Created to Create
When I taught US History to high school students, I pointed out to them what I had learned in my art history classes – that art is a mirror of what has just happened or is currently happening in the world. That’s why many artists aren’t appreciated until long after their death, when we finally realize what they were trying to tell us.
I was raised by artists, am an artist myself, and have raised a new generation of artists. The art of my life is mostly music and literature, but visual art has played a significant role in over five generations of my family. So my first thoughts when reading Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue by William Dyrness, were that I wish he had included the voices and reflections of more currently active artists, and that I wish he had produced an updated edition that includes the past 15 years, which has shown a 
dramatic change in how we view, appreciate, and consume art. (For the purpose of this discussion, the word art encompasses all of the arts, not just visual art.)
Dyrness is a fantastic art historian and his understanding of the concepts related to visual art and the history and development of fine art are impressive. I do wish he had begun a bit sooner in the book to discuss the dialogue of art and worship, but he does eventually get there. What I feel he does particularly well in this book is to advocate for what art DOES and why art is crucial. Dyrness lists three things in particular that art does for us that I believe highlight the entire discussion of why the human spirit would whither without the presence of the arts:
- The arts in some way contribute to human flourishing;
- Art is intended to challenge people’s perceptions;
- Art can deepen a person’s understanding of the world.[1]
Whether it is high art, pop art, or commercial art, the world and human faith is reflected in the pages of literature, lyrics of music, and the photographs, paintings, sculptures, or other visual media of an artist. It is not so much, as Dyrness suggests, that the culture has turned its back on Christianity in art, but that Christianity (especially Protestantism) established itself as the gatekeeper to reflections of faith, eliminating the visual arts, as well as many forms of music and literature. When I was in Rome, I wandered through basilicas and cathedrals, imagining the devastation felt by the faithful when Reformists painted over or destroyed works of art. In their zeal to remove idols, they removed the visual stories that affirmed the faith of the saints and sinners of the community over and over again. They removed a piece of the imago dei from the community of faith. Art is not meant to simply deepen a person’s understanding of the world, but to also increase our understanding of God. The Creator and the created share the need for beauty and creativity. In art, we begin to understand the longing for beauty that God possesses. Even in “ugly” art, the thing we are repelled by is often the thing that hides in us in 
contrast to God’s beauty. This is how art challenges our perceptions. Discord, darkness, even offensive language challenge that part in us that leans toward darkness. Minor keys, shadows, and words of grief call us into mourning, while major keys, light and laughter call us to joy. As much as I love the preached Word of God, without art it struggles to break through to my soul. The authors in Scripture knew this as they wrote in poetry and prose, using word pictures to reflect God’s glory.
It is the decidedly Greek influence of the separation of the physical from the spiritual that has caused such a difficult dance between Western faith and art. To separate the body from the spirit is to fracture the whole person. To attempt to separate our human souls from the beauty and challenge of art is to give us license to consume art rather than allow art to change us. As art loses value, so does humanity. Dyrness says that art contributes to human flourishing. Cavanaugh tells us that the disregard for human flourishing breeds commodification and consumption.[2] In this commodification, people and art become things to consume rather than reflections of the Creator. We think nothing of asking a musician to provide music for free, to ask a visual artist to “donate” a mural, or to include another person’s hard fought words in our sermons without credit, then ruthlessly erase those commodities when we grow bored. We whitewash the stories of God’s people from the walls of our cathedrals.
I believe that art is prophetic, which is perhaps why we in the Western church try so desperately to lock it
into place if we allow it to wander into our churches at all. One day, while listening to my grandfather’s church choir practice (I think I was about 10 years old), suddenly my very stoic grandfather gasped and stopped the choir. He asked the organist to simply play the chord they had been singing and to let it ring. With his eyes closed, he asked the choir to listen and imagine what God was doing in the heart of that composer at the moment the chord was written. This was so out of character for my grandfather, that I have never forgotten. When I look at a photograph, hear a song, read a poem, study a sculpture, or feel a rhythm, I catch myself asking, “Where are you in this, God?” THIS is what art can do if we invite it into our lives and allow the Spirit to work through it.
[1]. William A. Dyrness, Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue, (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001), 18.
[2]. William T. Cavanaugh, Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire, (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008), 25.
About the Author
Kristin Hamilton
13 responses to “Created to Create”
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Thanks for the post, Kristin.
You said – ‘I believe that art is prophetic, which is perhaps why we in the Western church try so desperately to lock it into place if we allow it to wander into our churches at all.’
I think this is so true – I don’t remember where I heard or read it, but sometime this week I came across someone making the point that we think often of the ‘prophets’ – talking about the future, but the majority of the Biblical tradition was centered on hearing God’s truth and being willing to speak that truth to the established powers….. Isn’t that exactly what good art (and sometimes maybe even bad art) does?
Yes Chip! In my experience that’s exactly what art does!
Beautifully written, Kristin. “Art is not meant to simply deepen a person’s understanding of the world, but to also increase our understanding of God. The Creator and the created share the need for beauty and creativity.”
One of my favorite books is by Dorothy Sayers (of Lord Peter mysteries fame, but a theologian in her own right). She wrote “The Mind of the Maker”. You brought up imago Dei. Dorothy Sayers shows in her book how our creative abilities are definitely part of the Imago Dei and we lose something as you pointed out when we neglect art.
Thoughtful and interesting post!
I love Dorothy Sayers, Mary! She says so much about art and beauty drawing us to God. I have been thinking so much about the beauty God puts right in front of us, or in us, that we simply ignore. It seems to me that God may be grieved by that.
Kristen,
I enjoyed your post. Your comment, “With his eyes closed, he asked the choir to listen and imagine what God was doing in the heart of that composer at the moment the chord was written. This was so out of character for my grandfather, that I have never forgotten” was touching to me. That is the question we should ask and seek the answer. Then like you say, where is God in it for me?
Thank you Lynda. Even in the pain I have been experiencing, I have learned that asking that question helps me refocus on what is important.
Wow, Kristin. Wow.
“Art is not meant to simply deepen a person’s understanding of the world, but to also increase our understanding of God. The Creator and the created share the need for beauty and creativity. In art, we begin to understand the longing for beauty that God possesses.” This, I believe, touches on our very essence– creatures created in the image of a Creator God. We follow in the steps of the one who created us when we shape and create.
Art has the power to transcend and transform– or, art is both priestly and prophetic.
Yes! Both priestly and prophetic. I love that.
“When I look at a photograph, hear a song, read a poem, study a sculpture, or feel a rhythm, I catch myself asking, “Where are you in this, God?” You have inspired me to ask this as well with the art I view and experience. Thank you!
Art moves the spirit and speaks to our subconscious if we stop long enough to allow it.
I totally agree with you, Jen. I think the Spirit nudges something in our subconscious with art – even art that isn’t really beautiful – and calls us back to oneness with the Creator.
Kristin, what an expressive post. The story of your grandfather was deeply moving. The one sentence summed up the whole of Dyrness—”Where are you in this God?” What a great question for visual expressions of our faith and for everything we do in life. Thank you!
Thanks Jim. I have found that question to be the one thing that keeps me focused on God and others rather than on my own desires.
Kristin I love how you address the prophetic nature of art! It can be very revealing, telling and hopeful in how we understand who God is and who we are as His created beings! 🙂