On September 22, Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts (about 40 minutes outside of Boston), is hosting a morning conference on the place of the visual arts in the life of the church. I jumped at the opportunity when I saw it last week. I can’t wait!
If you register by Monday (9/17), admission is only $20, or $10 if you’re a full-time student or unemployed. The conference is part of Gordon College’s “Faith Seeking Understanding” lecture series and is co-sponsored by The Mockler Center for Faith and Ethics in the Workplace at Gordon-Conwell Seminary and CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts). The speakers are W. David O. Taylor, contributing editor of the book For the Beauty of the Church (an excellent collection of essays by artists, patrons, and pastors—I just finished reading it the other day and will post some highlights from it this weekend); Bruce Herman, Distinguished Chair of Gordon College’s art department and internationally exhibited artist; and Cam Anderson, executive director of CIVA.
Here’s the description from the website:
Much of the great visual art in western history has both been inspired by Christian faith and formed Christian faith. Our Creator made things that were “pleasing to the eye,” not just “good for” our mundane needs. Our Lord called attention to the gratuitous visual beauty of the lily. But in sad counterpoint, the church has often ignored, undervalued or even opposed the work of its creative artists.
Pastors, ministry leaders, working artists, lovers of art, people of faith, connoisseurs as well as the merely curious: all are invited to a conversation to explore the place of the visual arts in the life of the church, both within its walls and outside its walls.
Click here to register.
The Jesus Question 