Art + Faith

Dearest sister,

Toby and I went to Asbury on Thursday and Friday this week for the Arts and Faith Conference. Toby has his show up in the McCreless Lobby and a group of other artists have their work up around the campus. They brought in speakers from around the country that have connections to the art world. I think Dr. Stratford has been the primary organizer of the whole ordeal, but since Keith Barker has become the chair of the art department, he has had a lot to do with the festivities as well.

Thursday night started as an opening for their featured artist, Patrick Adams, who happens to be from Lexington, Ky. He spoke about artists and their role in the vastly changing cultural world as Christians. It was a really interesting lecture. Then we headed to dinner with mere strangers at the Mexican restaurant down the road on Main Street in Wilmore. We ate with a friend whom Toby has made named, Michael Winters. We originally met him and his wife, Mickey, through Marta and Ricky. Michael is in charge of Sojourn's 930 Art Center in Louisville.

Him and two of their interns came over for the conference. We also ate with a theologian and his artist wife that go to Sojourn and another Asbury Alum. It was such a unique and interesting experience. We met these people and then we ate together and got to know one another. We became fast friends. I miss these unique experiences that happen through Asbury/Christian encounters. It is so special to have the same passions and interests as other people and to blend together in unusual circumstances.

We then headed back to Hughes Auditorium to hear a special presentation from another Arts and Faith conference speaker, Jeremy Begbie. You can read about him here. He was amazing. He is a theologian and a renowned musician. He is a professor at Duke and has previously taught at Cambridge. He connected art and faith with music and he played different musical blips to enhance his discussion and illustrate different ideas. Beautiful!

Then on Friday, Toby went to all of the lectures that happened all day and when I came home from school we went to dinner in the cafeteria and then him and the other visiting artists sat at a panel in the grille and shared about their work and it's connection to faith. It was a really rejuvenating experience to be able to sit and listen to adults discuss their reasons for why they create. I felt re-awakened to art and purpose as I listened. Toby did such a great job. It is so evident that he was born to teach and to explore the world through making art. His work really raises controversial issues and makes the viewer question the church's responsibility in this world. The other artists had very similar amazing things to say.

After the panel lecture, I ran into Jonathan Grant and was able to hear about his non-profit organization that he has helped start in Southbend, Indiana called River Park Arts. Their vision is to create this place for artists to come and create for free. Sort of a dwelling place for hibernating it seems or a place to escape. It is a community, though, where people can support each other in their creative endeavors. I was so intrigued, because he is doing something similar to what I would love to do!

Then I meandered over to speak to Rudy Medlock. He asked me about how school was going and I told him that I was ready for a break. He was extremely supportive and even said, "It is your turn." I told him about how I am interested in developing some sort of non-profit organization that deals with the arts. I told him that I am interested in going back to school to get my master's in Arts Administration. He sensed my apprehension and uncertainty and said, "What's with the questioning, you said it so matter-of-factly, that it is very apparent that you are sure of yourself and this is what you want. So you should do it." I had Rudy as my advisor all throughout college and it is inspiring to know that the advising does not stop once you graduate. I will always respect his opinion and counsel in my life.

It was just a great two days of questioning and thinking about the future. It all happened at the place where I received my education (not so much for my career but about life and how to learn in general) which to me was very ironic. God spoke to me in a way this weekend. Through hearing about other people and how they are doing these things that they love and feel called to do, I felt like it is time to not be so scared, but to take a plunge and embark on an adventure of uncertainty, yet also of passion and calling. Who knows where this will lead, but I want to go. How are you??

--A