Introduction
A professor once challenged me to write a theology of art. I
was a student at Briercrest College, graduating with a Bachelor of Art in Theology.
During my exit interview, from my statement of beliefs, the professor drew
attention to an errant vacuum in what I had hastily drawn up. “You are an
artist. Why isn’t this reflected here?” He asked. I was embarrassed. As an
artist and theologian, I had failed. One of the most distinct characteristics
of my person was left out of how I relate to God. What came after was grace. He,
and the other professor attending, offered a conditional pass. From there he
issued his challenge to me first as an artist (the manner in how he related to
me) and second a theologian, was to arrive at a personal theology of art.
It has been six years since I graduated. Challenge accepted.
Chapter One
What is Art?
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Art is necessary. It is not without purpose, not apathetic
or unfeeling. As an expression and outflowing of God’s power, it has vision, it
is emotive, and reaches out to touch. As an aspect of relating to God, a
theology of art is sorely needed.
Art is creative expression. It is the genetic inheritance we
gained from our heavenly father. I do not believe for a second there is a
person on earth who does not have the urge to create. We are only separated by
quality.
Quality is the criteria that divides us into categories.
This is not to say that division is inherently bad. Au contraire, we
were created unique. It is because of this division why we have the spectrum of
the arts: visual, performance, literature etc. And while not all will gain notoriety
for art (I am looking at you, notebook doodlers), we all create along some
manner, usually with pleasure, with emotion.
Art is emotional. Since it is a personal expression, it will
express the individual’s condition. Whether it is good or bad, we will react to
it. There can be no vacuum in reaction, since all art has a purpose or vision.
No artist just paints, writes, or sculpts etc. All art has
purpose. Every artist has a vision for their creation whether they are aware of
it or not. Even landscape paintings have purpose. There are no accidents
(unless you qualify it as modern art).
All these are aspects of what I consider to be art. Since I
identify myself as a painter and writer, I will draw most of my illustrations
and points from those avenues.
Comments
Post a Comment