Art that tells the story

Art That Tells the Story is a new book by Christopher Brewer which seems interesting for several reasons. First, it includes a range of evocative art. Second, it tells the story of the Bible in terms of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Consummation iniating a conversation about the Story God is telling. Third, because the book is an example of Gospel through shared experience, a conversation about reinventing evangelism for a postmodern world. 
Here is an article about the book from ImageUpdate:

"Art That Tells the Story, is exactly what its title indicates: page after page of precisely curated visual art, coupled with bible verses that tell the “grand old story” with grace, drama, and spiritual acuity. The pieces Brewer chooses are not simple illustrations of their accompanying verse; instead, they embody the living narrative and continuing discussion of these biblical moments. Each piece builds on what has come before, inviting the reader into a growing conversation about both the art itself and its place in the narrative whole. As Makoto Fujimura says in the book’s foreword, “Art is about asking questions more than giving straight answers.” Brewer separates the art, story, and questions into four sections: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Consummation. “Creation” compares the physicality of our world and the physicality of art—we see the breath of life lifting Adam off the ground in a bronze sculpture by Clay Enoch and feel the text of Genesis 1:2 nearly melt as it ripples across the pages of a mixed-media ‘book’ by Sandra Bowden. “Fall” is bookended by dramatic oil and acrylic pieces by Wayne Forte, which show the pain of Adam and Eve’s expulsion and Cain’s betrayal through thick red and black lines. In “Redemption,” the book’s longest section, the story moves from the flood to Paul’s letters. Brewer contrasts photorealistic paintings, like Jonathan Quist’s reimaginings of Moses and David, with Julie Quinn’s Access, an abstract acrylic piece in light blues and grays that is linked to Romans 5:1. Finally, in “Consummation,” the eye turns to the apocalyptic future of the biblical story, highlighted by Scott Laumann’s block prints that show the reader bold, primary-colored representations of heaven in an open palm and hell in a closed fist. An afterword by Alfonse Borysewicz brings the themes of the entire book into further focus, as he discusses the transformative process of faith-based art on a biblical and personal level. Borysewicz’s four Emmanuel paintings carry viewers through Christ’s life story but are also reflections of Borysewicz’s own artistic journey of rebuilding. Through each of these themes and explorations, Brewer’s descriptions and page layouts remain sparse. It is in these empty spaces that Art That Tells The Story ultimately encourages our deeper exploration of the true mystery and ephemeral nature of biblical art."

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Duke Special - Portrait.

Lenten US exhibitions

Here is information about two interesting US exhibitions as highlighted in the Image Newsletter:

"The Artist and the Bible is an exhibition of fifty-six original works on paper of twentieth century Biblical themes currently on display at John Knox Presbyterian Church in Normandy Park, WA. Representing a cross section of cultures and styles, the exhibit features works by such well-known artists as Marc Chagall, Georges Rouault, Karl Caspar, Kathe Kollwitz and Sado Watanabe. Edward Knipper, a painter who has been a leading figure in the contemporary Christian art movement, and his wife began the collection over thirty years ago. The exhibit includes drawings, paintings and various fine art printing techniques such as woodcut, lithograph and intaglio. Interpretations of Old and New Testament subjects, such as Adam and Eve, Sarah and the angel, the Last Supper, Noah's ark and Christ carrying the cross, are included. "While we have wide-ranging tastes and interest, over the years we have particularly focused on Biblical or Christian imagery. When possible, I have purchased works from the art movements and artists that have most influenced me," said Knippers, who calls Rouault "one of my heroes in the faith."

During Lent, the Oratory Church of St Boniface (in Brooklyn) is privileged to exhibit the works of the distinguished Catholic artist and Oratory parishioner Alfonse Borysewicz. The paintings on exhibit for Lent are a continuance of Borysewicz's work for the Oratory since the early 1990's (he has completed two side chapels and a processional cross, as well as paintings for the residence chapel). The Lenten paintings will cover the stained glass windows for the solemn 40 day period of Lent. These paintings, with their austerity of near abstraction, reverence the icons of Christian antiquity. With a modern hand Borysewicz gives pictorial voice to the Catholic heritage."

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Buddy & Julie Miller - Written In Chalk.

Happy 20th birthday to 'Image'

Image issue 60 is a bumper edition in honour of the journal's twentieth anniversary and featuring extra pages and special visual art features.

There is new work from twelve of their favorite artists who have appeared in Image in the past, including Mary McCleary, Tim Hawkinson, Joel Sheesley, Alfonse Borysewicz, Lynn Aldrich, and others, and an essay by Ted Prescott on the variety of art represented in Image. There's also a quartet of short essays from four very different contemporary painters - Cathy Prescott, Tim Rollins, Alfonse Borysewicz, and Wayne Adams -reflecting on the state of their medium.

A special symposium on art and the religious sense, "Fully Human," collects nine statements on the connection between art and a full expression of our humanity. Contributors range from theologian Stanley Hauerwas to poet Robert Cording, whose essay about the importance of "craving reality" can be read online. The symposium also includes contributions from Ena Heller of the Museum of Biblical Art, Ron Austin on film, Valerie Sayers, Mako Fujimura, and more.

Issue 60 also includes fiction by Ron Hansen, poems by Scott Cairns and Franz Wright, an interview with singer-songwriter Sam Phillips, an essay by Poetry magazine editor Christian Wiman, and more.

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Sam Phillips - Reflecting Light.