A&O Meetup in Oklahoma City Museum of Art + Film: "Tree of Life"

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest Britton

There is no place like Oklahoma City, and there's no larger collection of Abrahamic Bibles on display anywhere else in the world. Join us for "Passages" at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art on Saturday, July, 9, 2011.

• Connect with: Greg Disney (@GregoryDisney)
• Exhibit Title: "Passages, The Bible Experience"
• Day/Time: Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 10 am
• Location: Oklahoma City Museum of Art
• Cost: $10 for non-members
• RSVP: Call (317)755-8400 for an iteniary for the entire weekend including Muslim cemetary, Hindu Temple, and Buddhist Temple.

A&O will also Meetup at 8:15pm the evening of Saturday, July 9 to view the new film, "Tree of Life" starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. This limited release film is being shown at AMC Quail Springs Mall 24, 2501 West Memorial. Categorized as Drama/Sci-Fi/Fantasy, many interpret the film as an allegory about God and nature, life and death.



Join A&O for coffee and dialogue right after the movie at Cafe NOVA, 4308 North Western Avenue, open Saturday 'til 2am; or follow on Twitter @ErnestBritton.

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Sand Sculpture Honors Hindu Holy Man

Sathaya Sai Baba (1926-2011),
A sand sculpture by Sudarshan Pattnaik [Read Post]



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Buddhist Monk Displays Art in Bangkok

Conceptual work by Chitti Kasemkitvatana [Read Post]

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Saudi Artwork Sets Auction Record: $843,000

"Message/Messenger" by Abdulnaser Gharim [Read Post]



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AO-PROJECT: ARTS

BY ERNEST BRITTON

We received big news this week! The Alpha & Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts proposal has been accepted into the highly competitive 16th annual Spirit & Place Festival (our first attempt). I also learned that the juror's gave our project proposal THE highest score!

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SABBATH ART | NEWS IN REVIEW

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Tahlib, A.O.A.

"ONE NATION UNDER GOD" (above) by Jon McNaughton, and other religious and spiritual arts news stories of the past week are listed below. The stories are grouped into five faith categories: Buddhist; Hindu; Islamic; Christian; and Other.

BUDDHIST:

• Harvard Welcomes Chinese Religious Art Expert, James Robson (USC US-China Institute)
• Transcendental Transmission in Bangkok (Bangkok Post)

HINDU:

• Book Review: "Living Traditions in Indian Art" (The Hindu)
• Holy Man, Sai Baba laid to rest in India (Deccan Chronicle)
• Sudarshan Pattnaik - Sand Sculpture Honors Hindu Holy Man Sathya Sai Baba (AP/NPR)
• Announcement of Passing of Spiritual Guru Sathya Sai Baba (Video News)

ISLAMIC:

• Saudi Artist Achieves Auction Record (Arab News)

CHRISTIAN:

• "One Nation Under God" Pulled From Mormon College Bookstore (Dessert News)
• Danish Artworks Resonate with Mormons (KSL News)
• 10-foot Religious Mosaic Mysteriously Appears Near San Diego (KABC-TV)
• Ascension Press Updates Catholic Study Guide (Earned Media)
• Jeremy Cowart's Portrait of Christ, via Video (CIVA)
• Pittsburgh Mural is USA's 2nd Largest of the Ascension of Christ (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
• Impact of Playing the Role of Jesus During Holy Week (Indianapolis Star)
• An Overview of the Mormon Church in Indiana (Mormon Temple)
• Tom de Freston's new altar reredo "Desposition and Resurrection" (AOA)
• Anonymous Artist Creates Online Defense of "Piss Christ" (Reportage)
• Book Review: A New Definitive History of Christian Art in “Ars Sacra” (Big Think)
• Who Wrote the Books of the Bible? (Chronically Christian)
• Russian Jeweler Takes Inspiration From Orthodox Church (St. Petersburg Times)
• Artist Scott LoBaido: Victory from the Right to Hate (Staten Island Advance)
• Easter at Atlanta's Sister Louisa's Church (Creative Loafing)
• "How Great Thou Art" by Carried Underwood and Vince Gill (YouTube)
• Blessed Art Thou: A Celebration of Mary in Art and Story on May 18 (Mercer Space)
• Nicollo Cosmes Love for Christian Icons Earns Intl Award (GMA News)
• King James Bible to be 400 on May 1st (Metro)
• San Jose Museum of Art to Present R. Crumb's "Genesis" (Press Release)

OTHER/INTERFAITH:

• Art Review: Liza Lou in California (Los Angeles Times)
• NJ Artist Michelle Romanelli Paints Toward the Light (Daily Record)
• Religious Art on Display at Michigan's Artworks Through April 30 (Big Rapids Press)
• Hunter Reynolds: Art as Survival in the Age of AIDS (Huffington Post)

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AOA MUSEUM LISTINGS

All displays and exhibitions below are at US museums unless otherwise noted:

COLORADO: Denver Museum of Art: ""Cities of Splendor: A Journey Through Renaissance Italy," through July 31. This show focuses mostly on second- and third-tier artists — many well-regarded by experts — such as Giovanni da Bologna. Denver has one of just four known signed paintings by the Venetian artist, "The Coronation of the Virgin" (circa 1380). 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, CO, (720) 865-5000, deverartmuseum.org.


ILLINOIS: Art Institute of Chicago: "Kings, Queens, and Courtiers: Art in Early Renaissance France," through May 30. One reviewer wrote that this show is so good, they don't even feature the Leonardo da Vinci in their promotions. 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, ILL, (312) 443-3600, artic.edu/aic.

INDIANA: Indianapolis Museum of Art: "Hard Truth: The Art of Thornton Dial," through September 18. A twenty year retrospective featuring 70 of Dial's large-scale paintings, drawings and found-object sculpture. 4000 Michigan Rd., Indianapolis, IN, (313)923-1331, imamuseum.org.

KENTUCKY: Owensboro Museum of Fine Art Art: "The Divine in Art," through May 31. More then 150 objects by a range of artists — from European master Rembrandt to Kentucky sculptor Jeanne Dueber, a nun and artist in residence at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Loretto — are part of a major survey of religious art. 901 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY, (270) 685-3181, omfa.us.

MARYLAND: Walters Art Museum: ‘Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics, and Devotion in Medieval Europe,’ through May 15. Holy relics — the physical remains of the venerated dead — were objects of Christian devotion from Roman times. 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, (410) 547-9000, thewalters.org.

MISSOURI: Museum of Contemporary Religious Art: "Georges Rouault: Miserere et Guerre," through July 31. A small interfaith museum with a contemporary art focus in a former college chapel, on the residential campus of 221 N. Grand Blvd., Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, MO, (314) 977-2999, slu.edu.edu/x27662.xml.

NEW JERSEY: African Art Museum of the SMA Fathers: "Permanent Collection, Part I," through May 29. SMA is another small unorthodox museum in a stained-glass-windowed hall beside a church, on the residential campus of a Roman Catholic missionary order in a leafy New Jersey suburb. 23 Bliss Avenue, Tenafly, NJ, (201) 894-8611, smafathers.org/museum.

NYCITY: Japan Society: ‘Bye Bye Kitty!!! Between Heaven and Hell in Contemporary Japanese Art,’ through June 12. 333 East 47th Street, NYC, (212) 832-1155, japansociety.org.

NYCITY: Museum of Arts and Design: ‘The Global Africa Project,’ through May 15. A survey mixing contemporary art, design and craft by some 120 participants who are mostly African or of African descent. 2 Columbus Circle, NYC, (212) 299-7777, madmuseum.org.

NYCITY: Museum of Biblical Art: "Passion in Venice: Crivelli to Tintoretto and Veronese," through June 12. This fascinating exhibition presents about 60 paintings, sculptures and objects by famous artists and unidentified artisans, all representing a major iconic image of Christendom: Jesus as the Man of Sorrows, post-Crucifixion, pre-Resurrection. 1865 Broadway, at 61st Street, NYC, (212) 408-1500, mobia.org.

PENNSYLVANIA: Brandywine River Museum: "Barry Moser: Bookwright," through May 22. US 1 in Chadds Ford, PA, (610)388-2700, brandywinemuseum.org.

WASHINGTON (STATE): Jundt Art Museum: "Bolker Collection: Fritz Eichenberg," through July 30. The display includes "Ten Wood Engravings for the Old Testament" and include pieces such as the well-known "The Peaceable Kingdom," "And David Played the Harp" and "The Story of Jonah." The museum is located on the campus of Gonzaga University. 502 East Boone Avenue • Spokane, WA, (800) 986.9585, http://www.gonzaga.edu/.


LAST CHANCE TO SEE:

PENNSYLVANIA: Andy Warhol Museum: "Word of God: Sandow Birk's American Quran," through today, May 1, 2011. The paintings are reflections by an American artist of Persian miniatures and of Christian illuminated manuscripts, having a delicacy and refinement of image centered with panels containing the words of Mohammed. 117 Sandusky Street, Pittsburgh, (412) 237-8300, warhol.org.

UTAH: BYU Museum of Art: "Carl Bloch: The Master's Hand," through May 7. Beloved by members of the LDS church, the exhibition is the most well-attended show the museum has had in 15 years, with more than 250,000 people coming to see the Danish master's paintings. Advance tickets are no longer available, but people can still try to enter through a standby line to see if someone has cancelled a reservation. Bringham Young University, North Campus Drive, Provo, UT, (801) 422-8287, carlbloch.byu.edu/.

COMING SOON:

OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma City Museum of Art: "Passages," opens May 16. The museum will be the first stop for a worldwide traveling exhibition of historic biblical texts and artifacts collected by Hobby Lobby President Steve Green. 415 Couch Drive, Oklahoma City, OK, (405)236-3100, okcmoa.com.

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Danish Artworks Resonate with Mormons

KSL NEWS
By Nicole Warburton

One of 23 Carl Bloch paintings inside Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerod, Denmark.

DENMARK - About a mile’s walk through the streets of this picturesque and quaint little town is Frederiksborg Castle. It’s perched in the middle of a lake, and tourists aptly describe it as the Versailles of Denmark, with its meandering gardens and majestic inside rooms. But members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consider this castle special for a different reason. It’s home to a series of paintings by 19th-century Danish artist Carl Bloch on the life of Christ. Since 1955, when few images were actually used by the LDS Church in publications, these paintings have been used to illustrate more than 300 issues of the Improvement Era or the Ensign. They can also be seen in LDS meetinghouses, temples and other buildings. And now, perhaps as result of the extensive use of these Frederiksborg paintings, a special exhibit of other artworks and altarpieces by Bloch is now on display at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art in Provo. [link]

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Art Review: Liza Lou in California

LOS ANGELES TIMES
By Leah Ollman

"Zulu love letter" by Liza Lou

CALIFORNIA - Liza Lou’s first Los Angeles show since 1998, at L&M, features more than 30 works, all but one made since 2008: sculptures on pedestals and on the floor, mounted on the wall and hanging from it in the manner of paintings, a small selection of drawings, and one large installation. Over the years, Lou has made both oblique and direct reference to her upbringing in an evangelical Christian family. Religious symbols and objects appear regularly in her work. But beneath its brilliant, ever-changing public sheen, the work also tracks the difficult, nuanced evolution of a spiritual self, a political self, a socially conscious self. That rich interiority makes the exterior gleam all the brighter. [link]

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Hunter Reynolds: Art as Survival in the Age of AIDS

HUFFINGTON POST
By G. Roger Denson

NEW YORK - The myth of the modern medical cure both inspires and deludes us. It's within this overlapping zone of hope and uncertainty that arose with AIDS that I see the art of Hunter Reynolds fulfilling a unique need. His art has been conceived entirely in response to the shocking mortality, disillusionment and prejudice that came flooding in on the AIDS generation. New York city residents and visitors can see the exhibition "Hunter Reynolds: Survival AIDS," a new series of works that incorporates elements spanning 25 years of image making, and constructed around Reynolds' experience as a gay man living in the age of AIDS. Survival AIDS will combine three modalities that he has used in various ways in his work over the years: the Blood Spot series (above), Mummification Performance Skins (below), and Photo Weavings. At Participant Inc., 253 East Houston, NYC, May 1 - June 5, 2011.

A Franciscan friar I know some years back impressed upon me his belief that spirituality is no more nor less than learning to let go. This lesson is most poignantly embodied in the Mourning Flowers and Cloud Photo-Weavings and, of course, the Memorial Dress, in which the many men and women who died of AIDS are commemorated. It was Hunter Reynolds, not the now deceased Patina du Prey, who enacted the mummification performances between 1999 and 2005. Potentially dangerous for an individual with a low T-cell count, the performances offered audiences both in galleries and on the street a compelling visual ritual of suspense as the artist was wrapped alive and standing vertically with cellophane and tape by assistants, then set to rest for near-unendurable durations horizontally on the floor. [link]

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Philippians 4:6-7 (No Worries!)

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Saudi Artists Achieve New Records in Dubai's Art Auction

ARAB NEWS

"Message/Messenger" By Abdulnasir Gharim

SAUDIA ARABIA - Last week was special for the Saudi artists in Christie's Fine Art Auctions – Middle East, which was held in Dubai, UAE. In the auction, artworks of artists from all over the world were displayed, including outstanding artworks for Saudi artists within the framework of "Edge of Arabia" exhibition, which is supported by ALJ Community Initiatives. The auction witnessed a new record through an artwork made by the contemporary Saudi artists Abdulnaser Gharim titled "Message/Messenger". The artwork is a 3 meter-height dome of wood and copper representing the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem. The price of the work reached USD 842,500, which equals ten times its starting price. In an interview, the Saudi artists Abdulnaser Gharim said about his achievement. [link]

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Nicollo Cosme's Love for Christian Icons Earns Int'l Award

GMA NEWS
By Kimberly Jane Tan

"Brotherhood of Men" by Niccolo Cosme

KOREA - Niccolo Cosme, a 30-year-old Filipino fashion and commercial photographer, beat more than 500 entries from Japan, Korea, Philippines, China, USA and Canada to win the 2011 Asia Pacific District Photographic Competition of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). "I use this imagery to easily catch attention, because of its iconic stature... most especially in our country, which is predominantly Christian. It's safe to say that it may look very Christian but I am trying to show you a totally different story," he said. Cosme said his award-winning work, "The Brotherhood of Men," which showed seven men dashing in the same direction, is a call "to all humanity to come together so we can reach our goals together as one." [link]

"Return to Innocence"

"The Matriarch"

"Alone"

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Artist Jon McNaugton Pulls Artwork from Mormon College Bookstore

DESSERT NEWS
By Sara Israelson-Hartley

"One Nation Under God" by Jon McNaughton

UTAH - As thousands of women flock to the BYU Bookstore during Women's Conference this week, one artist's work will be noticeably absent. Utah painter Jon McNaughton decided to remove all of his artwork from the bookstore after school officials decided they would no longer sell one of his most famous, and politically charged paintings, "One Nation Under God," which features Jesus Christ holding the U.S. Constitution, flanked by public figures and representative individuals. [link]

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10-foot Religious Mosaic Mysteriously Appears Near San Diego

KABC-TV

10-foot stained glass mosaic called the 'Surfing Madonna'

CALIFORNIA - A stained glass mosaic is stirring up some controversy. The 10-foot by 10-foot mosaic called the "Surfing Madonna" appeared a few days before Easter on the bridge east of Highway 101 in Encinitas. The Madonna, wearing wetsuit booties, is surfing the face of a wave and appears with the slogan, "Save the Ocean." The mosaic was put up in the middle of the day by mystery men in hardhats near a busy intersection. The installers haven't identified themselves, and it's unclear whether the bridge is owned by the city or North County Transit District. [link]

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SJMA to Feature Comic Book Artist R. Crumb's Book of Genesis June 23 – September 5, 2011

SAN JOSE MUSEUM
Press Release

CALIFORNIA - The San Jose Museum of Art will showcase the work of legendary underground comic artist R. Crumb this summer. The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis will be on view from June 23 through September 25, 2011. The exhibition will feature 207 individual, black-and-white drawings from Crumb's critically acclaimed 2009 adaptation of the first book of the Bible, which incorporates every word from all fifty chapters. The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb was published by W.W. Norton in October 2009.  In his review of the book for the New York Times David Hajdu wrote, "Crumb luxuriates in the carnality of Genesis without playing it for gratuitous shock or comic effect." 110 South Market Street in downtown San Jose, CA, (408) 271-6840, SanJoseMuseumofArt.org.[link]

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Holy Man, Sai Baba laid to rest in India

DECCAN CHRONICLE

INDIA - Sai Baba, whose message of universal love and brotherhood attracted millions of followers across the globe, was today [on Wednesday] interred at the very spot from where he used to meet and address his disciples for years. The mortal remains of the 85-year-old spiritual leader, whose clout spread far and wide among both the commoners and the high mighty, were buried after the last rites were performed by his nephew R.J. Ratnakar in accordance with vedic customs following full police honours.

• Sai Baba's body was buried amidst chanting of 'sai' mantras.
• Body laid in a pit created at the spot in Sai Kulwant where the spiritual leader preached
• The spot is now now expected to become an eternal memorial for Sai Baba
• The body was laid to rest in line with the practice adopted for Hindu spirital leaders.
• Normally, Hindus cremate their bodies.
• bu Naidu and other leaders went to the samadhi sprinkled sacred ash at the spot.
• Sai Baba's body lay in state in a glass coffin since Sunday night
• The body was removed and wrapped in national tri colour.
• Men of the Andhra Pradesh Armed Police sounded the last post and fired 21 shots in the air
• Then the tri colour was removed and verses from Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Sikh, Judaism and Buddhist scriptures were read out by leaders from these sects.
• Later, they joined in sprinkling the sacred ash at the samadhi spot as 'mangal aarti' was performed.
• With Sai Baba's body draped in his favourite saffron robe, the last rites were performed, while priests recited vedic chants.
• Water from sacred rivers from all over the country were sprinkled on Sai Baba's body along with cow urine. Cow, honey, ghee and silk were given as gifts to priests.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, political leaders from various parties, Chief Ministers and personalities from various fields including cricket and films had visited Puttaparthi in the last two days to pay their homage. An estimated five lakh people from various parts of the country and abroad had filed past the body to have a final glimpse of their spiritual guru. [link]

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King James Bible's 400th Birthday: May 2, 2011

METRO

UNITED KINGDOM - Next month the King James Bible celebrates its 400th birthday. The tome, which first went on sale on May 2, 1611, took previous English language versions and created a definitive Bible that became the most influential book ever written, a cornerstone of British society, permeating everything from art and literature to politics and morality, here and around the world. "All societies need a common fund of stories and sayings," says the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. "Not just to help them get along but to help them agree about their goals and ideals. For several hundred years, the King James Bible was probably the most important bit of that common fund for most English-speaking people." However, 400 years on it’s arguably less of a cultural force than it once was. Britain is becoming increasingly multi-faith and, at the same time, the numbers of atheists and agnostics have risen. [link]

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Russian Jeweler Takes Inspiration From Orthodox Church

THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
By Galina Stolyarova

RUSSIA - Vladimir Mikhailov occupies the unique position of a jeweler crafting collections inspired by Orthodox symbols, saints and values in a centuries-old technique developed in the 12th and 13th centuries in northern Russia — and all with the blessing of the Russian Orthodox Church. Carved in silver or gold in an ascetic style using a highly intricate technique, Mikhailov’s rings, pendants and crosses have proved equally appealing to both the clergy — originally the artist’s main clientele — and secular, even non-religious customers. His clients include Queen Sophia of Spain and Hollywood stars such as Mickey Rourke, both of whom bought items of jewelry spontaneously while shopping in St. Petersburg. [link]

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Transcendental Transmission in Bangkok

BANGKOK POST
By Pattara Danutra

Chitti Kasemkitvatana at the Jim Thompson Library in Bangkok

CHINA -Chitti Kasemkitvatana is truly one of the local conceptual artists. With a paradoxical title, "Tomorrow Was Yesterday", his current exhibition showcases six pieces which look back on his past experiences, both as a professional artist in Thailand since 1992 and as a Buddhist monk in the North between 2002-2009. "During my monkhood, most of my old works and their relevant objects disappeared. Only my remembrance of them remains. So, I retained their concept and implemented some new contexts for them, particularly for the installation of this show," said the conceptual artist. [link]

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Artist Scott LoBaido: Victory from the Right to Hate

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
By Ben Johnson

"The Truth" A Portrait of Rev. Phelps

KANSAS - Staten Island artist Scott LoBaido brought some of his work to church yesterday, though the people at Westboro Baptist Church weren't keen to let him in. The intrepid Staten Islander, who is on a trip across the country with his paintbrushes this month, went to the Topeka, Kansas church yesterday -- an independent Baptist church infamous for its hate speech protests at U.S. Marine funerals -- to unveil a painting and have a little protest of his own. The artist finished a composition titled "The Truth (Welcome Home)," a portrait of the church's leader Fred W. Phelps Sr. wearing high heels and ladies underwear, sitting on the lap of Satan. Phelps' daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper was also in the painting.  [link]

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Sanctuary for Holy Humorists at Atlanta's Sister Louisa's Church

CREATIVE LOAFING
By Madison Lee

GEORGIA - A sign over the door beckons, "Come On In Precious!" Owner Grant Henry was once a student of the bible pursuing a master's in divinity with a major in pastoral care. Henry decided to put the words in his mind onto the devout paintings. He signed each one "Sister Louisa." The paintings were a hit (selling more than 60 at his first show) and the idea of a bar called Church was born. Every inch of wall space at this bar in the heart of Old Fourth Ward is devoted to Sister Louisa's art — tacky religious paintings emblazoned with tackier controversial phrases in bold colors and print. Sister Louisa's is, in the words of its leader Henry, "an art project that sells alcohol." [link]

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"How Great Thou Art" by Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill

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Ascension Press Updates Catholic Study Guide

EARNED MEDIA

"The Bible Timeline" has proven to be extremely successful in helping people read and appreciate Scripture. Using a unique color-coded system, 'The new Bible Timeline' study follows this same proven format, but is now re-filmed in high definition and revised to include new theological insights and illustrations," says Jeff Cavins, co-author and presenter of the study. "We provide animated maps of ancient biblical journeys, definitions and spellings of unfamiliar words, classic art and contemporary images of well-known ancient biblical sites, as well as on-screen citations from Scripture, the Catechism, and more. Version 2.0 is available from Ascension Press at http://www.biblestudyforcatholics.com/, or by calling (800)376-0520. [link]

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American Religious Art Master, Ed Knippers from Kentucky

IMAGE JOURNAL
By Theodore Prescott

"The Foot Washing (Christ and His Disciples)" By Ed Knippers

ONE of the enduring myths of the twentieth century is the idea that art is really about the artist. I met Ed Knippers's work before I met Ed Knippers. Outside of the Festival Center is a sculpture of Christ washing someone's feet, an image that speaks of the center's dedication to service. A friend in the Church of the Savior knew that one of Ed's paintings (see above), The Foot Washing (Christ and His Disciples). [link]

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Pittsburgh Mural is USA's 2nd Largest of the Ascension of Christ

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
By Jeremy Boren

Oil-on-canvas mural of Christ's ascent by Fredeic Stymetz Lamb

PENNSYLVANIA - Inside the Church of the Ascension in Shadyside, a giant oil-on-canvas mural by Frederick Stymetz Lamb (b. California) reminds members of the end of the Easter story, with Christ's ascent into Heaven, 40 days later. The window and the mural are part of the unique, early 20th-century religious artistry found in Pittsburgh-area churches that can take on special significance during Easter, said Albert Tannler, historical collections director at the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Lamb's is the second-largest mural devoted to the ascension in the United States. The largest, upon which it is based, is in a New York City church of the same name and was created by muralist John La Farge, who patented a process to make opalescent glass in 1879. [link]

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Jeremy Cowart's Portrait of Christ, via Video

A Portrait of Christ from Jeremy Cowart on Vimeo [Twitter: CIVA]

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Book Review: "Living Traditions in Indian Art"

THE HINDU
By Kausala Santhanam

INDIA - Unlike in the West, the genre of spiritual art is still vibrant in India, says Martin Gurvich, Director, Museum of Sacred Art, in his introduction. Published by the museum, "Living Traditions in Indian Art" celebrates the presence of the divine even amidst the mundane and the material in our country. It showcases popular, devotional art in India and also metal icons, masks, sculptures, puppets, and ritual objects of divinities from this country as well as from Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, and Indonesia, as displayed in the Museum of Sacred Art, Radhadesh, Belgium. [link]

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NJ Artist Michelle Romanelli Paints Toward the Light

DAILY RECORD

Artist painting for exhibition

NEW JERSEY - Celestial light and poetry are all Michelle Lukasiewicz Romanelli needs to start painting a new image for her ongoing impressionist "Light Source" series. Romanelli, who trained at the duCret School of Art in Plainfield said, "Everything in the paintings is growing toward the light. Call it God, nature, light, sun, source, unconditional love. Call it what you will. Without it, there is no growth." Romanelli has original "Light Source" paintings showing through Thursday at the Center for Spiritual Living in Morristown and prints at The Art of the Heart in Chester. The mystical message of each painting is expanded with the addition of a sentence. For instance, a painting entitled "Moon Delight" is accompanied by: " "And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.' — Lennon, McCartney." She gathers the sentences from her studies in Science of Mind, Buddhism and Taoism as well as from classical and modern songs and poetry. Romanelli also teaches how she deviates from classic painting technique to achieve the luminosity in her work. Her teaching, she said, is another way to do what Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet, suggested when he wrote, "Keep moving in the adored direction." Toward the light. [link]

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Impact of Playing the Role of Jesus During Holy Week

INDIANAPOLIS STAR
By Robert King and Dan McFeely

INDIANA - Easter Sunday marks the culmination of Holy Week, a time when millions of Christians ponder and pray about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago. For many, this time of reflection is heightened by a vivid experience -- a dramatic re-creation of events that seeks to bring to life the Gospel's description of Christ's final week. Such live events, often known as a Passion play or the Way of the Cross, evoke tears, forgiveness, even anger from those who watch. But what about those who don the "bloody" robes, who wear the crowns of thorns and who carry a heavy cross on their shoulders? What does it mean to be cast as Christ, to play the central role in "The Greatest Story Ever Told"? The Rev. Michael O'Mara, pastor at St. Mary Catholic Church in Downtown Indianapolis, which has put on a Passion play for the past 11 years, explains it this way: "Without fail, every year, the person who plays the role of Christ comes out of that experience a different person." The Indianapolis Star recently put the question to three such men. Here are their stories: Adrian Darnell, Joseph Martine and Pablo Mayren. [link]

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Harvard Welcomes Chinese Religious Art Expert, James Robson

USC US-CHINA INSTITUTE

MASSACHUSETTS - Harvard University welcomes James Robson in a Special Lecture on Chinese Religious Art & culture on April 27, 2011 at 4:00pm at the CGIS South, Tsai Auditorium (S010), 1730 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA. The occassion is cosponsored by the Harvard China Fund.Professor Robson specializes in the history of Medieval Chinese Buddhism and Daoism and is particularly interested in issues of sacred geography, local religious history, talismans, religious art, and the historical development of Chan/Zen Buddhism. He is presently engaged in a long-term collaborative research project with the École Française d’Extrême-Orient studying a large collection of local religious statuary from Hunan province. [link]

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Tom de Freston's new altar reredo "Desposition and Resurrection"

AOA WEEKLY

"Desposition and Resurrection" (2011) by Tom de Feston

English artist Tom de Freston's new altar reredo was unveiled on Easter Sunday at Christ’s College Chapel in Cambridge University. He said: “The two paintings are intended to offer a binary narrative, one of rise and fall. They are made with the very particular demands of the Chapel in mind, and will hopefully provide a visual and spiritual fulcrum to the space”.  (More on Tom de Freston)

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Anonymous Artist Creates Online Defense of "Piss Christ"

REPORTAGE

AUSTRALIA - An anonymous artist has protested the destruction of Andres Serrano’s infamous photograph Immersion "Piss Christ" (1987) by distributing their own interpretation called The Resurrection of Piss Christ online. Launched on Easter Sunday, the artist has offered the image for download at resurrectionofpisschrist.com and encourages the public to republish, reuse and re-purpose the image as they wish. Unlike Serrano, who used his piece to make a profit and gain notoriety, the artist wishes for the work to rise above petty incentives and to spread as a protest against those who threaten free speech. [link]

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Sudarshan Pattnaik - Sand Sculpture Honors Hindu Holy Man Sathya Sai Baba (1926-2011)

NPR
By Associated Press

Sand sculpture of Sathya Sai Baba by Sudarshan Pattnaik

INDIA - An unidentified Indian woman (above) prepares to lay a flower before a sand sculpture of Hindu holy man Sathya Sai Baba, created by artist Sudarshan Pattnaik at Golden Sea beach at Puri, Orissa, India, Sunday, April 24, 2011. Baba, considered a living god by millions of followers worldwide, died Sunday in a hospital near his southern Indian ashram, a doctor said. He was 86. The news brought an outpouring of grief from his followers, including high Indian officials, who remembered him as a pious person who worked selflessly to help others with the billions of dollars donated to his charitable trust. "Sri Satya Sai Baba was a spiritual leader who inspired millions to lead a moral and meaningful life, even as they followed the religion of their choice," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a statement. "The nation deeply mourns his passing away." [link]

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Video: Spiritual Guru Sathya Sai Baba Passes Away

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Book Review: A New Definitive History of Christian Art in “Ars Sacra”

BIG THINK
By Bob Duggan

NEW ZEALAND - "Ars Sacra: Christian Art and Architecture of the Western World from the Very Beginning Up Until Today" should instantly assume the role of the definitive guide in words and pictures of Christian art. With 800 oversized pages of high quality photography and insightful text adding up to a mammoth weight of 23 pounds, Ars Sacra wins the heavyweight title of the world of religious art books. All the familiar masterpieces appear with fresh perspectives along with new wonders to behold, making Ars Sacra truly a Book of Revelation for both believers and art-loving nonbelievers.“Ars Sacra assumes church architecture to be the shell or shrine of Christian art, as Christian art proved independent for the first time in its monumental buildings,” writes publisher and editor Rolf Toman in his introduction. Working from that architectural foundation, Ars Sacra branches out to all genres of Christian art. [link]

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Who Wrote the Books of the Bible?

CHRONICALLY CHRISTIAN
By Kevin Swartzendruber

USA - Although all true Christians believe the Bible to be God’s Word, the God’s Spirit inspired men to write at His leading. Second Timothy 3:16 tells us that the Bible was “breathed forth” by God. That does not mean that He directly dictated to each of these authors exactly what to write, but instead breathed upon their hearts in such a way that their writings are true, yet influenced by their own perspectives and personalities. The Bible was written by approximately 40 men of diverse backgrounds over the course of 1500 years. Few of the books of the Bible specifically name their author. Here are the books of the Bible along with the name of the person most assumed by biblical scholars to be the author and approximate date of authorship: [read list]

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Religious Art on Display at Michigan's Artworks Through April 30

BIG RAPIDS PRESS

MICHIGAN - Cultural artifacts from Jewish, Christian and Zen Buddhist communities are currently being displayed at Artworks in Big Rapids. The “Arts in the Religions of the World” exhibit is viewable on the second floor of the downtown art gallery during normal business hours through April 30. [link]

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Blessed Art Thou: A Celebration of Mary in Art and Story

MERCER SPACE
Community Calendar

NEW JERSEY - St. Paul’s Catholic Church, located at 214 Nassau Street, is holding an evening retreat “Blessed Art Thou: A Celebration of Mary in Art and Story” on Wednesday, May 18, at 7:30 pm in the St. Paul’s Spiritual Center. Renowned artist, Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, will use paintings and prayers to offer a fresh look at her traditional titles and remind you why she holds such a special place in our hearts and our Church. Admission is free. For more information, please call Ernie Andreoli, St. Paul’s Church, at 609-524-0507. [link]

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Saint Mark's Church | MO

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest Disney-Britton

Episcopalians are enthusiastically Easter People. This Sunday morning, April 24, we worshiped at Saint Mark's Church, an Episcopal church in the quiet and tree-filled neighborhood of St. Louis Hills. Arriving a little late, we filled the last of the 200 seats as we joined the warm and welcoming congregation. We sat next to Oliver, age 14-months, and his mother & father. Oliver's parents were married at St. Mark's and while they live far from this church they come back for Christmas and Easter. Sharing the pew with chubby Oliver, all decked out in plaid, smiles and laughter was one more wonderful Easter gift.

St. Mark's, built in 1938, is an extremely beautiful building in the Moderne style of the Empire State Building, and according to church records it was "one of a handful of uncompromisingly modern churches built anywhere in the world during World War ll." While the brick building's facade is simple and somewhat austere, the internal decoration uses neo-Egyption detailing like you see in the Chrysler Building in New York. At 200-seats, it's a small church but with a deep, resonant sound (and a new organ they are pleased to show-off!). In many ways it is reminiscent of an old world college chapel, or a Catholic church hospital chapel.

What is most notable about the church though are the stained glass windows. Created in pastel shades of blue, green and purple, designed by Robert Harmon, they tell the story of Christ's presence in Biblical days (north side) and then contemporary times (south side) including the fight to improve race relations. There is also a tapestry, by Beatrice Boot on the wall to the right of the altar on the race relations theme. The banner text reads, "Earth shall be fair and all her folk be one." Four additional iconic details that are unforgettable are the altar crucifix, chandeliers, processional cross, and the pulpit & lectern.

The massive steel and victorius "Christus Rex" crucifix by Sheila Burlingame, above the white marble altar dominates the front of the sanctuary and its impact is accentuated by the eight chandeliers which mimic its form and substance. On the light fixtures is a crown capped by a cross and above it hang the sun and moon, sources of light. It is however the contemporary multi-dimensional, multi-colored processional cross that most captivted me with layers of bright yellow and orange. It is a stark, and pleasing contrast to the more subdued tones of the rest of the sanctuary. The fourth defining element of this exceptional God's Art Museum are the ironworked but rather smallish pulpit and lectern from the 1950s. Created by sculptor Clarke Battle Fitz-Gerald, they are rich with symbols and images but subtle enough only to enhance and not distract.

Today's Easter Service (Holy Eucharist) was led by The Rev. Dr. Peter Van Horne. Beginning quietly (according to the program--we missed that part), the service built to a crescendo of enthusiasm aided by the incredible orchestrations of their new organ (video: organ history) played by Organist & Choirmaster, Robert Mullgardt. After services, Mullgardt and others enthusiastically shared with us the history of the church, and of course the organ including the fact that a fellow Hoosier, Dr. Janette Fishell from the Indiana University had played for the organ's dedication. It was a wonderful service, Catholic enough for me, and Protestant enough for Greg. Noting our diversity in contrast to their own lack, one of the older congregants whispered (loud enough for Greg to overhear), "Oh, I hope they come back. We could use some diversity."

Episcopalians are the American partner of the Anglican Communion, or The Church of England an entirely separate church from Rome. The Anglican church traces its roots to the reign of England's King Henry VIII who broke the English Church from the Roman Catholic Church. It is the third largest Christian denomination in the world, after Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox, and is widely considered the “midway” between Protestants (Puritans and the liberals) and the Roman Catholic Church. As reflected in St. Mark's Church artwork about race relations, they are very active in social justice and their most famous contemporary figure is Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. American Episcopalians also conduct marriages of same-sex couples. It's a religious tradition that is a very comprehensive amalgamation of the three broad religious strains of Christianity that is the Evangelical, the Catholic and the Liberal.

St. Mark's Church is located at 4714 Clifton Ave, St. Louis, Missouri, (314) 832-3588, saintmarks-stl.org, and we'll be back.

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Resurrection Week Art | 2011

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest Britton

Plate 28 : “Celui qui croit en moi, fut-il mort, vivra” John 11:25 by George Roualt

MISSOURI - We returned to Saint Louis for Easter Weekend 2011, and this time for the work of George Roualt at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art. Another wonderful visit which I will write about in detail later. The weekend, which included The Stations of the Cross at Saint John the Evangelist in Indianapolis; followed on Saturday with the George Roualt in Saint Louis; and concluded Sunday with the community of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, the city's first contemporary style church (1939), and one of most welcoming church experiences ever.

Saint Marks Episcopal Church

Saint Mark's was a wonderful place to be for Easter morning service, but the dark experience with Roualt lingered and made me reflect on the distinct disconnect between Crucixion masterpieces versus Resurrection masterpieces. What comes to mind for you? For me, only "The Resurrection of Christ" (c. 1612) by Rubens (next) came to mind, so I did some Googling. How about Carl Heinrich Bloch's "The Resurrection" or Dan Peres much newer "Resurrection" ? A new favorite is Incarnation by  Edward Knippers (all four below).

By Rubens

By Carl Heinrich Bloch

By Edward Knippers

By Dan Peres

WANT MORE? Follow the annual Resurrection Day Art for Easter Series since 2008 but visiting, Holydays page and going to "Easter."

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A&O Meeting to St. Louis: Easter Sunday at Basilica

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS

Gregory A. Disney (left) and Verneida I. Britton (right)

Easter Meetup 2011 outside the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO.

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Your Grandmother's Jesus

ON MY GRANDMOTHER'S WALL hung a copy of this painting, "The Head of Christ." According to Newsweek it is the most reproduced image of Jesus Christ ever, but who know's the name of the artist? His name is Warner Sallman (American) and his original work is in the archives of Anderson University in Indiana.

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Buddhist Work Graces College, Then Dismantled

A BUDDHIST MONK IN MAINE,  Geshe Gendun Gyatso led a prayer last Sunday during the "deconstruction ceremony" of an intricately designed sand mandala. The mandala had been created over the course of a week by monks at the Maine College of Art in Portland. It's one of the many lessons of Buddhist theology through art. Through this deconstruction, they teach that everything in life is temporary. [link]

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"Piss Christ" and Other Holy Week Controversies

WITHOUT CONTROVERSY how would we know it was Holy Week? This year offered a feast of religious art controversies. A group of Christians in France attacked Andres Serrano's controversial work, "Piss Christ." Michigan Pastor Rob Bell's artist-inspired book, "Love Wins" continued to infuriate Christian Fundamentalists; and there was even a new mural in Utah of the Mormon Temple in flames stirring up debate. It all makes the 2007 advice on PBS Bill Moyers by Nun & Art Historian Sister Wendy Beckett even more prescient when she advised, (I'm paraphrasing) Art is what you make of it. What you bring to it is how you will experience it. Thank you Sister Wendy for providing some perspective for Holy Week art controversy.

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AO PROJECT: ARTS

BY ERNEST BRITTON

We are in Saint Louis today for Easter weekend (follow on Twitter), and it's been a sensational trip! The drive home will be packed with talk of the "George Rouault" exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art and the breathtaking Saint Louis Cathedral Basilica, as well as the other local sights including the great storm of 2011. This morning we are heading to 10:00 a.m. Easter service at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church with its stunning art deco design and stained glass windows which will be followed by a soul food dinner at Yummies, a local African American tradition. On the way home, we will also stop at the world's largest cross (198-ft tall) in Effingham, Illinois before calling it an end to another fantastic AOA weekend! I hope your Easter is just as joyous and perhaps next year, we can spend it together?

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RELIGIOUS ART | NEWS OF WEEK

THE ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By TAHLIB

We are in Saint Louis today for Easter weekend, and it's been a sensational trip! The drive home will be packed with talk of the "George Rouault" exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art and the breathtaking Saint Louis Cathedral Basilica, as well as the other local sights including the great storm of 2011. This morning we are heading to 10:00 a.m. Easter service at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church with its stunning art deco design and stained glass windows which will be followed by a soul food dinner at Yummies, a local African American tradition. On the way home, we will also stop at the world's largest cross (198-ft tall) in Effingham, Illinois!

As a Christian, this holyweek is the most special week of my year:

• Art brings the Passover to life [Houston Chronicle]
• French destroy Andres Serrano's "Piss Christ" [The Guardian]
• Resurrection Week 2011 [Alpha Omega Arts]
• Philippine artists offer their work for holy week [ABS News]
• Kevin Rolly's "Broken Last Supper" [Alpha Omega Arts]
• Easter 2011: Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, Saint Louis, MO

To follow my holyweek journey, I'm providing links for the years of Alpha Omega Arts: 2010 and 2009. Whether Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jew or non-denominational, we are all members of a giant spiritual family, united in the search for human meaning through art from the religious imagination. For us, it's more than Art. It's Religion.

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Test Your Easter Story Knowledge

KANSAS CITY STAR
By Helen Gray

This painting from the Latin Holy Family Church
in city of Ramallah depicts Christ’s resurrection

MISSOURI - Many interpretations, explanations, questions and viewpoints surround various aspects of the resurrection story. And even the four Gospels give differing details, leading to scholarly debates. Here is a quiz based on the accounts of the Easter story as told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Give yourself a point for each correct answer. [link]

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Holy Dirt in the Hills of New Mexico

CNN
By William Walker

NEW MEXICO - El Santuario de Chimayo, the Roman Catholic adobe mission church set in these hills of northern New Mexico, dates from 1816. Here, on Good Friday night around 1810, a Chimayo friar reportedly found a miraculous crucifix glowing on the ground near the Santa Cruz River. The church is built on the site of the reported discovery. During Holy Week - culminating on Good Friday - thousands of pilgrims converge on Chimayo. Some pilgrims walk a few yards, others a hundred miles or more. Many pilgrims believe that sacred earth from the shrine possesses miraculous healing powers. Testimonies of healing powers at Chimayo date to 1813, when Father Sebastian Alvarez wrote of cures for ailments. Visitors to Chimayo often take "holy dirt" from a pit in the shrine where the crucifix was reportedly found. Some rub it on their skin, others eat it; many claim to have been cured of disease, illness and infirmity. [link]

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Jesus Tweets

ABS-CBN
By Arlene Burgos

HEAVEN - This is not the Jesus all those weekend catechism classes prepared you for. For one, he drinks Hennessy. He's also into body-building: his Twitter wall picture depicts him with muscles bulging, ripping himself off from the cross. This is ‘Jesus_M_Christ,’ possibly among the fastest rising celebrities in the social media site Twitter these days. He advertises a hash tag (Twitter tags) for a particular topic and people use it. He has, to date, 69,223 followers, 902 updates, and has been listed 2,290 times since he started tweeting April 15, 2009. The account bio says, “You know who I am. If not, google me (@#!).” He follows 22 people, among them two US presidents – the verified account of the incumbent, Barack Obama, and an unverified Bill Clinton account. “Dad flooded the Earth on accident. He got carried away making it rain in the club,” ‘Jesus_M_Christ’ said Thursday. This is possibly the only Jesus Christ Twitter account that made it this far. At least 4 other accounts bearing similar names have failed to attract followers. The only other Twitter account that comes close to the success of Jesus_M_Christ’ is the one named ‘Jesus.’ Created on Oct. 14, 2006, it attracted 176,112 followers, has been listed 5,158 times, and follows no one. But it has only 214 updates. The account’s bio says the owner is “Carpenter, Healer, God.” [link]

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