A Sweep Through Church History (Arts Seminar Recap)

Tim Timmerman gave a great lecture tonight which gave us a sweep through art in church history. One of the biggest things I took away was a strong sense of being part of a history, of such a bigger movement, of people and passion and particularities of time and place which are so much bigger than just our present location today. The richness and complex diversity of the church’s relationship with the arts throughout church history is really inspiring—to not just be an isolated person today but part of a broader, ongoing movement with spiraling ingenuity and adapting innovation.

A few highlights that stood out to me: 1) “hidden” art: how in many late medieval cathedrals and architecture there were intricate sculptures and carvings up 1200 feet and higher where no one could see them. Often depicting bible stories and characters, the artists making these knew no one would ever see them but they still put so much time, intention, intricacy and beauty into them. We can see them now and there is so much put into them. The motivation Tim explored was how for these artists this was an intimate devotion and offering to God, so even if no one ever saw them they were inspired to create masterworks in intimate devotion to God. This challenges me to ask: if no one were to ever see the art we do, hear the songs we write, would we still make them for the sheer joy, beauty and pleasure of God and in intimate devotion to Him? Is God our grandest audience we delight to create for and with?

2) Tim also looked at some of the complex reasons for the Reformation’s reaction against art (ie. rich art in the late medieval period being funded largely by indulgences, extortion and the opulent wealthy on the backs of the poor) in contrast to the earlier medieval art and architecture which had a stronger community-participation base. This was interesting as I often had the assumption it was always a simplistic “images = idols” equation. It was helpful to understand some of the more intricate cultural context Tim unpacked for the Reformation’s reaction, while still mourning much of the art perspective that was lost in much of the Protestant tradition.

3) One of my favorite pieces was some of the amazing art done by contemporary Christian visual artists today. Some of the big ones that stood out to me were the works of: Tim Hawkinson, Mary McCleary, Tim Lowly, Lynn Aldrich, George Tooker, Makoto Fujimura. Tim gave some great backdrops and explanations for the impetus behind their work. Some websites he recommended are:

http://www.civa.org/ (Christians in the Visual Arts)
http://www.timlowly.com/ (Tim Lowly—has some great links to other artists as well!)
http://www.marymccleary.com/ (Mary McCleary—lots of objects and “googly” eyes representing God’s all-seeing and wild perspective)
http://www.timtimmerman.com/ (great artist! Our speaker tonight—check out his awesome stuff)