Comments on: Artists + Faith? http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/ The IMA blog is a space to discuss everything related to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:32:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stephanie http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-1324 Stephanie Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:33:13 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/#comment-1324 I am a graduate student in Brown University's Public Humanities program. I am currently working on a paper about how art museums can reinterpret the works of art in their collection in a way that restores its religious context and how by doing this museum might broaden their audiences and create a safe space for interfaith dialogue. Would anyone be willing to speak to me for about 20 minutes about their projects? I am a graduate student in Brown University’s Public Humanities program. I am currently working on a paper about how art museums can reinterpret the works of art in their collection in a way that restores its religious context and how by doing this museum might broaden their audiences and create a safe space for interfaith dialogue. Would anyone be willing to speak to me for about 20 minutes about their projects?

]]> By: The Urbanophile http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-728 The Urbanophile Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:50:19 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/#comment-728 This is a very timely topic. The twin pole stars of the western intellectual and artistic traditions have long been Athens and Jerusalem, but the arts seemed to have recently inverted Tertullian's famous dismissal of the relevance of the Greeks to Christianity. I don't think it is any secret that much of the arts world is perceived as highly left-wing and generally hostile to Christianity. And I think there's more than a grain of truth to that. At the same time, modern evangelical Christianity has also become more overtly political, at the same time it has maintained a sort of anti-intellectual stance. (As they said in my church growing up, "God said, I believe it, that settles it."). And as of course we're reminded with the situation in Carmel with some women wanting to cover up the Evan Lurie door handles, there's a certain streak of prudishness as well. I think both of these are breaking down. Artists and intellectuals who have strong faith (or, quelle horreur! are Republican), less and less feel a need to hide. Meanwhile we see the rise of Christian individuals and groups with decidedly non-orthodox views, such as gay Christian rock bands, Christian environmentalist groups, and the like. I think these can go a long way towards healing the rifts that have occurred in our society in the last decades. I think it also bodes well for the arts. The west has repeatedly had to return to its roots for inspiration. I think we're well past due for another refresh cycle. This is a very timely topic. The twin pole stars of the western intellectual and artistic traditions have long been Athens and Jerusalem, but the arts seemed to have recently inverted Tertullian’s famous dismissal of the relevance of the Greeks to Christianity. I don’t think it is any secret that much of the arts world is perceived as highly left-wing and generally hostile to Christianity. And I think there’s more than a grain of truth to that. At the same time, modern evangelical Christianity has also become more overtly political, at the same time it has maintained a sort of anti-intellectual stance. (As they said in my church growing up, “God said, I believe it, that settles it.”). And as of course we’re reminded with the situation in Carmel with some women wanting to cover up the Evan Lurie door handles, there’s a certain streak of prudishness as well.

I think both of these are breaking down. Artists and intellectuals who have strong faith (or, quelle horreur! are Republican), less and less feel a need to hide. Meanwhile we see the rise of Christian individuals and groups with decidedly non-orthodox views, such as gay Christian rock bands, Christian environmentalist groups, and the like. I think these can go a long way towards healing the rifts that have occurred in our society in the last decades.

I think it also bodes well for the arts. The west has repeatedly had to return to its roots for inspiration. I think we’re well past due for another refresh cycle.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-720 Daniel Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:06:15 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/#comment-720 I think it's fascinating that the subject of faith in public life was all over the IndyStar this morning just a couple of days after this post was published. Must be something in the air. I think it’s fascinating that the subject of faith in public life was all over the IndyStar this morning just a couple of days after this post was published. Must be something in the air.

]]> By: Noelle http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-709 Noelle Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:48:52 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/#comment-709 You can purchase the book at <a href="http://www.rivergrace.com" rel="nofollow">www.rivergrace.com</a>. All proceeds benefit the International Arts Movement. You can purchase the book at http://www.rivergrace.com. All proceeds benefit the International Arts Movement.

]]> By: Nina http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-705 Nina Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:12:11 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/#comment-705 The book (and topic) sounds interesting. I'd like to read it myself. Looked it up on Amazon, but they don't appear to have anything by that name. I just recently checked out the book 100 Artists See God, but haven't had the time to look through it yet. The book (and topic) sounds interesting. I’d like to read it myself. Looked it up on Amazon, but they don’t appear to have anything by that name. I just recently checked out the book 100 Artists See God, but haven’t had the time to look through it yet.

]]> By: C. Merrim http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-695 C. Merrim Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:54:09 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/#comment-695 Interesting topic that I don't hear discussed often. Thanks more making me think today! Interesting topic that I don’t hear discussed often. Thanks more making me think today!

]]> By: Christopher http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-692 Christopher Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:01:28 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2008/03/29/artists-faith/#comment-692 You wrote this at an interesting time as I have been having similar conversations recently. I'm currently working on a project with an artist who will be doing an installation on Mass Ave whose work directly deals with faith by making what has become a very private ritual (such as prayer) and turning it into something very public. I'm really interested to see how not only the general public reacts to this, but also how the smaller 'art world' reacts. You wrote this at an interesting time as I have been having similar conversations recently. I’m currently working on a project with an artist who will be doing an installation on Mass Ave whose work directly deals with faith by making what has become a very private ritual (such as prayer) and turning it into something very public. I’m really interested to see how not only the general public reacts to this, but also how the smaller ‘art world’ reacts.

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