art
‘Our Lady of Perpetual Exhaustion’ exhibit probes the spirituality of everyday chaos
By Katherine Burgess — September 24, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) The exhibit, creator Cynthia Farrell Johnson said, will hopefully “help people see the absurdity of our existence when we try to pile too many things in one day.”
’12 Years a Slave’ portrays religion at its best and worst
By Jonathan Merritt — September 16, 2013
Steve McQueen's celebrated film, "12 Years a Slave", is as much a commentary on religion as race.
As publications struggle, Christian literary magazine Books & Culture could shut down
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — September 6, 2013
Christian literary magazine Books & Culture could shut down on Monday if it doesn’t reach its $250,000 fundraising goal.
Italian school seeks to revive Catholic dominance of sacred art
By Alessandro Speciale — September 6, 2013
FLORENCE, Italy (RNS) The Sacred Art School puts a special emphasis on depiction of the human figure, with students learning the anatomy of bones and muscles just as Leonardo Da Vinci did five centuries ago.
‘God is the best artist’ takes off on social media
By Menachem Wecker — August 22, 2013
(RNS) The notion of God as an artist is hardly new. But when Twitter and Pinterest users take to their smartphones to snap pictures of sunrises and sunsets and attribute those “masterpieces” to God, they are exhibiting a new sort of adoration.
Fixing America’s failing families: An interview with T.D. Jakes
By Jonathan Merritt — August 15, 2013
The prominent pastor shares why he thinks the American family is failing and how he plans to fix it.
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly Video: Tobi Kahn’s spiritual art
By Sally Morrow — August 1, 2013
“God moves through the artist,” says Rev. Walter Smith, president of the HeathCare Chaplaincy in New York City, and the paintings, sculpture, and installations that result are “avodah”—a single act of both work and worship.
Finding God in prison: An interview with filmmaker Galley Molina
By Jonathan Merritt — July 19, 2013
Former drug trafficker Galley Molina gathers A-list musicians and actors for his new film and shares his story of meeting God in prison.
When faith and creativity collide: An interview with Blaine Hogan
By Jonathan Merritt — July 11, 2013
The creative director at Willow Creek Community Church explores the intersection of faith and creativity.
Superman spirituality: Is Hollywood manipulating Christians?
By Jonathan Merritt — June 18, 2013
Does Warner Brothers' push to market "Man of Steel" to faith-based audiences make Christians pawns in their scheme to make a buck?
Crucifixion images no longer command auction prices
By Menachem Wecker — June 18, 2013
(RNS) Cultural factors that may be contributing to the declining sales prices of Crucifixions are changing worship styles that rely more on words and music and less on visual images, and an unwillingness to openly and publicly display one’s religious commitments.
Vatican revives its ancient patronage of the arts
By Alessandro Speciale — May 14, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) For centuries, popes sponsored the work of artists such as Michelangelo, Raffaello or Bernini, but the marriage between art and faith became estranged in modern times. With a new exhibit at the prestigious Venice Biennial art festival, the Vatican hopes to revive church patronage of the arts.
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly Video: Painting icons
By Sally Morrow — May 10, 2013
This week, Orthodox Christians mark the final days of Great Lent, a time of repentance, fasting, and prayer in preparation for Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, on May 5. Iconographer Seraphim O’Keefe talks about how icons play a role similar to fasting in the Orthodox tradition.
10 inaccuracies in The Bible . . . the miniseries, not the book
By Jonathan Merritt — March 25, 2013
History Channel's The Bible is a smash hit, but some Christian critics have questioned its historicity. Here is a list of the series' 10 most notable inaccuracies.
Not your mother’s morals: An interview with Jonathan Fitzgerald
By Jonathan Merritt — March 19, 2013
At 31, Jonathan Fitzgerald has become one of the most thoughtful cultural observers among a rising generation of Christians. Here, he talks about his new book, morality, pop culture, and whether he believes God is “still important” today.
