Craig Detwiler is film maker, professor, writer and promoter of the arts in the Church. In this video (re-posted from his website) he passionately offers a call to ALL artists in the Church to create and inspire the world by harnessing beauty and creating great art for the Kingdom. Let me know what you think in the comments section below, and… let’s do something about it. I am thinking of an “Arts Collaborative” or arts center in Ventura County (and beyond…) where we can create Kingdom art… music, sculpture, graphics, film, music, photos, paintings – all of it. There are SO many churches around with no creative teams or dreams. So many creatives that sit and watch each week, not being available for kingdom advancement. What if we all got together and made something new… collected a bunch of people together and made a difference in our community, our world. I know that *I* want to do this a lot more. I think that there is an avenue for it, one that will support an arts center… but there needs to be some organization in this dream.
I am still dreaming and scheming of a way to get Blue Sky Arts Center, and all that it can be, off the ground… perhaps it can me many things. A training ground, a catalyst, an arts incubator. What do you think? Wanna be part of it?
Rich, you’re singing a sweet song.
Living the gospel life is living a life of shared divinity, and the expression of that sharing is communication.
The more artful the communication the more intense the I – Thou relationship.
The challenge — and it is a mighty challenge — is to honor the divine relationship with God and with one another in our art while we steer around the temptation of putting forth static iconography.
Your plan for creating a center where the “creating of art” or artful divine communication is solid. And much needed.
Perhaps the first step is an interfaith conference of artists who share their passions for communicating through the arts.
Yes Greg, I know you know this song well. Sing it with me. I talked about exactly that thing last night with my wife as I shared this with her… organizing a conference of creators, artisans, divine communicators, in an arena that would allow presentation, interaction, workshop, dialogue, and action. The gathering of a creative collective — a group that would inspire and be inspired — moved to be active in their faith and respond to God’s call to let Spirit move through them — to cause the Beautiful to be exposed…healing of hearts to be started…
In the coming weeks and months, I will begin some dialogue with a few people who are showing interest in developing a conference like this. The time is ripe for it. Let’s talk with Fr Joe when he returns from Assisi.
Peace, Rich
WOW! What a powerful message! I’m excited to see where this leads….
This is awesome. I love that he embraces all forms are art. God is a creative God. Since we are created in his image creative should flow from us freely in every form ever imagined. Thanks for sharing this wonderful message we me. I intend to share it with others. Blessings on your hopes and dreams to see the arts released again in HIS church.
I have been looking for an outlet to use my artistic abilities in the name of God. I camp often, and when I am in God’s country I get inspired. Would love to get His creation on canvas. Currently looking for a workshop to tone my skills because it has been awhile since I painted.