Courtesy of AceJet (a design blog).
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Michael Wilson, a photographer I know, wrote the following in a book of his work. I think he articulated something subtle yet vital about art: "These pictures are sort of a reminder, a sort of evidence. They are not necessarily about what they are of. These pictures are not the result of any concerted effort or ambitious endeavor on the part of the photographer. They've come about in very small ways over a long period of time... pictures taken while walking the dog or the odd moment while I was supposed to be taking pictures of someone for money. They are not a mining effort, they are a scratching of the surface... and they are to me evidence of a richness and a grace in this world that does not despise, but rewards even the numb and nonchalant with word of the miraculous... evidence of a real that is as invisible as it is visible."
Monday, May 28, 2007
IAM in Feb, but in April...
Let's go see Jeremy Begbie (my new best friend) in Austin!
Check out: Transforming Culture
Check out: Transforming Culture
Friday, April 20, 2007
Children of the Creative Age
I feel as though I am a cup of my favorite tea, White Tangerine, which comes in a little silk bag. I steep it and steep it, again and again. The first cup is strong in color, slightly bitter with hints of floral. The aroma is good and pleasant. The succeeding cups range from light and fruity to pale and sublime.
I barely took notes in Mako Fujimara’s final talk “Redemptive Culture: Being a Child of the Creative Age.” I can’t take from him something to apply; I can only know that I’m changed and see hints of the floral notes or the pale color seeping into my creative life.
Mako said, “Our world is broken and enchanted.” Beautifully said and the world is beautifully so. Using images from the movie Pan’s Labyrinth and the book, which was the childhood favorite of his wife, Jane Eyre, he showed us how this is true. He said that in an interview the creator of Pan’s Labyrinth said, “I invited Jesus into my heart. And then I invited monsters in.” Mako shared this quote with obvious delight. Delight that the artist had once come into contact with Christ and had also allowed his imagination full reign. It was this wrestle, to keep artists in relationship with Christ while keeping their imaginations churning out images, that he wanted IAM to be in the midst of.
It is so true that many artists who have known Jesus, or want to know Him, have been afraid that relationship with Christ required leaving their art behind. To this Mako acknowledged that the Church has not romanced the artists. Of course we know this to be true. And yet there he was, an artist and a believer, calling into the heart of the artist and into the heart of the church to be reconciled to each other. He begged artists to create from their own Ground Zero. He challenged artists to allow Christ authority over their work and to create in union with Him.
He cited the books The Creative Class and The World is Flat to show that the world is coming into a gripping relationship with Creativity and its importance. He charged us to “move beyond the fog of the Post Modern Age and into the light of the Creative Age.” Oh Hallelujah! The Creative Age. The Post-Modern age had to come to a close, because it was in reaction to the Modern Age. So what will we be? We can build now, instead of react. We can become the children of The Creative Age.
I believe what Mako said that artists can refill the world with the aroma of grace. He described going to a wedding of a friend in Japan and there he saw all of the creative arts represented – music, literature, painting, design, floral, culinary, dance, drama…. This inspired him to think of us, the believer-artists who are the Bride, as the Wedding Planners of the Creative Age. How true! He remarked at the beauty and grace of the wedding, but also at the cost and effort involved. To take on this role of Wedding Planner as artists he said, “It will use all the creative arts…and it will cost.”
Our world is broken and enchanted.
I barely took notes in Mako Fujimara’s final talk “Redemptive Culture: Being a Child of the Creative Age.” I can’t take from him something to apply; I can only know that I’m changed and see hints of the floral notes or the pale color seeping into my creative life.
Mako said, “Our world is broken and enchanted.” Beautifully said and the world is beautifully so. Using images from the movie Pan’s Labyrinth and the book, which was the childhood favorite of his wife, Jane Eyre, he showed us how this is true. He said that in an interview the creator of Pan’s Labyrinth said, “I invited Jesus into my heart. And then I invited monsters in.” Mako shared this quote with obvious delight. Delight that the artist had once come into contact with Christ and had also allowed his imagination full reign. It was this wrestle, to keep artists in relationship with Christ while keeping their imaginations churning out images, that he wanted IAM to be in the midst of.
It is so true that many artists who have known Jesus, or want to know Him, have been afraid that relationship with Christ required leaving their art behind. To this Mako acknowledged that the Church has not romanced the artists. Of course we know this to be true. And yet there he was, an artist and a believer, calling into the heart of the artist and into the heart of the church to be reconciled to each other. He begged artists to create from their own Ground Zero. He challenged artists to allow Christ authority over their work and to create in union with Him.
He cited the books The Creative Class and The World is Flat to show that the world is coming into a gripping relationship with Creativity and its importance. He charged us to “move beyond the fog of the Post Modern Age and into the light of the Creative Age.” Oh Hallelujah! The Creative Age. The Post-Modern age had to come to a close, because it was in reaction to the Modern Age. So what will we be? We can build now, instead of react. We can become the children of The Creative Age.
I believe what Mako said that artists can refill the world with the aroma of grace. He described going to a wedding of a friend in Japan and there he saw all of the creative arts represented – music, literature, painting, design, floral, culinary, dance, drama…. This inspired him to think of us, the believer-artists who are the Bride, as the Wedding Planners of the Creative Age. How true! He remarked at the beauty and grace of the wedding, but also at the cost and effort involved. To take on this role of Wedding Planner as artists he said, “It will use all the creative arts…and it will cost.”
Our world is broken and enchanted.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Breaking Ground
I am continuing to be inspired by Daniel Libeskind’s interview at IAM. I can see him in his black suit and pointed boots, his grey coiffure and sharp glasses sitting next to Dick Staub our interviewer. I am reminded of him grinning at the memories of being a boy in Poland and learning to play the accordion because his parents couldn’t afford to buy him a piano. He said that he was not cut off from music in his work as an architect and artist. He was a great storyteller, describing the events of his life that led him to the 9/11 memorial.
I was moved as an artist and as American rememberer of 9/11 when he described all the architects viewing the Ground Zero site from above but only he was willing to go down below to the slurry wall, the only piece left from the destruction, and the piece that is holding the river back from washing away all of lower Manhattan. And it was when he touched that slurry wall with his own hands that he knew what his design should be – The bedrock of New York should be connected to the light and to the sky.
It was important for me to hear where and how inspiration came upon Libeskind, in both the design of the Berlin Holocaust museum and the Ground Zero memorial. It struck me that in each instance, Libeskind put himself in the circumstance; he was in it, touching it, feeling it, smelling it, tasting it, being immersed and overwhelmed by the place, the emotions, the light, the shadows. He allowed himself to be in it.
Here are some of the quotes from his speech that I scribbled down. I hope you will add more. I am motivated by his thoughts still today. I’m almost certain that my use of the term believer-artist was born in listening to him and being ‘in it’ myself.
On why many of his designs are drawn on napkins: You can not order inspiration. You can create the environment for receiving it. You can not decide on the inspiration.
All events are connected.
Light is the fundamental material for the architect.
Architecture must respond to the need of the people.
On being down in the pit and touching the slurry wall he said that there was the
Echo of Memory.
You must be a believer. You must believe that hope leads.
Be an optimist – a Believer in the good.
Even if you lose there is something worth fighting for.
Regarding the contracts for the Berlin Holocaust memorial and the Ground Zero Memorial:
Follow the path rather than the goal.
I Went to the meeting when the Senator invited me to hear why it was a no. In that meeting, he ‘won’ the contract.
I went to the meeting with the mayor and the governor for ground zero when I knew they had chosen another group.
I was moved as an artist and as American rememberer of 9/11 when he described all the architects viewing the Ground Zero site from above but only he was willing to go down below to the slurry wall, the only piece left from the destruction, and the piece that is holding the river back from washing away all of lower Manhattan. And it was when he touched that slurry wall with his own hands that he knew what his design should be – The bedrock of New York should be connected to the light and to the sky.
It was important for me to hear where and how inspiration came upon Libeskind, in both the design of the Berlin Holocaust museum and the Ground Zero memorial. It struck me that in each instance, Libeskind put himself in the circumstance; he was in it, touching it, feeling it, smelling it, tasting it, being immersed and overwhelmed by the place, the emotions, the light, the shadows. He allowed himself to be in it.
Here are some of the quotes from his speech that I scribbled down. I hope you will add more. I am motivated by his thoughts still today. I’m almost certain that my use of the term believer-artist was born in listening to him and being ‘in it’ myself.
On why many of his designs are drawn on napkins: You can not order inspiration. You can create the environment for receiving it. You can not decide on the inspiration.
All events are connected.
Light is the fundamental material for the architect.
Architecture must respond to the need of the people.
On being down in the pit and touching the slurry wall he said that there was the
Echo of Memory.
You must be a believer. You must believe that hope leads.
Be an optimist – a Believer in the good.
Even if you lose there is something worth fighting for.
Regarding the contracts for the Berlin Holocaust memorial and the Ground Zero Memorial:
Follow the path rather than the goal.
I Went to the meeting when the Senator invited me to hear why it was a no. In that meeting, he ‘won’ the contract.
I went to the meeting with the mayor and the governor for ground zero when I knew they had chosen another group.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Suspected Arson at Felix Nussbaum Museum
I was saddened to read a report today about a fire at Daniel Libeskind's first building, the Felix Nussbaum Museum in Osnabrück, Germany. Investigators say it appears to be arson. Liebskind mentioned this building in his presentation at IAM a number of times. For more about the fire, please link to The Arts Journal at http://www.artsjournal.com/culturegrrl/2007/04/possible_arson_at_nussbaum_mus.html Libeskind himself has an interesting site: http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/
Friday, April 6, 2007
Good Friday
Good Friday to you all.
Things are brewing, many inspired by our time at in NY at IAM. Because it meant so much to me, I recounted Mako's thoughts about artists serving communion to each other and the world on my own blog. I felt like it was a fitting devotion for Holy week. I hope you will remember that e-mail thread that we sent around which began this blog and our response to IAM. I hope that if you get a chance to look back on what inspired you, it will bring about renewal and rebirth in your heart through this Holy Week.
Another thing inspired from the conference is a term I am trying to promote, oh, just in order to change the culture. I am asking people to say believer-artist instead of Christian Artist. Mark Lee from Third Day has picked up on it at his blog and that was fun. Loyd and Clare have commented but I realized that IAM was the inspiration for my thinking on this and I hadn't shared the idea with you here! So click over and read my reasons and see if it doesn't just fit. Believer-artist. believer-artist. Try it, you'll like it.
Of course when you are thinking on a theme you notice it every where. I'm seeing more and more people grasping that art is about beauty and that that is already a an outreach for Christ -- just using your gifts to their hightest is one of the greatest gift back to our Lord that you can give. I saw this theme when a writer, LeAnne, contacted me about posting an interview about my thoughts on creativity and faith on her blog. She's interviewed some of the artists who were at IAM (Nigel Goodwin's name jumped out at me) and some other artists whose work I didn't know but was excited to discover there. There's some really interesting conversations and some great artwork to look at too.
I am thinking this week of Christ's first miracle, the wedding at Cana. This is who He is, the glorious Lord, full of might and power who comes to a lonely desert world and his first act is to attend a party, bless a union and provide the drink.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
aliceb
Things are brewing, many inspired by our time at in NY at IAM. Because it meant so much to me, I recounted Mako's thoughts about artists serving communion to each other and the world on my own blog. I felt like it was a fitting devotion for Holy week. I hope you will remember that e-mail thread that we sent around which began this blog and our response to IAM. I hope that if you get a chance to look back on what inspired you, it will bring about renewal and rebirth in your heart through this Holy Week.
Another thing inspired from the conference is a term I am trying to promote, oh, just in order to change the culture. I am asking people to say believer-artist instead of Christian Artist. Mark Lee from Third Day has picked up on it at his blog and that was fun. Loyd and Clare have commented but I realized that IAM was the inspiration for my thinking on this and I hadn't shared the idea with you here! So click over and read my reasons and see if it doesn't just fit. Believer-artist. believer-artist. Try it, you'll like it.
Of course when you are thinking on a theme you notice it every where. I'm seeing more and more people grasping that art is about beauty and that that is already a an outreach for Christ -- just using your gifts to their hightest is one of the greatest gift back to our Lord that you can give. I saw this theme when a writer, LeAnne, contacted me about posting an interview about my thoughts on creativity and faith on her blog. She's interviewed some of the artists who were at IAM (Nigel Goodwin's name jumped out at me) and some other artists whose work I didn't know but was excited to discover there. There's some really interesting conversations and some great artwork to look at too.
I am thinking this week of Christ's first miracle, the wedding at Cana. This is who He is, the glorious Lord, full of might and power who comes to a lonely desert world and his first act is to attend a party, bless a union and provide the drink.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
aliceb
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