams, and brings health, provision, guidance, and blessings!  I think I've been the busiest I've ever been due to a brief adjustment to my husband's work schedule, but I managed to squeeze some things in.  Still waiting on God's perfect time to dive right in.  In the meantime, I wet my toes from time to time.

I was honored with the opportunity to work alongside Carlos Cacache, a good friend, pastor and emerging Christian artist on his very first music video. Carlos' first CD came out last year.  In August, 2011 he created his first music video to accompany his song, Tu Reinas (You Reign).

He asked if I would like to partake in the project by creating illustrations to accompany the lyrics and draw during the filming of the video.  I was thrilled at the invitation and gladly accepted! 

Carlos Carcache and his wife Lynda (background singer with Brunette hair and black outfit)  have such a deep love for God!  Their ministry is beautiful and pure! Carlos is an annointed servant of God who preaches and is a lead singer in our church's worship team.  It was a true blessing to work with them!  I am exciting for the new journey that he and his family are embarking on and pray for God to continue guiding them and opening the doors!

I hope you enjoy the song and the video.  It was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed every moment of it! 
I'm the one drawing.... hahaha  -

You can find out more about Carlos Carcache, Christian singer, at http://www.carloscarcache.com/

Be blessed!  Be Inspired!

Commission : Psalm 91:1-2

Psalm 91: 1-2  Acrylic and Oil on Canvas,  48" X 60"

Valuable Resource for Thriving as an Artist: Nerissa Street Shares Business Basics for Artists.

Important questions to ask yourself as a Christian artist:

1.  What good is your art if the people that are intended to see it,

don't? It is good that some know about it and experience it, but isn't

it great when more people know and experience your new

approach to God's love and messages?   

2.  How can you devote time to creating art, if you have to find
another means of making money?  Also, wouldn't more money in

your hands mean more money back into the Kingdom? 

Let's address these two very important topics:

First Topic:  Christian art is a means of worship, primarily, but it must be seen too! It is imperative to share with others the messages of our Creator that lies in our art (it is why we have the talents that we have been given by Him in the first place). Our tasks as Christians include evangelizing, providing light, provide hope, in short- highlighting the Lord and sharing how He can change people's lives for the better.  We have been given the gift to share the gospel in a new way that is relevant to a contemporary culture.  The value of Christian art, today, would be it's ability ooze out into popular culture. It is all feasible. I see the vision, but am stumped by the means by which to get started or to keep it growing.  What do we read?  What conferences or classes do we attend?  Where do we invest? 

Second topic:  If your calling is to be a Christian artist, there are ways that you can live off of it comfortably- heck maybe even make a small fortune, or dare you dream- a big one?  God wants you to be prosperous!!

In short, we need to learn about business. We need to learn how to make our "product" known.   Typically, we artists are not very good at that (we just want to be in the studio), but it doesn't mean we can't be. 

Here is a promising resource I recently found out about: 

A friend told me about "Beyond the Lucky Break".  Nerissa Street has earned a degree in both Theatre and business.  Throughout her life, she has run across many artists who had no idea how to move forward with their art and make a thriving livelihood from it.  She knew how she could best help artists, through her art and business background and has put together several valuable resources for artists.  

The website:  http://www.beyondtheluckybreak.org/ elaborates on these resources.  Look into all aspects of the site to see how the information therein can be an asset to you.  I did and I was very inspired and excited by it.

I have enclosed a short clip of a conference she held so that you can see for yourself if this is a person that you would like to help you to reach your goal of being a successful and prosperous artist. 

Be Blessed!  Be Inspired!

A Brief Update...

I never wanted to be that blogger that neglected her blog for more than one month- tops.  I'm so sorry guys, I've become that blogger.  Motherhood and many family and art related projects (all good, thank God) have filled my days and yep- nights. So at four months of silence, I am making time to give you a brief update.

Ok, so here's the update... I have had time to work on some great projects.  I'm excited to say that I have sold three commissions this year!  I just completed my final commission last week.  It has been a great time of exploration, experimentation, and growth for me as an artist.  Here are some photos of the first two commissions.  I'll wait for the reveal of the last one before I post pics (It's still drying).





"Corner of Faith and Hope".  Acrylic and Oil.  36"X90" Diptych

  


"Corner of Faith and Hope" in it's new home.





"He Gives the Desires of Your Heart" Acrylic and Oil.  Each canvas is 30" X 30"
Psalms 37:4

 




"He Gives the Desires of Your Heart" in it's home.

   I feel really blessed to have had the opportunity to work on these commissions.  God has been exceedingly gracious!  So dear followers, know that I haven't abandoned you- this (the blog, my website, my artwork, my involvement in our church, research- and in turn, writing about everything I find in the area of contemporary Christian art) is a growing puppy.  I simply haven't had time at this moment. I do what I can -I can't not paint... the twitches come back--- ahhh just kidding-  well sort of. There is much to be done.  With time as my ally, I will be able to accomplish it according to God's measure.

I am happy to say that my youngins' will be starting school soon.  When that happens, everything will fall into place- including regular blog posts filled with the wonderful insight and findings that I am constantly researching. I have notes and references that I am all too eager to share. 

I would love to hear from you!  What are your thoughts about the pieces?  I welcome very frank critiques.  As artists, we sometimes fail to see what others might when it comes to our art because we have looked at it too much to see it with fresh eyes, and truthfully, because we are too emotionally involved (at least this is the case with me- a novice mistake).  I would benefit from you sharing something that you see, feel, etc. that would help me to grow as an artist.

Be blessed!  Be inspired!
:)

The Burden of Contemporary Christian Art: An Article on the Relevance of Christian Art in Modern and Postmodern Times.

I found a very insightful and poignant article in "The Chuck Colson Center for Christian World View" titled,  "Contemporary Christian Art, Renewing Christian Engagement with the Arts", written by T.M. Moore.

I encourage you to click on the preceding link which takes you directly to the article.  The article points out the significance of Christian art in the postmodern times that we live in today.  It is a must read for serious Christian artists wishing to merge into the secular art world; giving us important insight to pertinent challenges, as well as, providing a sense of hope for infiltrating the secular art world, which until recently has been most hostile to the faith based perspective (still is not welcoming, however).

Additionally, there are references to and ideologies of important names in Christian theology, culture, and art.  Among them are:

Scholar, professor, and author:  H.R. Rookmaaker, who earned his Doctorate in Art History shortly after accepting the teachings of Christ, concurrent with the times of early Calvinism.  H.R Rookmaaker wrote, as his thesis, Modern Art and the Death of a Culture, 1970.

Christian Theologian:  Francis Schaeffer
Christian Philosopher: J.P.A. Meekes
and other poets. playwrights, and authors

I found it to be an important source of information and resource to further propel us to our calling in a secular world, not just within the realms of our church walls and the comfort of our studios.  We have a serious calling.  Primarily, our call is for the Kingdom of God, within that call we are to be like Paul who understood our surrounding culture so that we could influence it and show it the truth as we know it to be, through the Word of God.

"The following night, the Lord stood near Paul and said, 'Take courage.  As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome".  Acts 23:11

Our world is Rome and we will testify in it, in a way they will see and understand, but speaking God's truth through the universal language of art.

Be Blessed!  Be Inspired!

National Call to Christian Artist: White Stone Gallery

 
 

2012 Fine Art & Faith Exhibit

 
White Stone Gallery announces a national call to contemporary artists for the 2012 Fine Art & Faith Exhibit, to be held January 14 - February 4 at the gallery's location in Philadelphia, PA. The faith expressed in the submissions must be supported by the Bible. A selection of works from the exhibit will be featured online for one year. One artist will receive a year contract as a represented artist with White Stone Gallery.
The size limitations that were on some of our previous Fine Art & Faith exhibits are not on this exhibit. The works in their shipping materials must be able fit through the gallery door (79 x 35 inches).

---

 
The prospectus is coming soon.

Important Dates:

July 15, 2011 - Submission deadline
July 22, 2011 - Late submission deadline
September 10, 2011 - Accepted artists and titles list posted online
November 30, 2011 - Gallery starts receiving deliveries
December 23, 2010 - Arrival deadline for accepted works
January 14 - February 4, 2012 - Exhibit
 
White Stone Gallery, which opened in 2002 as Lime Street Gallery, represents artists who exemplify the best in contemporary fine art that has been influenced by Christian faith. For those not interested in the faith aspect, the gallery provides a place to find exceptional works of art. And for those interested in faith, they have the assurance that every piece opens a discussion that includes a Christian perspective. The work comprises a wide diversity of styles and subject matter. These artists stand out for their distinctive personal approach and dedication to excellence.
I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs ... (Exodus 31: 3, 4)
 
White Stone Gallery rotates exhibits at their location on Main Street in the beautiful Manayunk section of Philadelphia, PA. The gallery also exhibits off-site across the country and abroad. Represented works have been included in private and public collections, such as museums, corporations, churches and universities. White Stone Gallery is also known for their annual Fine Art and Faith exhibit which is an open call to artists throughout the country.

You can look at their website for more information about the gallery, artists, and past or future exhibits:

http://whitestonegallery.com/

Be Blessed!  Be Inspired!