
In the last Betwixt Episode, artist Bruce Herman told the story about the house-fire in which he lost 25 years of artwork. Bruce described it as a “eu-catastrophe” – the good catastrophe that brought freedom amidst great loss.
In Part 2 of this robust conversation with Bruce Herman, I wanted to learn more about his work as an artist. What are the new possibilities and narratives Bruce has been exploring? What role does art play in the life of the Church?
Bruce Herman’s latest project Ordinary Saints explores the fraught space between the icon and the portrait. A space Bruce has described as “entering into no-man’s land, between the sacred traditions on the one hand and the traditions of portraiture, and of art-song and poetry.”
“Playing God is the great temptation for all of us–especially artists. . . My imagination had been colonized by my desire for reputation.” - Bruce Herman Click To TweetBruce Herman is an artist, essayist, speaker, professor. He is the Lothlórien Distinguished Chair in Fine Arts at Gordon College where he founded the Art Department 35 years ago. Herman’s art has been exhibited around the world; his paintings housed in world renown museums like the Vatican Museum of Modern Religious Art and the Cincinnati Museum of Fine Arts.
This Podcast relies on shares & reviews from listeners like you!
Subscribe/Rate/Review Betwixt on iTunes!
Links:
- View Bruce Herman’s online art gallery and website.
- Watch a short video of the beautiful Laity Lodge Event
- See what Malcolm Guite is creating by visiting his website
- Follow Malcolm Guite on Twitter
- Watch Malcolm Guite and Steve Bell Perform “Your Poetry is Jamming My Machine”
- Listen to J.A.C. Redford’s Music at his website
If you enjoyed this episode, you might like:
Episode 20: Bruce Herman on How to Dance When Everything is Burning (Art of Paradox Part 1)
Episode 14:Suzanne Stabile on How the Enneagram Helps the Church Understand Difference (Part 1)
Thank you to these artists for the use of their audio:
- Stories About the World that Once Was. Performed by Chris Zabriskie CC license www.freemusicarchive.com
- Aspirato performed by Kai Engel CC license www.freemusicarchive.com
- Your Poetry is Jamming My Machine” by Malcolm Guite. Performed with Steve Bell. (Used with Permission)
- Turn Not Thy Face Away from Thy Servant by Russian Liturgical Chant CC license www.Archive.org
- Summoning Beauty Music by JAC Redford for Ordinary Saints. (Used with Permission)
- Portrait of the Artist. Poetry by Malcolm Guite, music by JAC Redford for Ordinary Saints. Performed live at Laity Lodge. (Used with Permission)
Missio Alliance Comment Policy
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission. This sort of thoughtful engagement is something that we seek to engender not only in our publishing, but in conversations that unfold as a result in the comment section of our articles.
Unfortunately, because of the relational distance introduced by online communication, “thoughtful engagement” and “comment sections” seldom go hand in hand. At the same time, censorship of comments by those who disagree with points made by authors, whose anger or limited perspective taints their words, or who simply feel the need to express their own opinion on a topic without any meaningful engagement with the article or comment in question can mask an important window into the true state of Christian discourse. As such, Missio Alliance sets forth the following suggestions for those who wish to engage in conversation around our writing:
1. Seek to understand the author’s intent.
If you disagree with something the an author said, consider framing your response as, “I hear you as saying _________. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, here’s why I disagree. _____________.
2. Seek to make your own voice heard.
We deeply desire and value the voice and perspective of our readers. However you may react to an article we publish or a fellow commenter, we encourage you to set forth that reaction is the most constructive way possible. Use your voice and perspective to move conversation forward rather than shut it down.
3. Share your story.
One of our favorite tenants is that “an enemy is someone whose story we haven’t heard.” Very often disagreements and rants are the result of people talking past rather than to one another. Everyone’s perspective is intimately bound up with their own stories – their contexts and experiences. We encourage you to couch your comments in whatever aspect of your own story might help others understand where you are coming from.
In view of those suggestions for shaping conversation on our site and in an effort to curate a hospitable space of open conversation, Missio Alliance may delete comments and/or ban users who show no regard for constructive engagement, especially those whose comments are easily construed as trolling, threatening, or abusive.