'Christianity & the Arts' Email Resource
Sample #9
CHRISTIANITY & THE ARTS - e-resources
FEBRUARY 15, 2004
INDEX of all editions
Contents:
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Articles:
+ Art as Authentic Witness - Colin Harbinson
+ The Biblical Covenant and
Christian Worship
+ Stewardship of
the Environment - Some Possible Roles for Christian Artists
+ CREW Prayer Meeting Cancelled
+ Sound/Audio &
Visual Arts Seminar
+ Beyond the Art of Illumination: The Contemporary Art of
Iran
+ Iranian Art Symposium
+ International Art Days and newsletter
+ Vivid Image - Jo Balisky
- Photography
+ Light The Dark Productions
+ Norlynn Audio Visual Services
- N. Vancouver
+ Mike Harris, Recording Engineer, Campus Crusade
+ With Angelina Van Dyke
News:
+ Update on Jason Carter's Recent Vancouver Tour
Opportunities in the Marketplace:
+ Actor Needed
+ Extras and Volunteers Needed
+ Delta - Juried Exhibition
+ Richmond Art Gallery: Call for Proposals
+ Jack Reid Watercolor Workshop
+ Call for Artists: Casa Publishing
+ Vancouver East Cultural Centre: Call for Youth Art
+ Favourite Book List from our Fellow Artists
+ Christianity & the
Arts Bibliography
+ Books re Reclaiming
Music and the Arts/Christianity & the Arts, etc.
+ Good
Friday Liturgy
+ Royal Shakespeare Company
Dramatized Bible
+ Spread the Word: Advancing the Work
of Bible Translation Through Theatre
+ Hollywood Prayer Network
& Newsletter
+ Cinemazoo - Surrey
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ART AS AUTHENTIC WITNESS - by Colin Harbinson
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"Witnessing to our faith in Christ is deeply embedded in the theology and mission of the Church. Should artists witness through their art? Colin Harbinson looks at what makes a work of art an authentic witness.
Art as Authentic Witness
In mid-sixties Britain, when "Beatlemania" was all the rage and contemporary Christian music was in its infancy, a rock group called The Witnesses emerged onto the scene. I was the drummer in the band. The name defined our identity and our mission. We were making and playing music to the glory of God. It was our response to the commission given by Christ on a mountain east of Jerusalem-to be His witnesses to "the ends of the earth."
Since that day, witnessing to our faith in Christ has been deeply embedded in the theology and mission of the Church. Yet our understanding and outworking of this important concept is often flawed. Every Christian, including the artist, is called to be a witness. What does it mean to be a witness for Christ? Should artists witness through their art? What makes a work of art an authentic witness?
The mandate to take the message of the gospel to "the ends of the earth" was initially carried out through oral stories, passed down from those who had actually witnessed them. Witness is bifocal in its connotation: it involves knowing and making known. A witness is one who has information or knowledge and can therefore bring to light or confirm something.
In the context of Christian mission, to witness is to announce the good news of the gospel. The apostles Peter and John declared, "We cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard." For believers, these two components are inseparable. We are compelled to make known to others what we ourselves know. This is authentic witness.
On another mountain, in an earlier time, the divine lawmaker gave a commandment that is fundamental to any ordered society. He declared, "You shall not bear false witness." If authenticity is the hallmark of true witness, false witness occurs when witness is inauthentic. This includes testifying to what we do not know or adding to what we do know.
The most powerful testimony to the truth of the gospel is the witness of the community life of the Church and the daily lives of its members. Too often there is a "disconnect" between verbal and behavioral witness, leading to accusations of hypocrisy and a lack of integrity.
A tension arises when we fail to live up to what we believe is expected by God or our particular faith community. Failure, with its association of shame and guilt, often leads to concealment and denial. This need to appear spiritual and victorious can also lead to the embellishment of truth in order to bolster our standing in the eyes of our peers. Yet to give the impression of always "having it together" is to deny ourselves the possibility of authentic witness, however spiritual we may think we appear.
In an age when things are often not what they seem, truth is elusive. When words are parsed, visual images manipulated, and spin doctors practice with surgical skill, authentic witness can be a lonely voice crying in the wilderness of the non-contextual sound bite. Neil Postman writes in The End of Education,
To use language to lie and to blur distinctions, to say more than you know or can know, to take the name of the truth in vain-these are offenses against a moral order, and they can, incidentally, be committed with excellent pronunciation or with impeccable grammar and spelling.1
The issue of authentic witness must be confronted in the world of the arts. In his "Ode on a Grecian Urn," the English poet John Keats declares
Beauty is truth, truth beauty, that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.
This beautifully constructed language disguises a distortion and in the process disqualifies its own view of reality. A lie can be beautiful. The form can be executed with the highest level of technical excellence and artistry and the meaning still be a lie, a distortion. When art is a true witness there will be an inner witness to the truth of the artwork. To use T.S. Eliot's phrase, it will have a "ring of truth" to it.
In the rush of daily life, we look at many things, but "see" very little. Frank Whiting captures this lack of awareness when he writes, "Most of our lives drift along in a hubbub of the trivial, the confused, and the habitual, our vision numbed by the blind staggers of conformity." He goes on to describe those eye- opening moments of revelation when "the trivial, confused, and habitual disappear and an awareness of meaning and beauty sweeps over us." He concludes, "It is with moments such as these that great art deals."2
These "moments" can be so striking that there is a compulsion to express or recreate what has been witnessed. When a fragment of life comes into focus, artists seek to capture it on a canvas, in a dance, through a theatrical work, in a musical expression, or in a literary form. As they show their work, they hope others will "witness" something of what they have "seen."
One function of art is to make the familiar appear unfamiliar. This progression from familiar to unfamiliar would appear on the surface to contradict the idea of authentic witness. How can transforming something into what it is not help us to see its true nature? Picasso informs the question by the use of paradox when he describes art as a lie that tells the truth. G. K. Chesterton further points out that the role of paradox is to stand truth on its head. As we engage any subject at hand from a different vantage point, it invites us to "see" with fresh eyes and receive new insight.
Brush strokes, movements or gestures, theatrical sets, or musical scores in and of themselves do not constitute reality. They offer windows through which we can observe some aspect of life or human experience. When the actors leave the stage and the theatre goes dark, we are not under any illusion that what we saw was real. Art by its nature has to do with the imagination. When combined with artistic skill and insight, it can have a profound impact on those who engage it. As has been rightly observed, the purpose of a work of the imagination is not to take us away from reality, but to make reality real. When this happens, art is acting as an authentic witness.
The Biblical narrative is authentic. It is a true witness of human nature at its best and at its worst. It tells of personal success and personal failure. It does not try to cover up or excuse the depravity of humankind. It never glorifies the sin and the rebellion that it exposes. Rather, it shows God's broken heart over His Creation and points to the possibility of restoration through Christ.
For art to be a truthful witness, it must engage all of life-the good and the bad. It should be an honest exploration of the human condition set within a redemptive and transcendent framework. To compromise or distort the truth for misguided motives, political correctness, personal recognition, or economic necessity is to be a false witness.
In the end, all evidence must be weighed and judged, including that of the artist and the artwork. As Christians we are called to be witnesses in our lives and in our art. For a work of art to be a true witness it must be deeply authentic in its portrayal of life as we experience it, yet thoroughly biblical in the breadth of its vision and worldview. As artists, we must embrace God's command and Christ's commission to be faithful witnesses of what we have seen and heard.
1 Neil Postman, The End of Education (New York 1995), p. 84.
2 Frank Whiting, An Introduction to the Theatre (New York 1978) p. 105.
_______________________________________________________________________
Colin Harbinson is a writer, director, producer, and choreographer whose dance
theatre productions Toymaker & Son and Dayuma have been performed in over
60 countries. He was the producer and artistic director of three major international
festivals, the most recent of which was held in the People's Republic of China.
He is currently Dean of the Arts at Belhaven College and Convener for the
"Redeeming the Arts" track of the Lausanne 2004 Forum.
Email www.colinharbinson.com
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Beyond the Art of Illumination: The Contemporary Art
of Iran
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When: Feb 27, 2004 to Mar 21, 2004
Where: CityScape Community Art Space
This international exhibition explores the contemporary artwork of Iranian
painters, whose work has evolved from Iran's artistic traditions of miniaturism
and religious depiction through a process of negotiation and accommodation.
The exhibit features 45 artists from the Society of Iranian Painters. Gallery
Hours: Wed - Sat 12noon- 5pm, Sundays 1-4pm
Ticket Price: n/a
335 Lonsdale Avenue
North Vancouver, BC
V7M 2G3
Email
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iranian Art Symposium
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When: Feb 28, 2004 to Feb 28, 2004
Time: 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Where: 225 East 2nd Street
The North Vancouver Community Arts Council, with Shahrvand-e-Vancouver and
the North Shore Neighourhood House, present: Iranian Art Symposium, Sat. Feb.
28th, 1:30 - 4:30pm. The symposium is in conjuction with the CityScape Community
Art Space exhibition, Beyond the Art of Illumination: The Contemporary Art
of Iran. Join us at the North Shore Neighbourhood House, 225 East 2nd Street,
N.V. for an afternoon of discussion, music, dance and cuisine. Admission is
$10.00 with all proceeds going to the victims of the Bam earthquake. For more
information call the NVCAC at 604-988-6844.
Ticket Price: $10.00
335 Lonsdale Avenue
North Vancouver, BC
V7M 2G3
Email
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INTERNATIONAL ART DAYS - http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/arts/commun/index_e.cfm
For the past few years, at the invitation of UNESCO, the Department of Canadian
Heritage, its partners and Canadians have been celebrating International Music
Day on October 1, World Poetry Day on March 21, World Theatre Day on March
27, and International Dance Day on April 29. These four days are a great opportunity
to celebrate artists, honour arts disciplines, and all those who have a profound
appreciation of the arts. This year, and for a few years to come, Canadian
Heritage will focus its efforts on Canadian youth from 12 to 18 years of age,
in particular by dedicating this specially designed Web site to them. However,
everyone is invited to take part in the festivities and to celebrate these
international arts days
Newsletter - http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/arts/commun/bull_liaison_e.cfm
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NETWORKING:
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LIGHT
THE DARK PRODUCTIONS
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"We've just recently launched our new Christian Entertainment Organization
here in Vancouver British Columbia Canada called Light The Dark Productions.
It's vision is to bring Christian talent together in the three categories
of MUSIC, FILM/TV STAGE PRODUCTIONS and the WEB. We launched only three weeks
ago and it is our FIRST priority to begin building a prayer team. We need
as many people as we can praying for us and those that will be involved. Remember,
what happens in Hollywood usually ends up here in Canada and in "Hollywood
North". We strongly feel God's hand in this venture and are looking for
prayer partners right now. Thank you." Email
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MIKE HARRIS - recording engineer, Campus Crusade for Christ, Langley
Email
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MUSIC LESSONS
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PIANO, THEORY
and VOICE LESSONS with Angelina Van Dyke
RCM and Bachelor's Degree
Specializing in beginners of any age, technical facility, composition, and
playing by ear. Teaches all styles and levels, including Royal Conservatory
Examinations.
Email
Group theory classes as well.
Cost: $18.00 per half hour if the students come to Angelina's home. Depending
on distance to drive and number of students she teaches when driving that
far, it may be more. She usually does three-quarters of an hour for intermediate
students, and that is at $24.00. Advanced students get an hour at $30.00.
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NEWS
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UPDATE ON JASON CARTER's RECENT VANCOUVER TOUR
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(Editor's Note) - As you may recall, we recently had the privilege of having Jason Carter here on his Vancouver tour! Unfortunately I was unable to attend any of his concerts so wanted to see how they had gone…here are a couple encouraging reports that I received, which I wanted to pass on to you.
Jason is hoping to be back in the Vancouver region for several months
this fall and so I wanted to let you know in case you would like to invite
him to do some local concerts at that time - for large or small groups. You
can contact him through his web site at: www.jasoncarter.net
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Grace; Had a great time with Jason Carter last night. He is very, very
talented- tells good stories, and is very personable We had about 28 folks
for our concert- small, intimate, went over very well and I think next time
we would get about 60 or more because the people that were at our concert
would most definitely talk it up. Thanks for making the connection between
us.
Sincerely yours,
Lando Klassen, House of James, Abbotsford
www.houseofjames.com
"... regarding last week's concert with Jason Carter... The concert
was excellent and once again affirmed the high standard of art that is among
Christians artists. After only a few moments of conversation with Jason we
soon found that we have a number of mutual friends worldwide in the Christian
Arts world. We both came to appreciate what a small circle it really is. Jason
is very likeable, with a good stage presence, and is an excellent performer.
I will certainly look forward to his return visit to Canada.
Blessings to you,
Rob Des Cotes, Imago Vancouver Arts Network - Vancouver
www.manifestarts.com
Jason Carter web site: www.jasoncarter.net
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OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MARKETPLACE
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ACTOR NEEDED
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From: Email
Driftwood Players on the Sunshine Coast are in the middle of rehearsing a play called Cash on Delivery. Their lead has declined to continue due to being swamped at work. Is there anyone out there who might jump in and agree to play Eric? There are only two scenes he is not in, and opening night is March 18th. The club can pay, within reason, as they are pretty desperate.
They could, if necessary, put this person up for free, and rearrange rehearsal schedules to suit. If they do not find anyone by the end of this weekend, they will probably cancel and forfeit the money we have already spent.
Contact Marcia Forst at either at home 1-604-886-0682 or work 1-604-885-7443 or by e-mail.
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EXTRAS & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
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From: Email
Audition + Casting Wrkshp, Actors & Extras Needed for Short Film,
Volunteers
Needed
****************
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Production Manager, 1st AD, and PA's required for one-day shoot of independent
TV commercial on either the weekend of Mar. 6th or Mar. 13th (TBA). This production
is low-budget and positions are VOLUNTEER (with a "barter" payment
honorarium).
FYI, cast also required:
Boy 4-8
Girl 4-8
Woman in 30's
Man in 30's-40's
Dog
Call Leaugonn Starmen 604-515-2366
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY (although this opportunity ends today, they may have
other similar opportunities in the future)
Volunteers needed for the New Media SLAM bash on the evening of Saturday February 21, 2004. We need help with coat check, ballot counting, general cleanup during the evening, etc. If you are interested, please email, or for more information about the event check out www.newmediaslam.com.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Steve Rosenberg's short film, "Subway Duel" needs male and female
extras of all ages to fill a busy subway station. This is an excellent, unique
script with International Festival potential. Subway Duel is supported by
Bravo! Fact. Also needed are PA's to assist in production. Shooting dates
are February 21st and 22nd. Please email Women In Film Member Minty Thompson,
Production Coordinator for "Subway Duel"
or call 604 737 0877
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
Audition Workshop with Casting Director CANDICE ELZINGA
Candice Elzinga is an Emmy Nominated Casting Director whose recent credits
include "The Lazarus Child", "Jack" and "Chasing
Freedom". She was the co-casting director for "Jeremiah"and
"The Twilight Zone". In 2003, Candice was honored to receive an
Emmy Nomination for casting "Door to Door", a Movie for TNT starring
William H. Macy. Sides will be hand picked for the students and the day will
be kept moving with a lot of "on camera" time.
Candice believes strongly in "learning by doing", so theory will
be kept to a minimum and questions will be addressed as they surface throughout
the day. A strong emphasis will be placed on the importance of making strong,
creative choices and empowering actors with the confidence to take risks and
"own" their auditions!
WHEN: Friday February 27
TIME: 10:00 to 4:00
WHERE: Tarlington Training, #609-525 Seymour St.
COST: $120 plus GST
Call now to register. Enrollment strictly limited 604-664-0315
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
Power House Casting & Minty's Bo-Bo Doll Productions
The Successful Commercial Audition Workshop
Sunday February 29th 2004
9:00 am - 4:00 pm Lunch provided
Cost $175.00 Power House Casting Studio
Casting Director Drew Walker of Power House Casting and WIFVV Member and Producer Minty Thompson invite you to attend this intensive full day workshop specifically designed for successfully auditioning for a television commercial. Drew Walker has 20 years experience in Toronto working for an array of international clients including Mazda, Budweiser, Home Depot, etc.
Proper slating; Party scene techniques; Dialogue to camera; Dialogue to other actors; Hitting marks and blocking; Improv; Eating for the camera; Etc. Attendees will watch and review tapes with feedback from casting director and leave with audition tape. Space is limited to 14 people. This workshop is almost full.
To register please contact Email
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
DELTA - JURIED EXHIBITION
The Delta Arts Council invites lower mainland artists to participate in their
third annual juried exhibition. Entry is by slide only and entries must be
received on or before March 12, 2004 at 2pm. There are three categories: work
on paper (excluding photography or prints), work on canvas or board, and 3-D
or fabric art. For details visit www.artsdelta.com,
or call 604-596-1025, or email firehall@dccnet.com
========================
Richmond Art Gallery: Call for Proposals
The Richmond Art Gallery is accepting proposals for the 2005-2006 exhibition period. Work in all mediums will be considered. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2004. All submissions must include application form, a maximum of 8 slides, a letter of intent, an artist statement, curriculum vitae and a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage for return of materials. For details or to receive an application by mail, write to the Richmond Art Gallery at 180 - 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, BC, V6Y 1R9, call 604-231-6457, fax 604-231-6423 or email gallery@city.richmond.bc.ca
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Jack Reid Watercolour Workshop
Monday Painters in conjunction with Kent Leisure Services in Agassiz is pleased to host Jack Reid's 3-day workshop. The workshop is geared for all levels of experience and for those who wish to learn more about painting landscape, and in particular the effects of light on snow and water. The dates for this workshop are February 26th - 28th from 9:30am - 3:30pm. It will take place at the Agassiz United Church and the fee for the 3 days is $285. Space is limited, so call 604-796-8891 to register. The Monday Painters are charging this nominal fee to pay for the expenses of hosting Jack Reid, and any additional money raised will go towards hosting future painting workshops. - Vancouver
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Call for Artists: Casa Publishing
Casa Publishing specializes in limited edition giclee prints on canvas and paper. Their market is designer/corporate/art retailer businesses in Canada and the U.S. They invite submissions of contemporary fine art and photography, preferably by email. Please email nmiller@casaartgallery.com or send photos of your work with a self-addresses stamped envelope to N. Miller 100 - 555 Georgia St West, Vancouver, BC V6B 1Z6.
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Vancouver East Cultural Centre: Call for Youth Art
The Vancouver East Cultural Centre (VECC) is hosting its 5th Annual Youth Week Festival "Unleashed and Unashamed" from May 3rd to 9th, 2004. The VECC Youth Panel are looking for artists of all styles and genres to submit works on the theme of the freedom of youth, conveying a message of diversity and acceptance. The "Unleashed and Unashamed" art show is open to all youth ages 14-19 with paintings, photography, prints or collages, or any other form of wall mounted art to exhibit. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2004. For more information or for submission forms visit www.vecc.bc.ca or contact: Jaimie at 604-251-1363, email: youth@vecc.bc.ca.
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FAVOURITE BOOK LIST FROM OUR FELLOW ARTISTS
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Are there any books you would like to see included in a compiled list
in a future edition? If so, please send that info to: GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org
with "C&A book list" in the subject line. Many thanks!
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Please feel free to forward to others that you think would be interested in
subscribing to this free weekly/bi-weekly "Christianity & The Arts"
e-resources list.
To subscribe, email: GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org and put 'FREE Christianity & The Arts' Resources in the subject line. Thank you!
For the Jun 15/03 7 - January 31, 2004 editions, please request at same email address.
Please send me relevant information which you think should be included. This is mostly for folks in the Lower Mainland in BC so events will mostly reflect what's happening in this region, but others are welcome to receiving it as well, however we may not necessarily promote events in other regions (at least not at this point).
Many blessings!!
Grace Wiebe,
Great Commission Worship & Arts Center - Surrey, BC
http://DiscipleTheNations.org/index9.html
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