c4m webpage update (32)

The latest posts on the commission4mission webpage include:

• 'ART with a heart' is a special preview evening for 'When Creation Sings', an exhibition at Hillside Church Wimbledon which includes Sarah Ollerenshaw;
• 'Stations of the Crown of Thorns' - photographs from the latest stage in this commission for St Paul's Goodmayes by Henry Shelton;
• Ally Clarke - profile of our newest member, installation artist Ally Clarke;
• Drawing First - information on a new website for Mark Lewis, promoting his consultancy work.

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

Victoria Williams & Vic Chesnutt - God Is Good.

Art & Christianity meme (2)

Here's a summary of the responses I've been able to track to my Art & Christianity meme plus some responses to the range of choices:

The instructions were to list an artwork, drama, piece of music, novel, and poem that you think each express something of the essence of Christianity and for each one explain why. Then tag five other people.

Artwork:

Field for the British Isles by Antony Gormley
Christ carrying the Cross by Stanley Spencer
White Crucifixion by Marc Chagall
Bethlehem Murals by Banksy
Icon of the Holy Trinity by Rublev x 2
Resurrection, Cookham by Stanley Spencer
The Fighting Tremaire by Turner
The Baptism of the Christ by Daniel Bonnell

Drama:

Chariots of Fire
Babette's Feast by Gabriel Axel
The Singing Detective by Dennis Potter
The Shawshank Redemption
Volpone by Ben Jonson
Magnolia
The Dark Knight
Dr Who
The Lee Abbey Easter drama

Music:

St Matthew Passion by J S Bach
Grace by U2
Credo by Arvo Pärt
Restore My Soul by The Choir
Down in the Hole by Tom Waits
Anthem by Leonard Cohen
Under Pressure by Queen
Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet by Gavin Bryars
Messiah by Handel

Novel:

The Island by Victoria Hislop
Quarantine by Jim Crace
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Christ Recrucified by Nikos Kazantzakis
Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis

Poem:

The Parable of the Old Man and the Young by Wilfred Owen
Love III by George Herbert x 2
The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot
God's Grandeur by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Pearl
Teach Me My God and King by George Herbert
The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
The Dream of the Rood

There are no obvious patterns that emerge from the choices people have made. The choices do give an indication of the range of Christianity's engagement with the Arts, all the way from Middle English poetry to the Street Art of Banksy. George Herbert emerges from this small sample as the most popular of the artists listed, although he ties with Stanley Spencer in having created two works that are viewed as expressing something of the essence of Christianity.

There is a mix of Christian classics together with a number of choices which are not generally perceived as 'Christian'. The latter is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the responses in terms of why they have been linked to Christianity's essence. On some occasions there was a personal story to provide the connection but outside of the personal these choices could indicate the extent to Christian themes/language/imagery/forms have percolated culture or the facility of Christians to read Christian themes/language/imagery/forms into cultural artefacts which were not originally created with those elements in mind.

In comments made on my 'Airbrushed from Art History' series, Richard Davey argued that artworks are simply what they are; so, Andres Serrano's Piss Christ is simply "an image of a crucifix suspended in a golden liquid, which we later discover is urine" and that it "says nothing more than that." Paint, he argues, cannot speak of resurrection, paintings of the crucifixion are "nothing more than paint pushed around a surface to make marks that depict a man on a cross"; "any theological interpretation occurs in the viewer's mind not in the work." If we are doing theology through art, he suggests, (as would be the case with this meme, if he is right) "lets say that, rather than trying to imply that our reading is necessarily implicit within the work."

However, there are issues with the understanding that Davey proposes. Serrano was not interested, as an artist, in simply combining an image of a crucifix with urine for its own sake. Instead, he wished to comment on the commercialisation of Christian imagery and submerging an image of a mass produced crucifix in urine would seem a fairly explicit realisation of that desire.

Davey could argue that the artist's intentions and ideas are separate from the finished artwork which exists as an object in its own right and is seen by the viewer without reference to the ideas which led to its creation. However, the essence of conceptual art is that such artworks visualise a concept. The concept then both triggers and is expressed by the artwork. In other words, there is a symbiotic relationship between the concept and the artwork; both are separate entities but neither can be divorced one from the other because of the closeness of the relationship between them. This applies, it seems to me, whether the art derives primarily from ideas or emotions.

As a result, there is, I think, a basis for the kind of discussion which has occurred through this meme including the discussion of Christian themes/language/imagery/forms as used in works that were not created with such elements in mind. What Davey's argument points up, however, is the need for clarity in what we are responding to within such works i.e. are we suggesting that the Christian themes/language/imagery/forms we are responding to are consciously or unconsciously inherent within the artwork or its creation and, whichever we suggest, whether they are being subverted or affirmed through their use.

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

George Herbert - The Collar.

Presence & Engagement Network update

Here is the latest update from the Greater London Presence & Engagement Network:

PEN work and events

We are just putting together the promised resource pack. This has become a CD-ROM rather than a folder of papers. It updates the pack given out at our 1st June launch and is being sent to clergy in all four of our sponsoring Dioceses with the intention that every parish will have access to at least one copy. So for lay colleagues who would like one please let me know or badger your nearest incumbent and make sure they make good use of it please. (Those in Southwark Diocese will receive theirs through the monthly clergy mailing.)

Living with other faiths: to help those who would like to familiarise themselves with this material or get pointers on how to put together a course that a fits particular context, there is a training morning on Thursday 11th February in the Chapter Room at Southwark Cathedral (very central for transport, right next to London Bridge). Starting prompt at 10 am until 12 noon (with a midway coffee break), the session will be lead by the author of the material, The Revd Jonathan Evens. There will be a £5 charge payable on the day. Please let me know if you are hoping to attend.

Jonathan is also leading a five week course using the material as part of the Diocese of Chelmsford Lent and Eastertide School 2010 on five Fridays in Lent (February 26th, March 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th); 10am until 12 noon, The Chapter House, Chelmsford. The five week course costs £15 and can be booked through Liz Watson at the Chelmsford Diocesan office. Email lwatson@chelmsford.anglican.org or telephone 01245 294400. (This is module Lent 13 of the CCS course.) The Revd Angus Ritchie (Director of the Contextual Theology Centre) is running the course for five Mondays in Eastertide (April 19th & 26th, May 10th, 17th & 24th). ; 7.30 – 9.30pm, University of East London Stratford Campus. Cost and booking as above. (This is module Easter 4 of the CCS course.)

Also using these materials but slightly differently, Churches Together in Balham and Upper Tooting Lent course will run five Wednesdays in Lent (February 24th, March 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th)7.30 – 9.00 pm at St Mary’s Church Balham High Road. (Balham station and Northern line underground are close by) please let The Revd Wilma Roest vicar@stmarybalham.org.uk, or myself, know if you plan to attend. The course is being led by PEN Coordinator, Susanne Mitchell and local church members.

Learning and Growing: this one of the series of Autumn seminars was postponed. In the next few weeks I will be in touch with “providers” about their latest courses and materials to put on something late Spring early summer. I would welcome suggestions as to what you would find helpful by way of an event to encourage the practice of Christian Learning and Growing and developing confidence in being able to explain our faith to others.

A recommendation: I recently met with Jane Winter and David Grimwood of Zedakah. Zedakah (http://www.zedakah.org.uk/) is a faith based work consultancy which provides a range of services to support individuals and local community groups through the processes of project planning and management. Staff have considerable experience of Christian based social justice, community ministry and consultancy. I will be adding details to the website soon but if you are thinking of embarking on a project why not take a look at what they can offer by way of support.

Other news and events

The Three Faiths Forum is looking for an education officer for Christianity, interns, and volunteer speakers for their workshops in schools and colleges. Training is given for speakers in dialogue skills and public speaking. Ideally they want volunteers under 30. Details about this and the education office post are on their website: http://www.threefaithsforum.org.uk/.

The Just Share Lectures continue at St Mary-le-Bow Church, Cheapside. Wednesday 27th January at 6.05pm ‘The City of God and the City’ The Revd Canon Dr Nicholas Sagovsky, Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey.

Jewels in His Crown Day Conference Saturday 23rd January 9.45am – 1.00pm Which Way the UK Asian Church? Which models are working in London? At St Peter’s Church, Vere Street, London W1G 0DQ. Details of their national conference in June 2010 will be added to the PEN website soon.

The Christian Interfaith Practitioners' Association will be holding their Annual Consultation from the 18-20 May 2010 at Luther King House, Manchester. Face to Face and Side by Side: Who is in? Who is Out? www.cipa-uk.com for more details.

Community Mission a partnership between Tearfund and Livability (formerly Shaftesbury Society) are hosting Mission in multi-faith communities on 10 March in central London. The day is facilitated by Richard Sudworth, author of Distinctly Welcoming. Richard also runs a community project in a diverse part of Birmingham. The day will focus on evangelism in a multi-faith context and how to maintain a distinctive Christian approach. It is £20/person including lunch. To book, contact Jill Clark or phone 020 7452 2018.

Contextual Theology Centre event for the Week of prayer for Christian Unity. Thursday 21st January, 7.30-9pm at St Paul's Church, Shadwell E1 Christian Unity - for a Change Hear the Revd Ric Thorpe (St Paul's , Shadwell), Capt Nick Coke (Stepney Salvation Army), Sr Una McCreesh (Ursuline Sisters) and Pastor Wayne Brown (NT Church of God) speak about the impact of community organising on their congregations and neighbourhoods.

And still with a Social Justice theme Insidegovernment Tackling Race Inequality: Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society on Tuesday 23rd February, Central London, 09:00 - 14:00 more details at http://insidegovernment.msgfocus.com/c/1iK09ym24tI4QrFOZ).

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

Curtis Mayfield - Keep On Keeping On.

Wallspace exhibition: Richard Gilbert

Here is advance information from Wallspace on their next exhibition - Envisage: a sculptural journey, 10 March – 3 April 2010, Richard Gilbert.

This exhibition of fourteen huge and impressive heads by Richard Gilbert takes us into Easter. The fact that there are 14 sculptures refers to the traditional 'Stations of the Cross', but this is no conventional piece of religious iconography. Each of these, sometimes fearsome, heads is deliberately made using different materials, expressing separate ideas, moods and resonances. Consequently – depending on one's perspective – they may act as a challenging sculptural journey or as the basis for pilgrimage, offering an opportunity for meditation in the run-up to Easter. Whichever way they are approached this collection of heads is a tour de force.

Richard Gilbert is a practicing artist and teacher of Art. He undertook postgraduate Study in Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art, London during 1983-84 where he gained the Barclays Bank Painting Award. Subsequently he was an Abbey Major Scholarship in Painting at the British School a Rome 1984-85. He travelled to the United States on a Harkness Fellowship to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA Program) 1987-89. Recent one-person exhibitions include: Touching Silence - Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, 2002: Fourteen at Leominster Priory Church, Herefordshire and Fourteen at Worcester Cathedral in 2006. Passage, Beardsmore Gallery, London 2000. His work is held in public and private collections including amongst others, Arthur Anderson, Barclays Bank, Clifford Chance, Lloyds of London and Unilever, as well as in the Plymouth Art Gallery and Museum, the Contemporary Art Society, the De Beers Collection and the Victoria Art Gallery, Melbourne.

From 22 June – 16 July, Wallspace will present a world premiere of works recently acquired for the much-loved Methodist Art Collection, together with some of the existing gems. The exhibition will also be part of the City of London Festival 2010.

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

The Low Anthem - Home I'll Never Be.

The Empowerment Map

The Empowerment Map is an exciting new tool designed to enable Londoners to identify community empowerment activities in the Capital. These activities provide people with opportunities to have a say and influence decisions that affect their lives.

As a practitioner, the Empowerment Map will enable you to:

• Promote your own work by uploading activities to the map;
• Share examples of best practice with other practioners and service providers in London.

The Empowerment Map is an opportunity to visually illustrate the range of empowerment activities across London - but the help of practitioners is needed to upload any empowerment activities they or their organisation are leading on, and help ensure that Londoners are able to have their voices heard.

The Empowerment Map can be found on London Civic Forum's new 'Shape your City' website, dedicated to promoting community empowerment in London.

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

Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running.

Church preparation for the election

A general election will be held sometime before 3 June 2010, with predictions for 6 May, the same date as many local elections in England.

The Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website has resources to help churches and Christians in general to prepare for the election. These materials do not support a 'Church' view or party line, but aim to help Christians engage with a range of important issues facing our country, however they may decide to vote.

Faith in Politics: Preparing Churches for the General Election 2010 covers a range of the most important policy issues, such as children and young people, criminal justice, the economy, education, environment, health, migration, poverty, and others. For each topic there are sections on subject background, the main issues, suggested questions to candidates and contact details for more information.

Planning a Hustings Meeting contains guidelines for local churches, Churches Together groups or Christian organisations thinking of organising a hustings meeting.

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

Billy Bragg - Save The Country.

Windows on the world (87)

Bishopsgate, 2010

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

Creed - Oppressed.