I had the somewhat unique benefit of being affirmed in my creativity from an early age. Teachers and parents encouraged my apparent artistic ability. Such affirmation may be more common these days, but I know many Boomers and Gen X ers who didn’t get that, and decided somewhere in grade school that they weren’t creative because they weren’t artistic. But … Read More
When the “30th Anniversary of The Joshua Tree” Tour was announced a while back, I was–to use a 1987 word–stoked. We never go overboard in paying for concert tickets–I’ve passed on pricey U2 shows before–but this one is special (they play the entire album through), and the family will be headed to Louisville on June 16th. I must admit, U2 … Read More
(This post originally appeared in edited form as “The Most Ignored Gifts in the Church” at Relevantmagazine.com) Just before midnight on Friday, Dec 2nd, an artist’s collective in Oakland, CA called “The Ghost Ship” was rapidly and without warning engulfed in flames. A ramshackle, graffiti-covered warehouse in the rough Fruitvale area, “The Ghost Ship” was home to a colorful collection … Read More
I’ve just been re-visiting the wonderful Redeeming the Arts paper and had to share it with you. Belhaven University and Colin Harbinson, editor of their magazine Creative Spirit, published this amazing work in 2005. One of the most thoughtful and comprehensive statements on the role of the arts in the church and culture to date, it was commissioned by the … Read More