Art for Arts sake
“In some mysterious sense, all art aspires to be worship”[1] In this statement William Dyrness closes his chapter, Reflecting Theologically on the Visual Arts, with a call to understand that all art, whether by Christians or not, cries out to aspire to something greater than the artist. He goes onto argue the artist whether wanting to “praise God or not” [2] want their art to reach out for that which they are not, infinite meaning.
In his book Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue, Dyrness brings and argument which can make some Christians squirm and has don so throughout history. He begins his discussion on visual art in the early church. The art of the church has always been theologically driven. Dyrness argues, even from the start though there was a split in the deeper meaning between east and west. Where in the West the mediated images used the death of Christ “which became especially significant in the Western artistic tradition” [3], where in Eastern thought it is the”incarnation taken as a whole that saves rather than simply the death of Christ” [4]. So, even in the early church there was division theologically seen in the art.
Fast forward to modern times, we live in a society inundated with images. Images come to us on our phones, in our cars on screens, from T.V, movies and from just about everywhere we look. In the early church they only place most people found art was in the church itself. That is why art was so closely associated with God. Even in other cultures, Egyptian, Aztec, Indian, Asia etcetera, we see so much art dealing with religious issues. It was how man connected with God. Christian art was, for such a long time the best way for the common person to connect with God. Most could not read or write, but they feelings that are associated with art told a story of redemption. This is missing in art today, most modern art is, like art in Medieval Times making a statement, but most, if not all art is not about God.
I remember the outrage and calling for banning of National Endowment of the Arts after works such as The Holy Virgin Mary by Chris Ofili and Piss Christ by Andres Serano were put on display. While both artists argue they meant no offense it was just art, these pieces did just that offend. It is interesting though that neither piece brings glory to God yet both seem to be reaching for something bigger.
In the opposite corner, though with just as much hate, you have another artist whose work led him to be called the “painter of light”, Thomas Kincade. Kincade was a born again Christian whose use of light in his paintings was his signature style. His paintings at one point sold at a clip of $100 million per year (not a single painting but in total) and yet those in the art world reviled him as ” as sugar-drenched, unpleasantly artificial, and something “normal” people should recoil from. When he died last year of an alcohol-and-Valium overdose, the Washington Post pointed out that many considered his work the ‘epitome of mediocre art.'”[5] Yet his works hang in homes all over the U.S., he is considered a great painter by many Christians because they feel “God in his paintings” [6]
You have strong negative and strong positive feelings elicited from both sets of paintings yet both are works of art and at some level should be appreciated at the very least as coming from artistic gifts given to the artists by God. Dyrness argues, “Human art, when it is good, manages some echo of this reality–either to praise or to curse…art that is worthy goes with the grain of a God-inspired and Spirit-upheld order, or it stands against this order, or more usually, it stands in some ambiguous relationship to it.”[7]
As art continues to evolve, whether it is installation art, video or performance there is a sense in some that art has fallen far since classical art. This argument though seems shallow, if the “great masters” would have had access to what we have today, who is to say they would not have created some of the same types of art you find in galleries today. In the time of classical art, the church was the main influence in their lives, it is not at all like that anymore. As much as Christians lament the lack of influence in the world, maybe it is ok to see art for what it is. Inspired by something greater that who we are that can either glorify him or not.
[1] Dyrness, William A. Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2003. 101.
[2] Ibid. 101.
[3] Ibid. 33.
[4] Ibid. 33.
[5] Metcalfe, John. “Science Explains Why It’s So Easy to Hate ‘Painter of Light’ Thomas Kinkade.” CityLab. August 29, 2013. Accessed October 19, 2018. https://www.citylab.com/design/2013/08/even-though-hes-dead-people-are-still-ripping-painter-light-thomas-kinkade/6710/.
[6] Quote from Liz Heslep in interview 10/16/18.
[7] Dyrness, William A. Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2003. 101.
About the Author
Jason Turbeville
A pastor, husband and father who loves to be around others. These are the things that describe me. I was a youth minister for 15 years but God changed the calling on my life. I love to travel and see where God takes me in my life.11 responses to “Art for Arts sake”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Great post, Jason!
Your first line caught my eye and grabbed my attention. You quote Durness and reveal that he believed that, “In some mysterious sense, all art aspires to be worship.” This concept reminds me of Psalm 19:1-4, which states:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Dyrness believed that art brought worship to God regardless if the artist intended to or not. You mention that, “As much as Christians lament the lack of influence in the world, maybe it is ok to see art for what it is.” Do you think that Christian influence is being squelched because of lack of opportunity or lack of participation? Dyrness suggested that artists should be given the ability to utilize their talent within the church and that their craft is simply another form of worship. How can we create space for those who speak through image and not text within our ministries?
Colleen,
Great scripture quote, our God is the source of all creativity and we should embrace it. As far as Christian artists I think the lack of art in the church stems from the Scopes Monkey Trial. Hear me out, by being made to look the fools in the trial Christians basically took their ball and went home, or another way to put it is they pulled out of the world of art and hunkered down. Even within the church art seemed to be frowned upon, and just recently (in the past 20 yrs) have we really begun to come back out of our shells. I really hope we can start to see art for what it is beautiful expressions.
Jason
Jason,
Thanks for highlighting Dyrness’ work in such an objective manner. I’m most curious about your connection to art and your thoughts in how you do/don’t incorporate it into your own ministry/worship? I didn’t get a sense at all re. your own personal feelings…
Jean,
I really didn’t put my own feelings in there did I? I will be honest, I love art in all of its forms. I love to see what is produced by great talent. We have a man in our congregation who loves to create things from old wood and his work is in our church and our sanctuary. We have several ladies who are extremely artistic and create things for the church all the time. I have brought artists in to do sand art and even magic within our worship time. I love using videos to make a point…I love art. 🙂
Jason
PS thanks for that question, I had not realized I left my own feelings out of my post.
Jason,
Thanks for the introduction. I’m a little conflicted with Dryness’ claim about artists and their goal to create something great. I’m sure most do, but I think we would all agree, some don’t. Since the fall of Adam and the rule of Satan some artists are aspiring for things evil. Look how fast Aaron changed his artistic goals from the Israelites God to Satan’s golden calf? (Ex. 32:4)
I think Dryness needs to get back into the Word and clarify his statement that “all art aspires to be worship.” (101). Some might say he has drunk too much of his own Kool-Aid here.
On a related idolatrous artform in the news…What is your reaction to the lottery art that is going on right now in our country? I am troubled by the images I see, people lined up in an obsessive que to buy a chance to win big.
Stand firm,
M. Webb
Mike,
I am not sure Dyrness is saying all art worships God, I think his point was that it aspires to something it is not, whether it is meant for the God of the universe or not. I think we would both agree that all talent, whether it is used to glorify Him or not comes from the maker, YHWH. What we do with our gift is our free will but I would also argue it can become a source of idolatry if we are not careful. I also agree it is a sad thing to watch people throw away their money on the lottery. My dad once told me the lottery is a tax on people who cannot do math.
Jason
I didn’t realize that about Thomas Kinkade. It seems he and the others you mention are opposite ends of a spectrum, all being artists with varying views on what it means to make “good art.” Beauty is often in the eye of the beholder but are there universal values as to what makes art quality? Do you think Christians should have a specific standard for art based on certain biblical principals? Maybe, a Philippians 4 principal…”whatever is true, noble, right”…just verbally processing here.
Trisha,
I agree there are universal values but that line seems to move depending on the era. I would say some of the early 20th century artists don’t speak to me, i.e. Picasso. He is considered a master, another one is Jackson Pollack, not a fan. I do think we should, as Christians have a standard, but that doesn’t mean we should attack artists for their work. It seems to me that we appreciate the art that speaks to us and try to find God in the middle of it?? It is a tough thing to try to figure out.
Jason
Jason,
In times past the Church frequently sponsored art. With the Reformation that shifted significantly as Dyrness reminds us. In your post you suggest that Christians should see art for what it is but, do you think it may also be time for the Church to once again sponsor meaningful art – even that which might be considered risky or avantgarde?
Dan,
I absolutely agree with your question. I see no problem sponsoring art even if it might be risky. That being said we must also wise in how we support art. I think it is a great thing to use art to praise the most creative force in the universe.
Jason
Jason,
Wow, you really taught me a lot about art in your post. That was a really engaging post. The disturbing and enchanting side of art! I think we must continue to risk art. I think even if art is taken too far and does damage, if it offends. In some cases, the feeling of offense is appropriate. I wonder if many people got drawn back to God from seeing the urine-cross. If it made you feel disgusted, that feeling of disgust is an inner moment of witness. I suspect God might have used this…