The Indianapolis International Film Festival is currently running at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and I was able to attend a showing last night. I fell in love with the half-hour documentary "The Creation of Torrit Smoke." North Carolina filmmaker John Francis follows painter Blakely Dadson through a 4-month process of creating a painting. It is fascinating from a purely artistic, compositional standpoint, but the parts I found truly inspiring were those where Dadson talked about the creative process and the spirituality of it. He had some interesting things to say about the perils of perfectionism, the nature of art as a calling, and the way in which painting is often more like discovering something old than creating something new.
Click here to read a review of the film, or take a look at the trailer below.
A Charlotte businessman created a poster of homeless people holding up words to The Lord's Prayer, which inspired a Winston-Salem surgeon to create a similar poster with words to a Bible verse, which in turn inspired a former teacher from Thomasville to create a poster.
Sales of the three posters have brought more than $14,000 to help the homeless.
And there's no telling where Brian Hadley's idea may turn up next.
I like this idea on a basic level--visually reclaiming the Lord's Prayer on behalf of ALL God's people, and I particularly like the approach to embodying Matthew 25 with one of the other posters. And from where I'm sitting right now in my old bedroom in my parents' house in Charlotte, I can turn my head just over my right shoulder and see one of those Lord's Prayer posters on my wall. I like the poster, and I was glad to see the article in this morning's Charlotte Observer.
But I'm currently taking Amy Laura Hall's introductory Ethics course at Duke Divinity, and we recently discussed representation via media of other cultures and socioeconomic stations--a distressing conversation about how to deal with issues like poverty and development without objectifying or exploiting the human beings on whom such "issues" ultimately center. So I'm hyper-aware of problems of paternalism and the like right now, and I can't help but get mildly uncomfortable at a photo of a businessman in a suit holding a framed poster covered with images of unnamed "homeless people."
There's nothing inherently wrong going on here, and I applaud Mr. Hadley's attempt to bring the Lord's Prayer "home" in a real, jarring way, particularly with a philanthropic thrust. I just wanted to name a few things that might have made me like the article (and maybe the poster too) even more: names. Stories. Reactions. It is inspiring--to middle class folks like me--to hear how this idea has spread and raised money for organizations supporting the homeless. But I'm curious how "the homeless" feel about it. How do they understand the Lord's Prayer? Matthew 25? In simply putting together the image, we're given a hint of a reflection on such questions, but no real answer. I want to challenge people like me to be concerned with such answers.
Senior communication studies major Kuamel Stewart is passionate about jazz music and playwriting. He combines those two loves into one with the Feb. 23 debut of “Kind of Blue,” a play he wrote that explores male identity. The title of the play comes from the 1959 Miles Davis’ modal jazz album, “Kind of Blue.”
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Preview night is 6 p.m. Feb. 23. The play will be performed Feb. 24-28 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 26-27 at 2 p.m in Playmakers Theatre, 202 E. Cameron Ave. After the Feb. 24 show, theater-goers can enjoy a free live performance of Miles Davis’ iconic album at 10 p.m. in Room 1201 of the Kenan Music Building as part of the Carolina Jazz Festival. Free tickets to the play are available at the Memorial Hall Box Office in person, by calling (919) 843-3333 or online at http://memorialhall.unc.edu. On March 1, the cast and crew will hold a “talk back” session to further explore the themes of masculinity at 7 p.m. in the Carmichael Dormitory ballroom.
At first glance, it might seem odd to spend the longest night of the year celebrating the return of the sun. For many of our Pagan ancestors, this was the essence of the winter solstice mystery... With lives rooted deeply in the rhythm of the seasons, they were dependent upon the reliability of their gods and goddesses to once again return the sun and its greening of the Earth. This night, the turning point from darkness to light, was more than just a metaphorical reflection on the meaning of winter; it was a choice between life or death... Keep Reading
Our Mission We are Christians called to minister through our creative gifts to foster worship which makes disciples of Jesus Christ.
We Value Worship Arts that lead to spirituality and faith formation. Relationships that lead to hospitality, fellowship and nurture.
We Are... Musicians, clergy, dancers, artists, lay ministers, and others, all involved in creating, supporting and implementing worship in local congregations.
An affiliate of The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship and serves as a resourcing organization to its members.
An open fellowship that provides training on all aspects of worship through its events and publications.
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In June, FUMMWA hosted the Music and Worship Arts Week at Lake Junaluska, NC. Their website has all kinds of resources, from their Worship Arts publication to an annual Lectionary Guide and more. How did I not know about this? This is awesome! -- Sarah
The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County in North Carolina, incorporated in 1949, was the first locally established arts council in the country. Once of its goals is to make the city of Winston-Salem a “City of the Arts.” We spoke with Randall Tuttle, Chair of the Creative Corridors Coalition about Winston-Salem’s MICD 25 project.
I know the blog hasn't been updated in a while, but I just spent a week at Carolina Cross Connection with our youth group, and even sans internet, it was awesome! Here's my little contribution to the blog from the stores of my own field education experience: a video/slideshow I put together about our time at CCC. Enjoy. I'll be catching up on posting ASAP. -- Sarah
Join us on Friday, July 9th, from 6-9 pm during Carrboro-Chapel Hill's Friday night ArtWalk for receptions in both of our galleries. Enjoy light refreshments and meet the artists.
The East End Gallery features "They Bite Because They're Alive": oil paintings by Carrie Alter. The Center Gallery includes the work of The Pastel Society of North Carolina. Exhibits are on view until July 31st.
Please stop at our Box Office for a map listing all the participating venues and the work being featured. Or, visit http://www.artscenterlive.org/pdfs/Map6_10 for a map of venues for the June event.
Deciding how to teach history involves making tough decisions about what the past means and how we should remember it. That can be a messy process, as the N.C. Department of Public Instruction learned last winter. Their proposed changes to the history curriculum drew an impassioned response. But the classroom isn't the only place where history is taught. Public art also aims to portray a narrative of the past, with monuments saying as much about the societies that erect them as those being memorialized.
"State clergy will meet in Charlotte tomorrow to discuss the theological and practical sides of the immigration debate.
Seeking to encourage constructive dialogue, clergy members are expected to discuss the controversial Arizona immigration law and how they relate with local enforcement efforts such as Mecklenburg County’s 287g program."
"I've been preparing for a talk I’m giving on Monday, June 7, 7pm (to be repeated Wednesday, June 9, 11am) called Talking with God Using Beauty, our Brains, and the Bible. We will look at how Darwin, Monet, Mozart, Michelangelo, Einstein, Charlie Brown, Chopin, and Jewel help us to know God. It’s “multimedia,” meaning I’ve got power point images, and there will also be live music."
Earlier today, I got a Facebook event invitation called "Bar Church." Intrigued, I clicked to learn more. Turns out a friend's band is leading worship and playing music at a service being held at The Oliver Twist Lounge, an upscale bar in Raleigh. This is Another Level. It's sponsored by Benson Memorial United Methodist Church. Here's Another Level's mission statement:
Here’s what we believe. God created us to come together, to help and serve one another, to recognize that everything comes from God, and that we’re all in the same big boat—trying to figure out how to live. God created us to acknowledge that nobody’s perfect, forgiveness is possible, and everyone has a place.
We’re created to figure out what to do when you or someone else screws up. We believe what we do in our community affects countless persons around the globe; what happens in far off places amongst complete strangers somehow matters to us.
We believe God calls us to discover our passions and to be in community with others, to choose love over greed, and peace over strife. We think that’s true community, inspired by Jesus.
We think that's Another Level.
I don't know how I feel about the idea in general, but it's fascinating. Meeting in a bar opens doors for people who swore never to set foot in a church again, or people who are afraid of judgment (which, sadly, is not an unjustified fear in many congregations). The teaching and discussion topics recently have been things like "No Matter What You've Done" and "Second Chances." They're putting the idea of redemption and reconciliation at the very forefront of their belief statement. That is cool.
Of course, there's always the lingering question in my mind about where the line is between connecting with the reality of this world and keeping ourselves separate--being in the world but not of the world. Being completely cordoned off alienates the church from the people and vice versa. But the church also has to be careful not to be subsumed into our culture. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds" (Romans 12:2). Where is the line? Is Another Level compensating for too much separation? -- Sarah
Lots of Christian coffeehouses are lame. Not Hope Cafe. This place has great food and drinks, an awesome stage that regularly hosts local musical acts, and walls that serve as an art gallery for Christian artists. The contact person for the cafe is Eric Beavers, Hope Fellowship Church's Pastor of Creative Arts. Watch this video and read on to learn more.
"Come and immerse yourself in a friendly and visual environment that showcases local art, music, multimedia, books, Free Wi-Fi, and unique gifts. We host live music on Saturday nights and 'open mic nights' on Friday. We also offer book readings and discussion groups- among many other things.
See our home page for hours and directions and our calendar for monthly events.
What makes Hope Cafe unique and sets it apart from other coffee houses in the area is our purpose. Hope Cafe was birthed by dedicated Christians who want to offer a gathering place where people can come to see, hear, feel, taste, and even smell the aroma and Spirit of God in different ways on every day of the week.
Hope Cafe is a living and breathing community of believers who through Christ want to offer Hope, Faith and Love. Hope Cafe is our “Front Porch” to the community in which we live, work and serve together as the Body of Christ.
Hope Cafe seeks to help unite the Body of Christ to make a difference in the community in which we live. We strive to help build the Kingdom of God instead of church buildings. We seek to help believers to mature as disciples and friends of Christ as a priority over church membership. We are dedicated to providing local hands on mission and ministry opportunities for anyone who wants to help make this a better community of Hope, Faith and Love.
Hope Cafe is a Christian Cafe and a Non-Profit ministry of Hope Fellowship Church. Profits from the Cafe go back into the missions and ministries of this Christian endeavor.
Every Sunday, at 10:30am, we gather to worship at Hope Cafe. EVERYDAY we are inviting, engaging and empowering one another to live life to its fullest."
Bet you didn't ever expect to read the words "fine art" in the same sentence with "comics." Here's something a little different for anyone doing field ed this summer in the Charlotte area (or anyone who's really committed to being a fanboy/fangirl...): Super! The Fine Art of Comics. The exhibit opened yesterday (which just happened to be Free Comic Book Day) and will run through June 4. It's on display at Twenty-Two, "Charlotte's Premiere Art Gallery and Wine Bar."
Just trying to make sure this blog has something for everyone. EVERYONE. This is how I'm going to get my boyfriend to visit me this summer. :)
Between strength and instability, between vulnerability and pride are the working poor. One paycheck away from being homeless…again. Everyday they maintain the balancing act of holding a job and simply holding it together. Everyday we see them teaching and caring for our children, working in the stores and restaurants we frequent, and providing vital services to our community; we never know how close to the edge they really are.
Photographer and project creator Susan Sidebottom has captured working families on the uphill climb from homelessness to housing in “On the Edge: Homeless and Working Among Us.” Come to understand their experience through the power of the image.
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Click here to learn more about the exhibit or view the full collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Carroll Hall, through May 17, 2010.
The Indianapolis International Film Festival is currently running at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and I was able to attend a showing last night. I fell in love with the half-hour documentary "The Creation of Torrit Smoke." North Carolina filmmaker John Francis follows painter Blakely Dadson through a 4-month process of creating a painting. It is fascinating from a purely artistic, compositional standpoint, but the parts I found truly inspiring were those where Dadson talked about the creative process and the spirituality of it. He had some interesting things to say about the perils of perfectionism, the nature of art as a calling, and the way in which painting is often more like discovering something old than creating something new.
