“When was the last time you had an encounter with beauty that moved you to ask the question, ‘What does it all mean?’”
What is art? What is Christian art? What about good Christian art? Professor Hendrix kicks off this course by asking these big questions and reorienting our understanding of art into one that considers both mystery and clarity
Key Terms
Art-making: The enchanted intersection that combines mystery and clarity in new and interesting ways.
Gestalt: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Main Points
- Art is a reflection of our understanding of the story we are telling.
- Evaluating art is about evaluating our idea for what art is supposed to be doing.
- Art embraces the enchanted intersection of mystery and clarity.
- The Bible captures and engages mystery and clarity in its parables, poetry, and stories.
- Engaging with art, including God’s art, requires a willingness to wonder.
- When we engage with art through the lens of the Gospel, mystery and clarity can reflect the truth of the new creation in Christ.
Content Questions
- What image comes to mind when you think of an artist? What about a Christian artist?
- What are some of your favorite examples of art? What about Christian art?
- Which buckets of the “enchanted intersection between mystery and clarity” feel more accessible to you? Which feels more difficult to embrace? Why do you think that is?
- Professor Hendrix says that art is a conduit for seeing as someone else does. How can we use this framework to understand those outside of the church? How can we use it to express our understanding of the story of the gospel?
Application Questions
- How does this framework of art as mystery and clarity compare with the way you see art talked about in your Christian community? How could the Church lead others to experience the story of God’s love through art? Spend some time considering the perceptions of art that are reflected in your communities.
- Who are the artists in your Christian community? What is their involvement in the church if any?