Art lovers will be interested in some of my latest Christian art finds. I've been updating quite a few of my galleries.
Above is an image which tells the story of the Prodigal Son, from the Larry and Mary Gerbens collection. But you'll find many more new images in the Christian art galleries on my sidebar.
A photographer who used a 13th century village church in England for an erotic photoshoot has caused uproar in the local diocese, which has decided to sue him.
The photographer, Andy Craddock, trying his best to sound symbolically illiterate, said "I don't understand it and I don't see the photographs as offensive, it's art."
Methinks the man protests too much. More likely he was counting on suggestive dildo straddling stirring up some publicity. After all, if he had genuinely wanted to avoid misunderstandings why did he not seek permission first?
This image, featuring a black Mary and baby Jesus, comes from here. Does an image of a black Jesus disturb you?
If it does, why? Does it disturb you that its unhistorical? If so, does an image of a white Jesus disturb you just as much?
For something different I was searching for Jewish art this evening, particularly for scenes from the Old Testament. To your left is an image of the burning bush from Chana Cromer at Synagogue Art.
Jesus and the woman at the well. Artist unknown. Sourced from Elegant Dust.
"Pact of Judas" by Duccio di Buoninsegna. It depicts Judas being offered a fee for his betrayal of his master, Jesus.
Before we judge its good to reflect, how have we betrayed Jesus? In smaller ways? In larger ways?
One of the guys at the Pagan and Christian Moot, whom I know as Ninecoils, has posted a link to his art gallery, art.swiftshanks.com. I love his use of colour and was particularly drawn to this picture entitled "Mother of Angels". Believe it or not but he considers himself an Atheist.
This has got to be one of the most unusual Jesus tattoos I have ever seen. Retro-technical dot matrix style.
"Judasz" by Edward Okun
Judas is often neglected in Christian art, yet he represents an important theme in the Christian story, the theme of betrayal and abandonment.
Jesus Washing the Feet of the Disciples from the Lectionary of Abu Gosh near Jerusalem (from Women of Bible Lands Illustrations by M. A. Kirk) Sourced from Worship Workshops.
A sculpture by British artist Paul Fryer shows Jesus in the electric chair. Read here for more.
I am undecided about this. It challenges the trivialization of the cross, it invites us to contemplate the death of Jesus afresh, but - lets be honest - in our society this execution method is reserved for murderers and not political dissidents.
I have been thinking, people often talk of anabaptist ethics but what about anabaptist aesthetics?
Typically the anabaptists been known for iconoclasm. Not unlike the calvinists in that respect. But I think that's too much of a baby out with the bathwater approach. So over the years I have drawn much of my theology of beauty and art from Orthodox Christianity. More recently I have been thinking, what if I tried to integrate my thinking here a bit more? What if my aesthetics was more informed by anabaptist principles? When I think about that it occurs to me that one of the functions of anabaptist art should be to subvert idolatry, particularly political idolatry, in whatever way, shape or form it comes.
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