CC

Absolutely, many artworks I have engaged with have been created by artists that I have little to no similarities with and it has been extremely helpful in being able to understand their perspectives. I think art has a rare opportunity to give us helpful insight into the minds of others and any opportunity to do this just helps me understand people as a whole better. I know recently that in these crazy times I have seen incredible art about both political and social issues that are not only informative but also provocative in a way that begs action.

I think art has definitely changed my mind especially recently as I’ve seen many artists focusing on incredibly difficult political and social issues. For me art has a very different lens that can transcend a lot of preconceived notions that I often approach these issues with. I think engaging with this kind of art is important as even if you don’t agree you’re able to simply get another perspective which hopefully will build a more tolerant and accepting world.

I think good art to me often comes from conceptual elaboration and successful execution. I think what makes that art good to me is the fact that artists are able to create a concept and then bring them to reality which I believe is an incredible skill. Skill and craftsmanship is also an important part of art that I think must be present in order for me to view it as good.

I think one of the key things in art being made to glorify God is intentionality. I think even vastly abstract conceptual art that on the surface might not seem Godly at all can be made to glorify God if the artist is aware and present with the gifts God has given them. I think what that looks like is artists being not only incredibly intentional about their art but also their faith simultaneously. This is not an easy task! I think what it doesn’t look like is an artist who creates purely for secular reasons such as fame or monetary gain.

Personally one way that I see God renew my mind consistently is with a feeling of peace. In my most stressful moments I am still constantly amazed in the power of prayer and scripture to bring me back down from my anxieties.

My manifesto for creative christian.

I also enjoyed reading the bits from the book and found Genesis 1:27 to really drive the point of the readings home. One thought that really struck me was that when we get trapped reading the bible as an instruction manual searching for an easy step by step guide it is incredibly easy to believe that, “Absence of instruction [in the bible] means absence of approval.” Obviously as artist’s created in the image of God we know this not to be true but what awful interpretation that I so many times have fallen victim to. I also found this quote near the end of the reading to be incredibly inspiring, powerful, and overall just really drove the point home of creating ‘Christian art”, “We, God’s image-bearers, are designed to function in relationship. Not just a male/female relationship of physical delight, but a working relationship, sharing together the task we have been given - with each other and with God.”

What are the qualifications of an artist in the eyes of our society? What artists do I like that don’t consider themselves artists? How do we decipher an artist between a designer? 

Poser was the word that I chose when creating this project because I often feel like my work is defined by its ability to impress others. Especially when sharing my art this need for approval has become so ingrained in my psyche that I often feel like a poser creating art simply for gratification. Wether it’s because my work uses concepts i’ve seen others use or just a lack of confidence I often get extremely nervous when sharing my art and feel judged for a lack of originality. This need to impress others is something that I feel has plagued my artistic history and is something I often struggle with.

I think that artists have the unique opportunity to provide their audience with joy, thoughtful interactions, introspection, and inspiration through a physical medium. Art also has the ability to bring thoughtful critique to political and social issues getting others to engage in tangible ways. I don’t think that an artist inherently has a role but I do believe that artists should seek to find a role that not only fulfills them but also a greater purpose. As artist’s we have a unique role and ability in society to use our creative nature not only for our own personal gain but also to make a difference in the world.

I really enjoyed watching the video and reading the articles about the incredibly different ways artist’s throughout history have defined art. One artist’s definition that resonated with me was that of Lesley Birch, “It’s a human urge to express emotion through the medium of mark-making. We all carry with us memories of our past experiences.” I think this definition for me encapsulates a lot of what makes art such a unique and special vehicle for communication. I also like the emphasis she puts on past experiences and I agree that our past experiences often shine through in our art. Another definition of art that stood out to me which has a more impact driven approach is by William Faulkner, “The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.” I think this mental dialogue of thinking about your art 100 years in the future can help you assess the impact of your work and lead you to question how you want your art to make an impact. No matter what your definition of art is I think it is important to remember, as it said in the video, that you don’t need a definition of art and in fact it is up to you to decide how art is defined. By not defining art and leaving it open to interpretation we also leave it open to change and growth in ways that often can’t be defined.