art

Here we are, approaching the beginning of a new month.

(Some of us are still in mourning from the end of the Olympics.)

But we all know what the beginning of a new month means.

Glimpses!

This month, I have an interview with, story of, and art by Makoto Fujimura. I also have a blurb on worshipping creatively in your Church. You can sign up on the sidebar.

Also, ready for the big announcement?

(No, Mom, I'm not pregnant.)

My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok is a book I could read over and over and over again. There are so many levels. I can read it as a Christian in regards to living out my faith. I can read it as an artist in regards to working out my art and faith.

I've decided that any updates I find regarding art, writing, contests, etc., I'll keep up with on my Intersection blog so as not to crowd things around here (you wouldn't believe how cranky the owner here gets about crowding--she starts charging these extra squatting fees).

You can find that blog here. 

A Disciplined Disciple Artist from Diary of an Arts Pastor--the "Christian artist" v. the "Disciple Artist." Good thoughts here about spiritual formation and art, living wholistically, and the daily rhythm and vision that keeps us from burn-out. Some quotes:

"A disciple artist is fundamentally a disciplined artist, and such an artist is integrated and fully alive."

We've had some lovely conversations here about the idea of the objective-ness in art. I've pushed that there's more to art than our preference, that there is some standard of good art and bad art. I've done this for a couple of reasons:

On my blog, I've championed the idea that Christians have the permission, and indeed duty, to critique art so that as we embody Christ in art, we present something beautiful, redemptive, and excellent.

So today, I want to take a moment to look at the spiritual discipline of being creative--a discipline everyone, artist or not, can (and should) participate in. I want to show you the difference in my life between being creative and being an artist.

This is my first video blog. It runs approximately 8 min.

It's rare to come upon an original musician these days. Perhaps it's not any rarer than before, but with the millions of songs coming out per day, it takes time to work through the dredge.

To be honest, most of it seems uninventive, as if the singers/song-writers/bands settled at mimicking their favorite bands without moving on (or taking the time?) to discover their own sound.

Perhaps I'm too critical. But the truth is, I can tell exactly who some of these musicians grew up listening to.

For those interested in photography (capturing or viewing):

Souvenirs, a set on flickr--this guy takes souvenirs to their homeland and snap fun photographs 

Exposure: A Photography Competition--pretty major deal with big prizes