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.

Creativity in Harlow

I spent a very creative afternoon with Ally Clarke and Robert Enoch in Harlow on Monday discussing ideas for art initiatives through commission4mission with St Paul's Harlow and St Mary's Little Parndon in the autumn.

St Paul's Harlow is a modernist church designed by Humphrys and Hurst which features a mosaic by John Piper, on the theme of the Emmaus Road, that was Piper's first mosaic. St Paul's is, as a result, one of the churches which features in the Art Trail for the Barking Episcopal Area which is being launched tomorrow. Both churches provide wonderful spaces for further artistic interventions.

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Mumford and Sons - Lover Of The Light.

c4m webpage update (44)

It's been some time since the last c4m webpage update so quite a few new posts have been added to the commission4mission webpage in that time. Several posts concerned the commission dedication and networking afternoon held at St Paul's Goodmayes with the final post containing photographs from the event and of Henry Shelton's Stations of the Crown of Thorns. Exhibitions by Sergiy Shkanov, Caroline Richardson and Michael Creasey have also been highlighted with photographs of the Shkanov exhibition at St Andrew's Leytonstone also featuring in the most recent post. A profile of our newest member, Robert Enoch, has also been posted to the site. Finally, Go Well, Be Well was an exciting collaborative project involving Ally Clarke and bottled water for the Camberwell Arts Week.

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Arcade Fire - The Suburbs.