Visual art: re-imaging the Christian narrative

Yesterday I gave a talk at St Luke's Maidenhead entitled 'Visual art: re-imaging the Christian narrative' in which I argued that, just as the Gospel story needs to be told afresh for every generation, so art used by the church similarly needs to be re-imaged and re-imagined for each generation.

By way of illustration I used examples of artwork with which I have had an association at different stages of my ordained ministry to explore the benefits to the Church of engaging with this re-imaging. These included:

• 'Early in the morning' by Alan Stewart at St Margaret's Barking;
• 'Abbey Happy' by SDNA at St Margaret's Barking, part of Love & Light;
• Redbridge Advent Art Installation;
• East Window by Shirazeh Houshiary at St Martin-in-the-Fields;
• Altar by Henry Moore at St Stephen Walbrook;
• 'Lamentation for the Forsaken, 2016' by Michael Takeo Magruder at St Stephen Walbrook;
• 'Shield of Faith' by Terry Ffyffe at St Stephen Walbrook;
• 'Crucified Stormtrooper' by Ryan Callanan at St Stephen Walbrook; and
• SALT Installation by Anna Sikorska at St Martin-in-the-Fields.

I suggested that these examples demonstrate that through all forms of contemporary art and using permanent commissions, exhibitions, temporary installations and community art projects it is possible to re-image the Christian story in ways that bring new theological insights to congregations and enable those outside the church to engage with the Christian narrative in ways that would not otherwise be the case. A true diversity of art is needed in order for the Gospel story to genuinely be told afresh for every generation in every context.

The talk was given while Maidenhead Painting Club are holding an exhibition at the church on the theme of water. Their excellent exhibition can be viewed during church opening hours until Sunday 30 September.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iona - Wind, Water & Fire.

Re-imaging faith & contemplating art

I'm looking forward to speaking at St Luke's Maidenhead on Thursday 27 September at 7.45pm. I'll be giving an illustrated presentation on 'Visual Art: re-imaging the Christian story'. Details here.

In my talk I'll be arguing that the Gospel story needs to be told afresh for every generation. Art used by the church similarly needs to be re-imaged and re-imagined for each generation. My ordained ministry has provided a wide range of opportunities to engage with such re-imaging and I therefore want to share some examples from the churches with which I have been associated to explore the benefits to the Church of engaging with this re-imaging.

In the talk that I gave last Thursday at the HeartEdge church & culture event on visual art at St Cuthbert's Edinburgh argued that the kind of looking that is needed to view art has significant synergies with the practices of prayer and contemplation in the Christian tradition. In the talk I highlighted the ways in which slowness, stillness and silence aid contemplation in both contexts and suggested that paying attention begins with an immersion in dimensions and details before considering sources, context and responses.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael McDermott - Carry Your Cross.