Blog
The Flavor of God – part 2
This is part two of a two part series I gave as a meditative reflection at two recent events. Part one was posted last week. Last week I began to answer a question asked in Daniel Siedell's book, God in the Gallery where he asked, “Can one experience Truth...
The Flavor of God – part 1
This is part one of a two part series I gave as a meditative reflection at two recent events. Part 2 will be posted next week. Take a moment and try this exercise. Find a piece of your favorite candy or prepare a cup of your favorite drink. I love caramel and...
Posting a friends Post
Hey All, I noticed it has been months since my last post, therefore I extend my apologies. I have several ideas in the works and will be posting them in the near future. In the meantime, I thought I would share a post from a colleague and friend. Mako Fujimura is...
General update from Bird&Key
Hey All, I had hoped to do a more extensive piece on some things I have been thinking on lately, but having a paper due on Wednesday coupled with holiday activities curbed that notion for now. I will tell you WHAT I have been thinking about lately, and I hope to write...
Googling “Thanksgiving Fine Art”
Considering the holiday I (Kirk) wondered what kind of fine art existed that was made in the spirit of Thanksgiving. In America the holiday is about 150 years old, but the kind of celebration it is based on, “fall harvest” has been around much longer. So I “Googled”...
The Place of Beauty: A historical and theological observation – Part 6
For the last few weeks I have explored the idea of Beauty as related to the Church and the art world. We looked at a definition as well as the source of Beauty, and I argued for a dialogue to be opened between the Church and the art world that would be mutually...
The Place of Beauty: A historical and theological observation – Part 5
The Trinity 1635, Jusepe de Ribera That being said, is perceiving integrity, proportion, and radiance in an art work truly enough to see and know full Beauty? I don’t think so. I came across many descriptions of beauty from people in the art world that are similar to...
The Place of Beauty: A historical and theological observation – part 4
Thomas Aquinas So what is beauty? A good source for characteristics of beauty is Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica. Several key advocates of the arts in the Church have referenced Aquinas as a guide to thinking about beauty.[1] In the Summa Aquinas writes: Beauty...
The Place of Beauty: A historical and theological observation – part 3
Head of Christ by George Rouault (1939) What is significant about the art world’s rediscovery of and the church’s growing interest in Beauty? First, I think it is indicative of human nature. As human beings we long to experience good – particularly beautiful—things in...
The Place of Beauty: A historical and theological observation – part 2
"Regarding Beauty" conference cover As a result of this self diagnosed lack of beauty, the art world began to hold conferences and seminars that addressed the topic (SEE Fuglie). Others, including Danto, wrote of the subject of beauty. However, there seemed to be a...