Art & Faith Conversations: Recent Episodes
Libby John
How does creativity intersect with our spirituality? Conversations with artists to explore our humanity and spiritual identity through the integration of art and faith.
Host, Libby Johnson, will guide you through a spiriutal practice that focuses on peace.
Through prayer, lectio divina style reading, and question prompts to ponder, this episode will lead you in a devotional style practice of gathering your scattered thoughts and calming your anxious heart. This is an episode you can return to again and again as a way to start your day by centering your throughts on scripture and prayer.
artandfaithconversations@gmail.com
Follow Me On Instagram @artandfaithpodcast @vividartistryco
Connect with Libby and the Podcast
Andrew Nemr is an international tap artist, TED Fellow, speaker, mentor, and writer.
Andrew started tapping at the age of 3 being mentored by Gregory Hines starting at a very young age. He’s a solo artist in dance, visual art and music but also travels the world as a speaker, mentor, and coach in a variety of settings and has had his life story featured in an independent film by Windrider called Identity.
We discuss a significant moment in his life when he hit a wall and experienced burnout throughout his whole body, mind, and spirit in a visceral way. Andrew shares vulnerably what that expereince was like, how he got through it, and offers insight to artists who may be close to experiencing burnout themselves.
Andrew regularly offers a 4 week spiritual formation course you can find more about and connect with him at: https://andrewnemr.com
Andrew's TED Talk
Libby and the Podcast
Jaclyn Williams is a preacher, chaplain, educator, and performing artist. She is an assistant professor of the practice of preaching and chaplaincy at Fuller Seminary. She joins the podcast to talk about embodied preaching and the unique style she has of integrating her performing art skills to enhance her pedagogical practice with students.
As well as her MDiv and PhD in theological studies, she also holds an MFA in theater and has a background in dance. We discuss the connections between the process of craft as an artist and the process of spiritual formation and how artists can be significant contributors to teaching formational practices.
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Email: artandfatihconversations@gmail.com
Mark Buchanan is a professor of pastoral theology at Ambrose University. He has authored several book on spiritual formation and rhythms of the soul. He joins the podcast to talk about his book, God Walk-Moving at the Speed of Our Soul. We discuss the spiritual practice of physically walking and how formative it is for our faith when we slow down enough to keep pace with a 3mph God. We talk about how walking affects our memory and our attention spans and rehumanizes us in an increasingly digital world.
Mark Buchanan
Order the book God Walk
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Connect with host Libby John
Instagram @artandfaithpodcast
Email artandfaithconversations@gmail.com
Julianna Rubio Slager is the artistic director and co-founder of Ballet 5:8 dance company out of Chicago. She returns for the second time to the podcast to talk about the powerful language of the body through dance and how it can speak in ways words cannot. We discuss misconcenptions about the body and dance among church culture and the importance of making peace with our bodies in surrender to God's work in our lives.
Julianna is known for her unique ability to engage audiences in discussions of life and faith through her choreography. She has created over 50 works for the Company and School during her tenure at Ballet 5:8. In 2023 she was awarded the coveted position of National Visiting Fellow at the School of American Ballet.
Ballet 5:8
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Connect with Libby
Instagram @artandfaithpodcast
Dr. Curt Thompson is a leading psychiatrist in the field of interpersonal neurobiology and spiritual formation. We discuss why art and artists are invaluable to understanding what it means to be human and to live a purposeful life.
Curt specializes in helping others seek and discover the intrinsic desire we all have to feel known, loved, and connected and shares how beauty and creativity play a crucial role in that pursuit. He is the author of several books such as Anatomy of the Soul, The Soul of Shame, and his most recent book on suffering, The Deepest Place.
https://curtthompsonmd.com
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Connect with Libby
Instagram: @artandfaithpodcast
David Taylor returns to the podcast to talk about his latest book, A Body of Praise-Understanding the Role of our Physical Bodies in Worship.
Click to Order A Body of Praise
We discuss our five senses as the way we experience God's closeness and grace and how artists give us language and portals to engage our senses more fully in worship and life. David aruges that the body is not merely a neutral spectator or something to overcome but that God has an essential purpose for good for our bodies in worship.
David Taylor is a theologian, author, speaker, priest, and director of initiatives in art and faith. A professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, he has lectured widely on the arts, from Thailand to South Africa. He has written for The Washington Post, Image Journal, Theology Today, Worship, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, and Books & Culture, among others. He lives in Austin with his wife Phaedra, a visual artist and gardener, and his daughter Blythe and son Sebastian.
Music for the podcast provided by Gray North
Contact Libby John: https://vividartistry.org
Instagram: @artandfaithpodcast
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Jane Boutwell is an artist who describes herself as having an inquisitive mind, a heart connected to nature and a soul yearning towards God…a child of dirt and dance…a beauty bringing blessing writer… a poetic painter and potter.
Her creative work includes tactile, intuitive, and deeply-in-touch-with-nature ways of being in the world. She finds her passion in a variety of creative mediums and expressions which include gardening, quilting, writing, painting, sketching, ceramics, dancing, creative coaching, podcasting, and family life with her husband and four children in the Atlanta Georgia area.
We take a deep dive into a mini series she featured on her podacst, Growing Creative, about living a life of listening and how vital it is as a practice for our creative and spiritual lives.
Visit Jane's work at:
The Birdhouse Retreat Center
https://www.janeboutwellstudio.com
Connect with the Podcast: https://vividartistry.org
IG: @artandfaithpodcast
Donate to the production of new episodes: https://givebutter.com/artandfaithpodcast
Or Text ARTANDFAITHPODCAST to 53-555 and follow the link for more info
Jane Boutwell is an artist who describes herself as having an inquisitive mind, a heart connected to nature and a soul yearning towards God…a child of dirt and dance…a beauty bringing blessing writer… a poetic painter and potter.
Her creative work includes tactile, intuitive, and deeply-in-touch-with-nature ways of being in the world. She finds her passion in a variety of creative mediums and expressions which include gardening, quilting, writing, painting, sketching, ceramics, dancing, creative coaching, podcasting, and family life with her husband and four children in the Atlanta Georgia area.
We take a deep dive into a mini series she featured on her podacst, Growing Creative, about living a life of listening and how vital it is as a practice for our creative and spiritual lives.
Visit Jane's work at:
The Birdhouse Retreat Center
https://www.janeboutwellstudio.com
Connect with the Podcast: https://vividartistry.org
IG: @artandfaithpodcast
Donate to the production of new episodes: https://givebutter.com/artandfaithpodcast
Or Text ARTANDFAITHPODCAST to 53-555 and follow the link for more info
Justin McRoberts returns to the podcast to talk about his newest book, Sacred Strides: The Journey to Belovedness in Work and Rest.In this episode we discuss the myth of finding balancing but rather discovering the tensions and rhythms in different seasons of life. We also talk about the significance of practicing a day of Sabbath and the pitfalls of focuisng on utitliy in our creative and spiritual lives.
Jusitn is a speaker, author, mentor, and musician. Some of his previous books include It Is What You Make of It and the books of prayer collaboration project with Scott Erickson.
https://justinmcroberts.com
Donate to the production of new episodes: https://givebutter.com/artandfaithpodcast
Or Text ARTANDFAITHPODCAST to 53-555 and follow the link for more info
Week 5 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent.
Each Lent episode is an exceprt of a more in-depth writtten series that includes movement prayer and visual art as well as poetry and scripture.
Visit Lent Week 5 to go deeper
Music provided by Dear Gravity
Journal Prompt Questions:
What are some ways you can slow down and be cared for in this season?
How might you need to re-position yourself to see beauty?
Email: artandfaithconversations@gmail.com
Instagram: @artandfaithpodcast
Week 4 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent.
Each Lent episode is an exceprt of a more in-depth writtten series that includes movement prayer and visual art as well.
Visit Lent Week 4 to go deeper
Music provided by Dear Gravity
Journal Prompt Questions:
- What are some things that make you feel securely planted?
- What kind of a season do you sense you are becoming ready for?
Instagram:
@artandfaithpodcast
@vividartistryco
Week 3 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent.
Each Lent episode is an exceprt of a more in-depth writtten series that includes movement prayer and visual art as well.
Visit Lent Week 3 to go deeper
Music provided by Dear Gravity
Journal Prompt Questions:
- What are the main daily influences on your imagination and your senses? Take inventory for a couple of days and write down the things you devote attention to.
- What are some tangible daily rhythms you could work in that would cultivate beauty in your life?
Instagram:
@artandfaithpodcast
@vividartistryco
Week 2 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent with poetry, an embodied prayer practice and journal prompts. The audio recordings are an excrept of an in-depth written Lent series that also includes movment prayer and visual art.
Visit Lent Week 2 to participate.
Music provided by Dear Gravity
Email: artandfaithconversations@gmail.com
Instagram: @artandfaithpodcast
Week 1 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent.
The audio recordings are an exceprt of a more in-depth written Lent series that includes movment prayer and visual art.
Visit Lent Week 1 to participate
Music provided by Dear Gravity
Email: artandfaithconversations@gmail.com
Instagram: @artandfaithpodcast
Melanie Penn returns to the podcast to talk about some of her latest music and how creative work is needed now more than ever. She describes beauty as an act of defiance against the dark times of the world and how artists play a significant role in healing from the events since 2020. We discuss the many changes and new norms we've all experienced including some big changes and loss that happened in her own life.
Melanie has a backgournd in classical voice training before becoming an independent recording artist. During a career touring in Broadway musicals, she felt compelled to write her own songs and recorded her first album in 2010 which received critical acclaim. She has since released several albums including her Immanuel project in 2017 which rose to #1 on Amazon's Christian worship and holiday charts. Her most recent albums, More Alive Vol 1 and Vol 2, she released from 2020-2022. Clips featured in this episode are from Vol 2. She first appeared on the podcast in Aug. 2020 on Season 5 Episode 16 titled, "Creative Clarity" which can be found on all streaming platforms.
Melanie Penn
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Bette Dickinson returns to the podcast to talk about the inspiration for her series of paintings in her new book, Make Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder. Bette appeared as a guest on the podcast in Septemeber to tell us about the book. In this episode we dive deeper into why the Church needs to integrate more art into spiritual practices and how art actually makes room in our lives for God to speak. We discuss right and left brained church and artists as being essential workers in leading others into deeper, more meaningful spiritual lives. The book is available to order anywhere books are sold.
At the end of the episode Bette leads a visio divina practice and a breath prayer.
To view the painting for the visio divina, text "wonder" to 55444 or click Visio Divina
Bette Dickinson
The podcast is an extension of an arts collective that creates spiritually formative resources through embodied expressions. To support our ongoing efforts you can
text "artandfaithpodcast" to (202) 858-1233
Donate
Website: https://vividartistry.org
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@artandfaithpodcast
@vividartistryco
Phaedra Jean Taylor is a visual artist exploring the disciplines of encaustic painting and watercolor. She is inspired by ideas of play, journey, memory, and belonging which we discuss as being healing concepts in her spiritual journey after being raised in a thrid generation Jehovah's Witness family. Her art making is hard to describe without hearing her incredible conversion story when she met the real Jesus for the first time while studying art in college.
Raised on the rocky shores of northern Scotland til she wast thirteen, her family then transplanted to Texas, where she learned to love open spaces and quiet landscapes.
She completed her BFA in sculpture at the University of North Texas, where she was also awarded the Most Outstanding Student in the Visual Arts award. She interned at the Chinati Foundation, in Marfa Texas, shortly thereafter where she was profoundly influenced by spending hours in the company of the works in the collection.
Phaedra and her husband, Anglican priest and theologian, David Taylor, have been collaborating reecently to make creative liturgical resources for families and others that pair images and prayers to meditate on.
https://www.phaedrataylor.com
Support the podcast with a financial gift
Donate
The podcast is an extension of an arts collective that creates spiritually formative resources through embodied expressions.
Visit our website
https://vividartistry.org
Instagram: @artandfaithpodcast
Co-authors, Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore, recently released their first book,
Liturgies for Hope-Sixty Prayers for the Highs, Lows, and Everything in Between.
Hear the story of how the prayers orginated as anchors of hope for their church in NYC in 2020 at the height of the pandemic to becoming a published book. The liturgies include everything from the ordinary moments of life to the dark days of the pandemic and act as guardrails to beauty as the authors descirbe it. Hear the origin story of their friendship and collaboration, the doubts and struggles they've had in their own prayer lives and don't miss the Liturgy read at the end.
Audrey Elledge lives in New York, where she works at SparkNotes and serves at Church of the City New York. Audrey is the recipient of the Academy of American Poets Prize and the Virginia Beall Ball Prize.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Elizabeth Moore now lives in New York, where she works at Penguin Random House and serves with the Church of the City New York creative team.
To order the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Liturgies-Hope-Prayers-Everything-Between/dp/0593442806
The podcast is an extension of an arts collective that creates spiritually formative resources through embodied expressions.
Donate
Website: https://vividartistry.org
Follow us on Instagram:
@artandfaithpodcast
@vividartistryco
Co-authors, Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore, recently released their first book,
Liturgies for Hope-Sixty Prayers for the Highs, Lows, and Everything in Between.
Hear the story of how the prayers orginated as anchors of hope for their church in NYC in 2020 at the height of the pandemic to becoming a published book. The liturgies include everything from the ordinary moments of life to the dark days of the pandemic and act as guardrails to beauty as the authors descirbe it. Hear the origin story of their friendship and collaboration, the doubts and struggles they've had in their own prayer lives and don't miss the Liturgy read at the end.
Audrey Elledge lives in New York, where she works at SparkNotes and serves at Church of the City New York. Audrey is the recipient of the Academy of American Poets Prize and the Virginia Beall Ball Prize.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Elizabeth Moore now lives in New York, where she works at Penguin Random House and serves with the Church of the City New York creative team.
To order the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Liturgies-Hope-Prayers-Everything-Between/dp/0593442806
The podcast is an extension of an arts collective that creates spiritually formative resources through embodied expressions.
Donate
Website: https://vividartistry.org
Follow us on Instagram:
@artandfaithpodcast
@vividartistryco
Rachel Marie Kang is an author and poet releasing her frist book, Let There Be Art: The Pleasure and Purpose of Unleashing the Creativity within You.
The book serves as an invitation to create right where you are and dispels the myths that art is reserved for only an elite few. She explores the ordinary acitivities of life such as cooking, play, silence, and laughter and invites readers to discover the creativity within all of us and encourages us to create right where we are with what we have. Rachel is a NY native and founder of The Fallow House. She has a degree in English with Creative Writing from Nyack College and has contributed to Chrisitianity Today, Provers 31 Ministries and (in)Courage.
Let There Be Art is avaialbe for pre-order with bonuses and a release day of Oct. 11. See link for details https://www.rachelmariekang.com/lettherebeart
Support the podcast with a financial gift
Donate
The podcast is an extension of an arts collective that creates spiritually formative resources through embodied expressions.
Visit our website
https://vividartistry.org
Mike Yeager, executive pastor, producer, and songwriter at Awaken Chruch in San Diego talks about thier newest project, Move of Heaven. Mike received his PHD in structural engineering and spent time in Florence, Italy studying cultural heritage and structural assessments of buildings and monuments. We discuss how his heart was drawn back to the church and then to music when the church wanted to respond to the tumultous, cultural times with writing songs.
Produced by GRAMMY Award-winning Stephen Blake Kanicka(Kanye West, for KING & COUNTRY) and mixed by David Cook(Chris Tomlin, Shawn Mendes), Move Of Heaven pushes the artistic envelope with a modern pop, sonic landscape mixed with spiritual warfare anthems, leaning deeply on faith to drive action.
Find Awaken Music: https://awakenmusic.com
Give a gift to support more podcast episodes: https://givebutter.com/artandfaithpodcast
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On 9/11 I was flying home to the United States from Switzerland when the pilot came on the intercom and said we'd be landing in Newfoundland due to attacks on the U.S. I share my story every year in written from so decided to put it in audio form on the podcast. It is one of hope and mercy on one of the darkest days in history. Please consider a dontation to the podcast to help continue the production of these episodes and continue to share our stories with one antoher.
Donate amount of your choice here
Follow the podcast https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
To read or share the written version of the story visit:
https://vividartistry.org/blog-1/2022/9/10/my-911-story
Email: artandfaithconversations@gmail.com
Bette Dickinson is a prophetic artist, writer, and speaker who invites audiences to connect with God through visual parables of the spiritual journey. Bette earned her MDiv through Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and has worked with ministries like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, World Vision, Infinitum, and Kensington Church to awaken the soul through beauty and wonder.
She tells about her new book, Making Room in Advent-25 devotions for a season of wonder. Each devotion features an original painting to draw you in and fill you with wonder through a fresh telling of the Advent story from the gospel book of Luke.
The book is available for pre-order til Sept. 13 which includes bonuses and a 30%off discount for the Art & Faith podcast listeners.
Enter the code ARTFAITH at check out for the discount!
Order the book: https://www.ivpress.com/making-room-in-advent
Links for Bette:
https://www.bettedickinson.com
https://www.instagram.com/bette_dickinson/
Support the podcast with a financial gift of your choice:
https://givebutter.com/artandfaithpodcast or
text artandfaithpodcast to (202) 858-1233
Follow https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
Bette Dickinson is a prophetic artist, writer, and speaker who invites audiences to connect with God through visual parables of the spiritual journey. Bette earned her MDiv through Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and has worked with ministries like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, World Vision, Infinitum, and Kensington Church to awaken the soul through beauty and wonder.
She tells about her new book, Making Room in Advent-25 devotions for a season of wonder. Each devotion features an original painting to draw you in and fill you with wonder through a fresh telling of the Advent story from the gospel book of Luke.
The book is available for pre-order til Sept. 13 which includes bonuses and a 30%off discount for the Art & Faith podcast listeners.
Enter the code ARTFAITH at check out for the discount!
Order the book: https://www.ivpress.com/making-room-in-advent
Links for Bette:
https://www.bettedickinson.com
https://www.instagram.com/bette_dickinson/
Support the podcast with a financial gift of your choice:
https://givebutter.com/artandfaithpodcast or
text artandfaithpodcast to (202) 858-1233
Follow https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
A short seaon finale wrap up episode with host, Libby John, who shares some of the honest truths about keeping a podcast going. She also gives a commission to artists to be confident in their role as "border-stalkers" who don't ever feel like they quite fit in like artist, Mako Fujimura, talks about in his book Culture Care. Don't miss the special benediction blessing she shares at the end.
To support the podcast and help continue the production of these episodes please visit to make a donation! Your support is much appreciated! https://givebutter.com/artandfaithpodcast
OR you can text artandfaithpodcast to: 202-858-1233 to donate
A short seaon finale wrap up episode with host, Libby John, who shares some of the honest truths about keeping a podcast going. She also gives a commission to artists to be confident in their role as "border-stalkers" who don't ever feel like they quite fit in like artist, Mako Fujimura, talks about in his book Culture Care. Don't miss the special benediction blessing she shares at the end.
To support the podcast and help continue the production of these episodes please visit to make a donation! Your support is much appreciated! https://givebutter.com/artandfaithpodcast
OR you can text artandfaithpodcast to: 202-858-1233 to donate
Gregory Andrus is a photographer, author and speaker who has a powerful story of overcoming alcoholism and homelessness. After a near death expereince, he found he'd been given a second chance at living. This became a catalyst to him discovering his artistic gifts and callings to highlight the diginity of others through sharing the portraits and stories of total strangers he meets along the coast. This project became known as Portraits of the Jersey Shore which Gregory compiled and released in a book.
He just released a second book of beautiful photography called Sand, Sea & Rescue which features the brave, young lifeguards of the Jersey beaches. Gregory wanted to bring attention to the stories of those who run towards danger to help rescue others to give them a second chance at life as well.
To find Gregory's work visit:
Portraits of the Jersey Shore
https://www.facebook.com/portraitsofthejerseyshore
Follow the podcast on IG and please leave a kind review where you listen!
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
Gregory Andrus is a photographer, author and speaker who has a powerful story of overcoming alcoholism and homelessness. After a near death expereince, he found he'd been given a second chance at living. This became a catalyst to him discovering his artistic gifts and callings to highlight the diginity of others through sharing the portraits and stories of total strangers he meets along the coast. This project became known as Portraits of the Jersey Shore which Gregory compiled and released in a book.
He just released a second book of beautiful photography called Sand, Sea & Rescue which features the brave, young lifeguards of the Jersey beaches. Gregory wanted to bring attention to the stories of those who run towards danger to help rescue others to give them a second chance at life as well.
To find Gregory's work visit:
Portraits of the Jersey Shore
https://www.facebook.com/portraitsofthejerseyshore
Follow the podcast on IG and please leave a kind review where you listen!
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
Michael Gatlin, along with his wife, have served as senior pastors of the Vineyard Church in Duluth, MN since 1997. Michael is also a member of the National Board of the Vineyard movement and has helped plant many churches over the years. Before his full time career in pastoral ministry, Michael worked as a designer and also had a thriving vocation as a watercolor artist. He has walked through many highs and lows in his art and faith journey and shares a unique perspective as a pastor and an artist who continues to pursue beauty and joy in everything no matter how challenging life can be. To connect more with him: https://duluthvineyard.org
https://jmichaelwatercolors.com
We reference the Brehm Residency, to find out more visit:
https://www.fuller.edu/brehm-center/brehm-for-artists/
The podcast and more:
https://vividartistry.org/podcast-1
Allison Davis is a writer and photographer who chose to embark on an adventure of photographing the west coast of the United States in 30 days. It was the height of the pandemic, her calendar of doing wedding photography was wiped clean and she was ready to take a risk. Fueled by passion and faith, she set out to capture all that she could with her camera in a 30 day trip along the west coast. Not knowing what each day would hold, she found herself bearing wtiness to unfathomable beauty all along the way. She encourtered endless wildfire smoke, high winds on the edge of cliffs, sun breaking through the darkness and countless other captivating moments. She's compiled them all into a book called, Revealed at the Edge, which is available to pre-order and includes prayerful meditations as a compantion to the stunning landscape images. To find more out more visit:
https://www.revealedattheedge.com
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/revealedattheedge/west-coast/
https://www.AllisonDavis.co
To connect with the greater work of the podcast visit:
https://vividartistry.org
Ryan Diaz is a writer, a poet and a theologian from Queens, NY. He talks about the deep well of cynicism he had found himself in even though he had been active in the church most of his life. It was his return to reading and writing poetry that revivied him and awakened him to the awe and wonder of God all around him.
Ryan is an award winning writer, poet, and theologian from Queens, NY. He holds a BA in History from St. Johns University and is completing a MA in Biblical Studies. His writing has appeared in publications such as Transcendentals, Dappled Things, Ekstasis, and Premier Christianity. His first poetry book, For Those Wandering Along the Way, debuted in 2021.
You can find his book at
https://bookshop.org/books/for-those-wandering-along-the-way/9781666716559
To connect with the greater work of the podcast visit:
https://vividartistry.org
Follow us on social media
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
Hosts, Joy Ike and Libby John, wrap up 2021 with reflections on the year and how things have gone. They then each share a few of their favorite things they've been enjoying recently which range from a favorite album or podcast to a favorite food or spiritual practice. Links to favorite things shared in the episode:
Sara Groves New Album
Being Known Podcast by Curt Thompson
Alaya Naturals Collagen & Biotin
Commoners Communion Prayers & Podcast
The Podcast:
Contact the podcast
Music Provided by Dear Gravity:
Music for the Podcast
An audio contemplative meditation on Advent with scripture reading, reflection and poetry. "Into the Darkness" reflects on the dark or desert places we find ourselves in, waiting for God to answer our prayers. Through this Advent meditation, we are reminded that we are witnesses to the light and the darkness has not overcome it.
Poetry by Madeline L'Engle "Into the Darkest Hour"
Music provided by Dear Gravity https://deargravity.net
Join our mailing list to stay connected to the podcast https://vividartistry.org
Matt Tommey is an author, mentor and woven sculpture artist based in N. Carolina. He teaches and leads visual artists through his mentorship program, The Thriving Christian Artist, where they gain skills in their craft and business but also in co-creating with the Holy Spirit. in his new book, "Prophetic Art", he talks about what prophetic art is, some misconceptions about it and simple ways to invite the Holy Spirit into the creative process.
https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/what-is-prophetic-art.html
Prophetic Art Book
Art & Faith Conversations Podcast
Josh Tiessen is a visual artist based in Ontario Canada. He has coined his style as narrative hyperrealism and often juxtaposes animals in abandoned remnants of human civilization to highlight irony and parody, the hallmarks of postmodern art.
As a teenager, ranked among the world’s foremost realist artists, Tiessen was juried in as the youngest member of International Guild of Realism, Artists for Conservation and Society of Animal Artists, elite groups of the top nature and wildlife artists worldwide. As a young adult, Art Renewal Center designated him “Associate Living Master,” and New York based gallery Jonathan LeVine Projects awarded him First Place from 2000 artists in their international competition Search for the Next Great Artist. LeVine presented the emerging artist’s debut international solo exhibition in May of 2019.
His thematic body of work titled, "Streams in the Wasteland" exhibited in 2019 and is now available in its entirety in a hardcover monograph book. Each painting has an original score of music composed by his brother, Zac Tiessen, and is included with the book or available to listen on Spotify and Apple Music.
https://www.joshtiessen.com
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0995333726?ref=myi_title_dp
Support the podcast and learn more at
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Carolyn Arends is a singer/songwriter, speaker, author and teacher. She also serves as Director of Education at Renovarè Institute, founded by Richard Foster who authored the transformative book, Celebration of Discipline.Carolyn joins the podcast to talk about two new recent albums she just released, stories behind the songs and how her art has been spiritually formative over the years as her roles evolved from music to writing and teaching as well. Carolyn shares some fun stories from her past music touring with Rich Mullins and her early career in Christian music and she offers deep insight on how artists can continue to co-create into the future with God. To find out more about her work and Renovarè visit:
https://www.carolynarends.com
https://renovare.org
To support the production of these episodes visit:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Justin McRoberts is an author, speaker, artist and creative coach. His newest book, It Is What You Make Of It, is about creating something great with what you've been given rather than accepting circumstances as they are. Justin has authored several books including his prayer book collaborations with illustrator, Scott Erickson which was featured in Season 5 episode 1 if you'd like to hear that interview. For more information on Justin's work visit:
http://justinmcroberts.com
For a bonus clip of this interview visit:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Ekstasis is a digital and print publication where art meets academia and kingdom meets culture. Conor Sweetman, founder and senior editor, describes the vision behind Ekstasis as publishing work that slants toward the triumphant and glorious aspects of life in Christ, framed through life, the arts and literature. Ekstasis was recently acquired by media organization, Christianity Today, which Conor is excited about and he bases the aesthetics of the publication on the work of Beautiful Orthodoxy, as defined by Christianity Today.
To read essays and order print copies of Ekstasis visit:
https://www.ekstasismagazine.com
https://www.instagram.com/ekstasismagazine/
To connect with the podcast find us on IG
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
Or visit us: https://vividartistry.org/podcast-1
Scott Sauls is a pastor and writer who talks about making Christianity beautiful again by responding to the world with the gentleness of Christ rather than perpetual anger and divisiveness we see in culture. Scott has served as a pastor to many artists while leading Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN as well as during his years he served at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. We talk about the pitfalls of Christian celebrity culture, the tortured artist syndrome and also his newest book, A Gentle Answer.
To find out more about Scott and his writings visit:
https://scottsauls.com
Connect with the podcast on IG or Patreon:
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Andrew Lazo joins the podcast to talk about community, creativity and what he's learned from C.S. Lewis and the historic, literary group the Inklings. We also discuss why the Narnia books are some of Lewis's most mature works and how the deep friendship between Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien influenced them both greatly in their faith, writing and creativity.
Andrew Lazo is an internationally-known speaker and writer specializing on C.S. Lewis and the Inklings. Andrew earned his Masters in Modern British Literature from Rice University where he was a Jacob K. Javits fellow in the Humanities. He is a frequent speaker around the U.S. and U.K. and has written several articles on C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. In 2009, Andrew published Mere Christians: Inspiring Encounters with C.S. Lewis. In 2014 he also was honored to transcribe, edit, and publish a previously unknown book of C.S. Lewis,’ “Early Prose Joy,” which was Lewis’s very first spiritual autobiography.
Andrew currently attends Virginia Theological Seminary preparing for priestly ministry in the Episcopal Church. He also serves as a Distinguished Lecturer while concurrently pursuing his doctorate in the Romantic Theology program at Northwind Seminary. You can find out more about his work on his website and also hear him regularly on the Pints with Jack podcast.
http://www.mythoflove.net
Connect with Art & Faith Conversations:
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
https://vividartistry.org
Sho Baraka is a recording artist, performer, activist, and writer. He joins host, Joy Ike, to talk about his new book on the power our creativity has on repairing a broken world. The combination of his academic history and music career brings a unique perspective to the exploration of faith, creativity and justice.
Sho has served as adjunct professor at Wake Forest School of Divinity and was an original member of the hip hop consortium, 116 Clique with Reach Records. His book, He Saw That It Was Good-Reimagining Your Creative Life to Repair a Broken World, is available for pre-order and releases on May 18th.
https://www.barakaology.com
Support the podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Christine Hiester is a spiritual director, artist and musician. She describes spiritual direction as more of a companionship and a journey of deep listening alongside another person in the presence of God. She talks about how she came to spiritual direction through the avenue of art making when she experienced a deep depression and felt like the ability to pray was torn from her. We also talk about when and why it's a good to seek out spiritual direction.
This episode concludes with a 5-6 minute guided prayer meditation on our identity as the Beloved.
For details on Christine's upcoming mini retreat May 29th, connect with her through her website or Instagram.
https://www.shapingtheriver.com
https://www.instagram.com/shapingtheriver/
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Songwriter, Andrea Sandefur, joins me to talk about a role she felt called to as an encourager and caretaker of the creative souls of her church. She tells the story of when and how she felt called to that role and how she carries that out with an artists event she helps curate at her home church in Wasilla, Alaska. Andrea is a songwriter and also a contributing host to Theophany Media's podcast called "Creatively Christian." Learn more about her work at:
https://andreasandefurmusic.com
https://theophanymedia.com/creativelychristian/
Art & Faith Conversations is listener supported. To give a one time financial gift or ongoing support of as little as $2/month to help keep these conversations going visit:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Contributing host, Joy Ike, talks about the freedom we find in the giving away of our creative gifts and the risk that it takes to realize we don't need to hoard the things we've been given. She says, "you can't add to what you have when your default is to bury it in the ground and protect it from the world."
Joy is a music artist from Philadelphia. NPR's All Things Considered describes her work as poetic and perfectly complemented by a unique blend of neo-soul, with just the right dash of pop. Joy is also an artist consultant and coach and helps others develop their unique voice in their craft and career.
Visit her website to view her work.
https://www.joyike.com
Connect with her:
Instagram: @joyikemusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyikemusic/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/joyikemusic Spotify: https://spoti.fi/34WhzXK email: joyikemusic@gmail.com Join the podcast community: https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Guest host, Joy Ike, joins the podcast with an episode about sound and how it affects the clarity of our vision. She states, "The noisier things get, the harder it is to see." She shares her thoughts and questions about the power of sound, including music, and how the things we hear can either distract us or re-orient our focus.
Joy is a music artist from Philadelphia. NPR's All Things Considered describes her work as poetic and perfectly complemented by a unique blend of neo-soul, with just the right dash of pop. Joy is also an artist consultant and coach and helps others develop their unique voice in their craft and career.
Visit her website to view her work.
https://www.joyike.com
Connect with her:
Instagram: @joyikemusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyikemusic/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/joyikemusic Spotify: https://spoti.fi/34WhzXK email: joyikemusic@gmail.com Join the podcast community: https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Visual artist, Merna Liddawi, started out as an educator in math and science but turned to painting in her adult life. Now a full time artist, she describes her work as creating a contemplative space of stillness and beauty through sacred geometry, symbolism, and the use of pure elements and materials. Born in the Middle East in Jordan, she draws on her Orthodox roots to connect her work and her faith as she continues to explore the divine mysteries of life.
https://www.mernaliddawi.com
The podcast is an independent, listener supported production. Join the community and help continue these conversations:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Hannah Anderson is the author of several books with Turning of Days: Lessons of Nature, Seasons and Spirit being her fourth release. It's a collection of devotional essays and illustrations described as a respite for our restless, disoriented, and fatigued world. Hannah's poetic way with words paired with her husband, Nathan's detailed illustrations, readers are invited into the natural world to slow down and reflect on nature's testimony about who God is.
You can pre-order the book through the link:
https://www.moodypublishers.com/turning-of-days/
Learn more about Hannah's work:
https://www.sometimesalight.com
Maria Fee is a painter who works with paper, canvas and paint to create work that explores fragmentation, cultural mixing referred to as mestizo, alienation and hospitality. She is the director of the national artist residency program at Brehm Cascadia which is part of the Brehm Center of Fuller Seminary. We talk about the residency and the need artists have for the church but also the need churches have for artists and why.
Find out more about Maria's work at:
https://www.mariafee.net
Music provided for this episode by Greg LaFollette.
Caroline Cobb is a singer/songwriter who's music has been compared to the likes of Rich Mullins, Andrew Peterson and Sandra McCracken. Her newest album release, A Seed, A Sunrise, is full of songs that shape the upcoming season of Advent. Through imagination, artistry and poetic language, Caroline tells biblical narratives through her storytelling style of writing. Although these songs were recorded before the upheaval of 2020, we talk about how they seem to be a timely piece of art that pushes back the darkness. We talk about the creative process behind her writing, how stories through songs shape us and the life goal she set in 2011 that served as a catalyst for her future in music and the albums that would follow.
https://www.carolinecobb.com
To connect with the podcast follow on Instagram or Facebook
@artandfaithpodcast
To give a financial gift to support this independent work:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Author, Diana Oestreich, is a Iraq War veteran who served as a combat medic in the Army National Guard. She's an activist, sexual assault nurse and the key relationships officer at Preemtive Love, a global relief organization working to end war. Her new book, Waging Peace, is her story of going from soldier to peacemaker when she heard God's call for her to love her enemies in the most unlikely place: the battlefield of Iraq. We talk about how the art of writing and storytelling has helped her heal from war trauma. Her stories have also been able to serve as a bridge to connect others across their political, ethnic or religious divides. Diana is available to speak at your group or visit your book club. Learn more by visiting her website:
https://www.dianaoestreich.com
To order her book
https://www.amazon.com/Waging-Peace-Soldiers-Story-Putting/dp/1506463703/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=waging+peace&qid=1604070156&s=amazon-devices&sr=1-1
Kathleen Hudson is an oil painter based in Lexington, KY who creates landscapes in her studio and en plein air. Her style is influenced by close observation of fleeting and beautiful moments in nature which she hopes to capture in her paintings and leave the viewer with a sense of longing.
To pre-order Revelations of the Artist book
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
Visit Kathleen's website
https://www.kathleenbhudson.com
Karisa Keasey is a studio artist who aspires to bring about change through her work. She is most known for her recent book, "When You Can't Go Home",the story of 10 refugees and their families along with 30 portraits. For every book sold, 50% of the profits goes to World Relief to help the efforts with refugees.
To pre-order Revelations of the Artist book
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
To visit Karisa's website
https://karisakeasey.com
Matthew Bird is is an award winning watercolor artist, illustrator, designer and teacher. Matthew has five children's books published and his paintings have been used as greeting cards for The Smithsonian Institution, National Geographic, the National Audubon Society, and the National Wildlife Federation. He paints still life and seeks to find beauty in the ordinary through his work.
To pre-order the book
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
Visit Matthew's site
https://matthewbird.com
Jennie Kimbrough is a visual artist who works in acrylics and encaustic with mixed medium elements. Through her work she dives into questions about communication with God, living in a broken world and the contrast of our temporal nature of our bodies to the eternal nature of the soul. Through layering of transparent materials she suggests space, the passage of time and the fragility and ephemeral quality of her subject matter.
To pre-order the book
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
Visit Jennie's website
https://www.jenniekimbrough.com
Lori Putnam is a Contemporary American Impressionist who sees harmony, rhythms, patterns, color and shapes as her subject matter. She has served as an Artist Faculty Demonstrator for the Annual Plein Air Convention for six years and has been a keynote speaker and guest lecturer at many notable events. Lori teaches to sold out workshops and has received numerous awards and accolades for her work.
To pre-order the book
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
Visit Lori's website
https://loriputnam.com
Lauren Midgley is a conceptual fine art photographer who creates evocative and thought provoking imagery. Her photographs blur the line between reality and a dream scape and provide a safe space for conversations about faith, doubt, trauma and healing.
To pre-order the book
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
Visit Lauren's website
https://www.iamwonderandlight.com
Mat Barber Kennedy is a painter who uses primarily watercolour. He represents daily life through depictions of aging machines, tools, and buildings that are constructed in layers, adapting over generations and decaying in pieces. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours and of The American Impressionists Society. In 2008 he was awarded the Turner Medal in London.
To pre-order the book
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
Visit Mat's website
http://www.matbarberkennedy.com
Tram Colwin is an artist and designer of custom prints, art work and stationary goods. Tram creates out of a desire to capture beauty in nature and everyday life. Born in Vietnam, her family immigrated in 1996 and found their home in Bentonville, Arkansas where she grew up. With a love for art, Tram got her degree in Fine Art and eventually launched her now full-time business, Tram Colwin Art.
Her work has been featured on WeddingChicks.com, in FLUX Hawaii and At Home Arkansas.
To pre-order the book
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
Visit Tram's website
https://www.tramcolwinart.com
Allison Streett is a sculptor who works with the human figure. She describes in her bio that she hopes to provoke insights into ourselves and those around us, challenge us to acknowledge our true relationship to each other, and invite us to imagine a more just future.
To pre-order the book
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
To connect with Allison
https://www.allisonstreettstudios.com
Freedom Rodriguez is a visual artist who along with his wife, Nancy, run ArtServe International which serves under resourced populations through art and empowers youth to dream beyond poverty and find hope for the future.
Freedom joins me to tell us about his vision for his newest project, Revelations of the Artist. It's a collaborative book of over 20 artists works and statements about their faith and artistic journey. Through the proceeds of the book, the vision is to fund a creative arts center in Ecuador. The Rodriguez's have many experiences from their global travels with working across cultural and economic divides to develop relationships through art.
You can pre-order your own copy of the Revelations of the Artist and be a part of their incredible vision by visiting:
https://www.artserveint.org/rota
I give a wrap up summary of season 5 highlights and reveal an exciting announcement about a current creative endeavor.
As I look ahead to Season 6, I talk about the powerful impact creativity can have as a mediator in these divisive times in our world. Art serves as a bridge to connect people and places that would otherwise remain divided. Listen and share the episode!
Connect with the podcast
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
https://www.facebook.com/artandfaithpodcast
Singer/songwriter, Melanie Penn, has experience in various realms of music from classic voice training to Broadway musicals to independent recording artist. Compelled to write her own songs, she overcame her own lack of confidence and challenges and recorded her first album in 2010 which received critical acclaim. She has since released several albums and singles including her Immanuel project in 2017 which rose to #1 on Amazon's Christian worship and holiday charts. Melanie shares about the various aspects of shaping her artistic voice, mentors, spiritual practices and the message of clarity she hopes to bring through her music.
https://www.melaniepenn.com
To support the podcast visit:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Kris Camealy talks about her newest book, Everything is Yours, an intimate and honest journey of how the art of letting go led her to the depths of God's love. As well as a writer, Kris is founder of Refine(the retreat) and the Refinery artists guild. She hosts an annual retreat for women and curates space for creative and spiritual practices.
Click the links to out more about her work or to order her books
https://refineretreat.com
https://www.amazon.com/Kris-Camealy/e/B00B3LLNEC%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Artist, Hannah Rose Thomas, began a journey of healing when she was asked to organize an art project for Syrian refugees in 2014. She went on to continue this humanitarian work of art and empathy and had the privilege to hear the stories of women in Northern Iraq and Nigeria who had survived incredible trauma and violence. She taught them to paint their own portraits which became a process of healing in restoring their own personhood, something they said was of their highest value. Many of the women painted themselves with tears of gold coming down their face and Hannah has since began compiling her portraits of the women into a book with that very title, Tears of Gold. She describes her work as giving a voice to the voiceless and uses the paintings as tools of advocacy to bring about change.
Her work has been shown in Houses of Parliament, European Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Lambeth Palace, The Saatchi Gallery and Durham Cathedral. Three of Hannah’s paintings of Yezidi women were chosen by HRH The Prince of Wales for his exhibition Prince & Patron in Buckingham Palace in 2018.
She is a Durham graduate in Arabic and History, with an MA from the Prince's School of Traditional Art in London. Hannah will be beginning her PhD at Glasgow University in September 2020 with the UNESCO ‘Art Lab for Human Rights and Dialogue.’
To connect with her and see her work visit:
http://hannahrosethomas.com
To connect with the podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Julianna Rubio Slager is co-founder and artistic director of professional dance company, Ballet 5:8 based out of Chicago. Her vision in establishing the company was to bring more dialogue of hope to the Chicago art scene. She serves as resident choreographer with a mission bring something significant to the audience that would otherwise remain veiled through thought provoking and breath taking dance.
With their spring tours getting canceled, Ballet 5:8 is hosting online performances of their work.
Click here to RSVP to their critically acclaimed performance of "Butterfly" about the Jewish artists who were held in the same concentration camp during WW2. It's available April 19-21st for viewing w/ tickets being on a pay what you can basis to help cover the wages of the dancers for their canceled season due to COVID-19.
https://www.ballet58.org/butterfly
Makoto Fujimura is an internationally renowned artist, writer and speaker. He has written three books including Culture Care and has served as Presedential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009.
His work has been featured in galleries worldwide and he continues to be recognized as a cultural influencer. A graduate of Bucknell University he is also the recipient of four Doctor of Arts Honorary Degrees.
We talk about the artist's response to the global pandemic and how beauty and mercy become essential in a crisis.
https://www.makotofujimura.com
Visual artist, Jenedy Paige, paints in the representational tradition of art and describes herself as a realist in every sense of the word. Beginning with prayer and journaling, she then paints the things she's experiencing such as joy, loss, sorrow and ambition.
Her stunning imagery draws the viewer in to experience these things as well. Her book, Coming Full Circle, is a journey of loss and the healing she encountered after her son passed away from a tragic accident. Connect with her and her work at:
http://www.store.jenedypaige.com
http://www.jenedypaige.com
https://www.instagram.com/jenedypaige/
Illustrator, Jared Boggess, joins me to talk about the reorientation of what we deem essential in response to COVID-19. We are waking up to a new normal and finding that what we need and crave is human contact, religious practice and art. These are strange and uncertain times, but how we respond will be a marker on history. Join me for conversations that draw you out of isolation and into communal thought about our humanity and basic needs.
Jared is the founder of Fish Coin Press and creates evocative illustrations that tell a visual story based on biblical narratives. He is launching a new kickstarter project along with 10 other illustrators from around the world to create scripture trading cards. Their hope is to help people engage with the biblical text in new ways no matter their doubts or religious background.
https://www.fishcoin.press
https://www.instagram.com/fishcoin.press/
A meditative practice for Lent. A 5 min episode that includes a short prayer to reset our daily rhythms and focus our very breath on freedom. Included is a poem designed to listen to daily as you set your mind and heart on slower living, remembering what is most important.
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Jae Jin is an independent singer/songwriter based out of Baltimore, MD. After a relapse with a terminal illness while in college, Jae was compelled to give up everything and change the course of his life from pursuing a medical degree to pursuing music. In the last 5 years he has released four albums, auditioned for The Voice, played over 500 shows and is the 2019 winner of the John Lennon songwriting award. He has also branched out into acting and appeared on House of Cards and other independent films.
Find his music on all digital platforms or visit his website:
http://www.jaejinmusic.com
Blog post of 15 daily reminders:
http://www.jaejinmusic.com/blog/2019/1/12/15-daily-reminders-to-myself
Podcast Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Marguerite Anglin is an acrylic trained finger painting artist based in Philadelphia, PA. She creates skycapes filled with vibrant colors that evoke mystery, wonder and inspire a spiritual connection. She once used traditional brushes but after a bout with writer's block she took a hiatus from painting. When she returned to the canvas, she used only her fingers and began to create more abstract images.
Marguerite is a trained architect by day but considers herself a visual storyteller through her art work. She has a passion to unlock creativity in everyone and hosts workshops and gatherings to teach others how to use their fingers to paint.
To view her work and learn more go to:
http://www.margueriteanglinart.com
https://www.instagram.com/margueriteanglinart/
Licensed professional counselor, Meredith McDaniel, talks about her new book, In Want & Plenty, releasing later January 2020.
Through guided journaling, Meredith walks alongside readers as a voice of healing and an encouragement to wake up to God's provision even when life hasn't gone as expected.
We talk about the importance of engaging with disappointments or pain in order to move forward and come alive to our own unique stories. We also discuss the power creativity can have to lead to inner healing and become the evidence of our Creator's hand in our lives.
To find out more, pre-order the book and receive the pre-order bonuses visit:
https://www.meredithmcdaniel.com
https://www.instagram.com/meredith_mcdaniel/
The podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Sandra McCracken is a singer/songwriter with a folk gospel sound that has a way of captivating audiences to sing along no matter the setting. I talk with her about her new collection of Christmas songs that is a mix of originals, familiar tunes and an old gospel favorite that she describes as the centerpiece of the album. We also discuss her spiritual practices as an artist and how she's developed such an honest narrative throughout her music. Her albums are available on all digital platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music
Or visit:
http://www.sandramccracken.com
To learn more about the podcast, visit:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Sara Groves is a singer/songwriter from St.Paul, MN. She has been nominated for 7 Dove Awards and written and recorded several albums over the years. Her and her husband run Art House North, a 110 yr old church they have renovated to serve as a space that cultivates creativity for the common good.
Sara also has a passion for justice and partners with International Justice Mission(IJM) as an advocate for victims of human trafficking through her music and art making.
You can find out more about events at Art House North or find Sara Groves' music at
https://www.saragroves.com
https://www.arthousenorth.com
To learn how to be an advocate go to:
https://www.ijm.org
Support the podcast at:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
A commissioning benediction prayer for artists written and read by host, Libby John. Artists are often undervalued or overlooked by their faith communities and as a result don't receive the blessing of prayer that they need. However, it's the artists who are willing to reside in the tension between the dark and the light, the now and the not yet. These are not easy places to dwell in but it's the artists who give us a language to interpret these deep things of life we don't have words for. This prayer is a commissioning and affirming of the artist's creative gifts and a benediction for wherever they may go.
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
https://www.facebook.com/artandfaithpodcast/
https://vividartistry.org
Host, Libby John, talks about creativity being the great interruption that shakes us awake from the numb distractions of the world. We often think of it as the other way around. That scrolling through our phone or streaming our favorite show is what interrupts our creative thinking. Instead, Libby brings to light that creativity is a gift of mercy that we need to be interrupted by in order to live transformative lives and write new algorithms of beauty for a world hungry for wonder.
Patreon
Music by Dear Gravity
https://deargravity.net
Host, Libby John, discusses art and the promise of the new creation. With each creative act, we sow into the beauty of the earth and participate in God's promise to make all things new. We bear the distinct signature of a creative God with the gift of our imagination and creativity. It's when our imagination wanes that we get discouraged and apathetic and forget our true identity as bearers of beauty. This episode talks about our divine purpose as innately creative human beings and that there's always hope of a new beginning.
https://www.instagram.com/artandfaithpodcast/
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Authors, Scott Erickson and Justin McRoberts join us to talk about their newest book, May It Be So: 40 Days Through the Lord's Prayer. Scott's powerful, contemplative imagery is paird with Justin's, distilled thoughts and prayers designed to help us become aware of our conversations with God.
Justin is an author, musician, and retreat leader. He is also the curator and host of The @Sea Podcast. He lives in Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and 2 kids. For more information go to
www.justinmcroberts.com
Scott is a touring painter and performance artist who mixes autobiography, biblical narrative and aesthetics to create art that speaks to our deepest experiences. He and his wife, Holly, live in Portland with their three children. For more information go to
www.scottericksonart.com
Returning guest, David Taylor, professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, theologian and pastor, just released his latest book, Glimpses of a New Creation-Worship and the Formative Power of the Arts. I invited him to talk about the chapter he wrote specifically on the kinetic arts as part two of the podcast's mini series on dance and the human body. We discuss the conflict and negative perspectives church culture has towards dance and how embodying worship is essential to our God given humanity.
You can find David's book at:
https://www.amazon.com/Glimpses-New-Creation-Worship-Formative/dp/0802876099/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IQ17MIZEBOL5&keywords=glimpses+of+the+new+creation&qid=1567490597&s=gateway&sprefix=glimpses+of%2Caps%2C426&sr=8-1
Read more of his writings and thoughts at:
http://artspastor.blogspot.com
Phillip Attmore has been dancing, singing and acting since age 3. He has shared the stage and screen with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Sir Richard Harris, Leslie Uggams, Ben Vereen, Bette Midler, Savion Glover, Gregory Hines and many more.
He is a three-time Astaire Award winner, ACCA Award winner, Playbill “Breakout Performance” Award winner and NAACP Theatre Award nominee, and he has been recognized by the sixth season of Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” as one of America’s “Top 20” dancers. In addition, Phillip has appeared as a guest artist on several television and variety shows including “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, “The Today Show”, “Maya and Marty” and “The Tony Awards”.
Phillip is based in NYC but travels all over the world as an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, poet, writer, director, creative consultant and speaker. He is currently performing in 42nd St. and receiving national acclaim for his role as Billy Lawlor.
https://phillipattmore.com
Shawn Smucker is an author who hails from Lancaster, PA. He began his writing career with ghost writing and co-writing for others. His first book he co-wrote was for his aunt, to tell her story of founding Auntie Anne's soft pretzels. Eventually he felt encouraged to write his own novels as well and he released the first one, The Day the Angels Fell in 2014. A couple of books came after that and Shawn just released his latest novel, Light From Distant Stars.It tells the story of a boy grown up to be a man who suddenly loses his father which bring back his memories of childhood. The book causes you to wonder how accurate your memory of reality truly is.
It is now available for ordering, visit:
http://shawnsmucker.com/my-books/
For bonus content with Shawn, visit:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Carmelita Greco is a designer of her own line of clothing and also founder of Luz Art gallery in the L.A. area. Luz Art is a fine art gallery described as exploring the connections between culture, contemporary thought and divinity. Carmelita had a desire to create a space that could be an advocate for sacred art and dialogue. Through unique exhibitions and gatherings, Luz is able to be that for its surrounding community. Carmelita has a passion to follow God's leading in bold ways through her creativity and with what's next for the gallery.
Check out the artists they feature here:
https://www.luzart.com
For Carmelita's original designs visit:
http://carmelita.co
Anthony Vasquez tells about the years he spent in India where he co-facilitated an International Artist Residency and worked with the organization Art for Change. Through his experiences he discovered his passion for mentoring other artists in being culture makers. Anthony talks about the daily rhythms of tea and community building through creating art alongside the marginalized and the humility it can teach us all when we share each other's experiences.
His paintings reflect stunning imagery that mix reality and the unseen to emit strong emotive experiences.
https://www.anthonyvasquezoncanvas.com
Kristen Cochran is a visual artist based in Dallas. She experiments with materials she describes as antiheroic such as old work garments that have been formed to reflect the work of its owner's daily life. Kristen talks about her creative process, her versatile use of materials such as clay, copper, bread and garments and exploring the concept of work.
http://kristencochran.com
Greg Holmes is a pastor in the Dallas area. He began his studies in the arts as a painter but decided to choose seminary instead. Not until recently did Greg return to painting and to discover just how valuable it was to have in his life. He continues his work as a pastor but now makes working on his art a daily discipline which he says makes him a better pastor and a better human. Greg shares his unique perspective on how artists and the church can work to have a better relationship.
You can find out more about Greg's work at:
http://www.gregholmes-art.com
Wayne Adams is a Brooklyn-based artist who received his B.F.A. from Calvin College and M.F.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. Adams has exhibited throughout the Midwest, New York and Vienna, Austria. Wayne has served as the Board Chair of CIVA for the last several years and I talk with him about what the CIVA community has meant to him. Wayne is a studio artist who explores biblical themes through a contemporary art lens. He shares with us some of his practical disciplines and creative processes and his thoughts on being a Christian in the contemporary art world.
His recent shows include, “The Flat Files Year Three” TSA, Brooklyn, NY (2015) “Wayne Adams is Speaking in Tongues: A show of objects and images organized by the unrelenting voice of interpretation” Barrington Center for the Arts, Wenham, MA (2014), “Works Off Canvas” Denny Gallery, NY (2013), “Control Alt Delete” HKJB, Brooklyn, NY (2011), “Adams | Miracle” STOREFRONT Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (2010).
https://wayneadamsstudio.com
Micah Behr received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Wisconsin in 2014. He resides and works in Madison, WI as a professional viola player and collaborative pianist. Micah has experiences playing chamber music and in orchestras, but recently has found himself frequently composing music for the local church. He serves as the artist in residence and worship director at Geneva Campus Church, and released an EP of retuned and new hymns earlier this year. I talk with him about his classical music training and whether it helps or hinders his work with contemporary music in the local church.
Leslie Iwai is an installation artist from Middleton, WI. She approaches her work with two questions: How Is It? and What Is It?
She shares with us about her creative process and the surprising way she discovered that she was called to be an artist. Leslie has several installations that have been on display in various venues. To preview her work visit:
https://www.leslieiwai.com
Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, children’s book illustrator, author and printmaker. Some of his works include It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God, The Chronicles of Narnia Comprehension Guide andRevealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups.
With his hand in so many projects, I talk with him specifically about his creative process and the balance between commissions vs. personal projects.
He is the creative director for Square Halo Books, curator of the Square Halo Gallery, designer for CIVA and serves on the boards of the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art. and The Row House, Inc.
https://www.worldsendimages.com/index.html
https://www.etsy.com/shop/WorldsEndImages
Eva Ting is the coordinator for the W83 Ministry Center of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. Her background is in art administration and she is passionate about creating spaces for art that allows different communities to intersect and interact. She talks about the impact that sharing the space of the W83 center has on the surrounding neighborhoods. In creating space for art that allows people to intersect it thereby builds relationships and cultivates ongoing conversations. https://www.150w83.com
Live discussion with author and advocate, Belinda Bauman and visual artist, Natalie Salminen Rude, on the partnership of entering empathy through works of art. Belinda founded One Million Thumbprints(OMT) which exists to end violence against women and girls in conflict zones. She recently released her book, Brave Souls-Experiencing the Audacious Power of Empathy, to tell the stories of the women she met in Congo. The transformational work of empathy Belinda witnessed among their sisterhood to help each other heal from violent crimes of war against them is what changed Belinda's life. One woman in particular gave Belinda permission to tell the world her story and signed her name with her thumbprint.
Belinda realized she needed creatives and artists to help share these stories that were too difficult to hear unless wrapped in the beauty of artistic expression. Natalie, a visual artist who specializes in encaustic, was commissioned to do a painting for OMT and part of the weekend events was her revealing the painting at singer/songwriter Josh Garrel's concert. Josh Garrels has collaborated with OMT in the past and wanted to highlight it at his recent concert in Minneapolis.
Prints are available to purchase and go towards the efforts of meeting the needs of women in war zones.
https://nataliesalminen.com/the-commissions-project-3/the-commissions-project-prints/
To find out more about OMT and purchase Belinda's book:
https://www.ivpress.com/brave-souls
https://onemillionthumbprints.org
Kutter Callaway joins me to discuss his book, The Aesthetics of Atheism, co-authored by Barry Taylor. We explore the questions raised in the book about the radical idea that what if Christianity needs atheism. Kutter explains how the aesthetic dimension of the absence of God or religion in popular culture, actually provides deeper theological insight and points to the core of Christianity. We discuss the contemporary horror genre such as the Netflix series, Stranger Things, and how the art we are seeing today is a response to the repeated trauma this next generation is experiencing.
Kutter is assistant professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is also co-director of the Reel Spirituality Institute and serves as a consultant and advisory board member for various film and TV studios. He has authored several other books which you can find on his website.
https://www.kuttercallaway.com
He hosts The Kutter Callaway Podcast at:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kutter-callaway-podcast/id1435004474
https://soundcloud.com/user-635740617
Join Art & Faith Conversations on Patreon and hear bonus content from this episode:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Musician Strahan Coleman, joined me from New Zealand to talk about his recent project Prayer & Vulnerability. The album is a collection of songs reflecting on a dark time he experienced with his health and resulted in depression and anxiety setting in. The songs are paired with a collection of poems he wrote as prayers when he'd lost the ability to even sing and he learned of God's deep love and friendship in his darkest hours. Hear his brutally honest stories behind these songs and prayers and the beautiful vulnerability he expresses in his music.
Find all of his music and his new Prayers Vol 1book here:
http://www.strahanmusic.com
https://strahanmusic.bandcamp.com/merch
To join the podcast on Patreon and become a supporter:
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
This live podcast episode was recorded at Studio Haiku in Duluth, MN. My guest, Natalie Salminen Rude, is a visual artist who specializes in encaustic style painting and has also been practicing the art of haiku for several years. We talk in depth about the invitational nature of haiku that can lead us into conversations with our Creator. Natalie shares with us how it has informed and influenced her creativity and also shaped her prayer life. Haiku has shown Natalie the value of pausing and taking notice of the present, even when life feels chaotic or confusing. She shares tips on how to get started writing haiku and also shares several of her own in this episode.
For more information on Natalie's work visit:
https://nataliesalminen.com
The Q&A from this interview is available on Patreon! Become a supporter and join our community!
https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast
Improv comedy performer, Dave Ebert talks about his path to his purpose of making people laugh. He shares about his past battles with depression and suicidal thoughts and God's still small voice telling him to live one more day. Dave chose to live one more day and climbed out of that darkness by finding a new purpose in spreading joy and making people laugh. He founded HAHA Men Sketch Comedy and Improv Troupe and in 2018 launched PureFest, a faith based improv and sketch comedy festival.
Dave's story will inspire you to see that there is hope in any situation and suicide is not the end of your story. He is an advocate for suicide prevention and is training to become a licensed minister to help others. To find out more about his work visit:
http:// www.PureFest.org
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts and depression, Dave shares his email to reach him at if you need to talk.
dave@Gifts4Glory.com
Twitter @Gifts4Glory and @PureFestChicago
Facebook @GiftsforGlory and @PureFestChicago.
Chris Soal is a visual artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He graduated from the university there in 2017 and won the PPC Imgainarium award in 2018. He is known for creating large bodies of work out of ordinary objects such as toothpicks and bottle caps. With his sculptures of found objects, Chris finds that it challenges the viewer's perception of the ordinary materials and leads them to deeper questions about what and who we ascribe value to and why. He describes his practice as being concerned with the materiality of objects so common that they have become invisible to us.
Chris gives us an idea of the art and faith culture of Johannesburg and how it's different than other parts of the world. He also describes the story of how his fascination with these ordinary materials began with a moment of disappointment but has led him to meaningful discoveries in his faith and creativity.
See photos of these amazing sculptures on Chris's website:
http://chrissoalart.tumblr.com
Tickets:
Live Podcast Event April 18th
Justin Wells is a documentary filmmaker and a camera technician. He studied philosophy at California State Long Beach, theology and art and Fuller Seminary and received his MFA at the Art Center College of Design. Throughout the course of his interdisciplinary studies, he discovered the power of documentary film in revealing deeper truths about our humanity and spirituality. He compiled his discovering in his recent book, How to Film Truth, in which he explores the history and evolution of documentary film but also dives deeper into the act of documenting our reality and the beauty hidden within that vulnerable process. Justin describes the five spiritual genres of documentary film and how choosing a specific one can narrow your focus and help your creativity thrive.
You can learn more about Justin's work and order his book at:
https://justinwellsfilms.com
Also, I give details about our first live podcast event coming up April 18th. Get tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-faith-conversations-live-podcast-tickets-58496709232
Lectio Divina and observing the beginning of Lent with my guest, Summer Gross. Summer is an Anglican priest, a spiritual director and an inner healing minster. She describes her spiritual training and the desire for mystery that fueled her. We talk about the importance of creating space for silence and slow scripture reading in order to allow room for God to speak. In observance of Ash Wednesday, she shares with us a reading from the book of Hosea and we practice long pauses of silence. Join us on this special episode where we take a break from our normal rhythms and carve out intentional space and time for our hearts and minds to practice hearing the voice of God and practicing his presence.
For more information on Summer and her meditations and teachings go to
http://www.athirstforgod.com
She also shares readings and teaching on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/revsummerjoy/
For the prayer she shares for artists and to participate in the Lent readings and contemplative video series, go to:
http://libbyjohnartandsong.org/lent-study-introduction/
You can find all 6 weeks including the introduction to the Lent series I published
Robia Scott, leading actor in the upcoming film, Unplanned,joins me. We talk about her return to acting with this intense role after leaving the entertainment industry several years ago. Unplanned is about the true story of former Planned Parenthood worker, Abby Johnson, who experienced a life transformation after witness an abortion procedure in an exam room one day. Robia and I discuss the power of storytelling even with such a divisive issue such as abortion and the way art can lift the veil on how we view the world.
Robia is a speaker, author and minister. She started dancing professionally as a teen and toured with musician, Prince. She starred in television including her most well known role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As well as returning to acting, Robia coaches and helps people experience real life spiritual transformation through her ministry. Find out more on her website or find her on Facebook and Instagram.
Unplanned releases in theaters March 29th, 2019.
http://robiascott.com
Singer/Songwriter, Joy Ike, shares her story about the turning point in her adult life when she felt the urgency to pursue music and songwriting. Born of Nigerian descent, her childhood musical influences included gatherings in her home of other African immigrant families who would join in playing and singing diverse rhythms and songs together. She believes this contributed to her eclectic styles of gospel, r&b, jazz and pop that you hear throughout her music. She shares about overcoming her fears about her own creativity, defying categories and genres, and finding her true voice as a musician throughout the years. You can find her music on all digital platforms and find out more on her website about upcoming concerts.
https://www.instagram.com/joyikemusic/
https://www.joyike.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1a8rRSu8LCSLXynHYKDYVi?si=GkLfASK_TCSaZnd1TJhtWg
I'm joined by Alisha Siemens and Adam Goldstein, Minnesota founders of the global company, Shema. They started Shema to be an apparel brand and company that addresses and alleviates poverty and human trafficking. Hear their inspiring story behind the vision and calling they received to provide restoration and sustainable employment through sewing co-ops to women being rescued out of human trafficking. Alisha and Adam have been working for the last few years with clothing designers to come up with apparel items that are ethically sourced and are competitive in the fashion market today. They share with us the many obstacles they've faced, including not being able to take a salary for the past 3 years. In the midst of it all, they've seen miracles as well as they continue to say yes to this calling and mission.
Visit their website to learn more, donate and sign up for their newsletter. Follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on the new
t-shirt and hoodie they are unveiling in their first ever pre-sale event titled PREFACE.
http://www.shema.global
https://www.instagram.com/shema.global/
Renew the Arts is a nonprofit organization that is passionate about liberating creativity in Christian artists. President and CEO, Justus Stout, joins me to tell us about how Renew the Arts is influencing cultural transformation by enabling artists to create lasting art for the common good. Hear what fueled Justus to go from politics to instead dedicating his life to supporting and enabling artists after he lost his brother, a songwriter, to cancer.
https://renewthearts.org
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/renew-the-arts-podcast/id1358917338?mt=2
Songwriter/Musician, John Mark McMillan, talks about his first ever Christmas album, Smile in the Mystery. We talk about the story behind the album title and also behind the songs. We also talk about how God surprised John Mark with a fresh perspective on the wonder of Christmas when he was writing the song, Baby Son.
Smile in the Mysteryis full of nostalgia and timeless sounds but at the same time surprise melodies and song choices.
Find out more at
https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/smile-in-the-mystery/1441151264
My guest, Tim Briggs, is a pastor in North Carolina who decided to gather other songwriters and musicians to help him record a collection of songs that he had on his heart. He felt his own limitations as a musician would hinder his dreams of bringing these songs to life but he and the artists worked together as a collective to create what has become the album, Folk Hymnal.
I talk with Tim about what this process was like, how a communal project like this has shaped his faith, and how sometimes we need to be the biggest risk takers of all because our identity is secure in our relationship with Christ.
You can find the music on all digital platforms including iTunes and Spotify
https://fanlink.to/folkhymnal
You can also find two lyric videos to the songs here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgxAcw9T4_Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GblIT7tTzY
Michael Wright works on the editorial team for Fuller Studio and magazine at Fuller Seminary where he received an MA in theology and the arts. He is is a storyteller and lectures on spirituality, facilitates poetry spiritual formation groups and teaches on faith and art. Michael publishes his writings and features different artistic works in his newsletter called "Still Life" which you can read and subscribe to here:
http://tinyletter.com/still-life
Greg LaFollette is a songwriter, musician and producer in Nashville, TN. His latest project, Songs of Common Prayer, pairs the age old words from the Book of Common Prayer to simple yet rich melodies. He is joined on the album by admired vocalists Sara Groves, Sarah Masen and Taylor Leonhardt. Through these songs, Greg helps make a way for honest and deep conversations with God that also inspire hope, peace and vulnerability. He also serves as resident artist and director of art and liturgy at Grace Story Church in Nashville.
https://greglafollette.com/home
Street artist, Milton Coronado, tells his painful story of tragic loss and how it woke him up to turn his life around. He went from being involved in gang life and a graffiti artist running from the police to painting murals for cities and churches to bring local communities together. He is an educator and speaker and shares his story with young people and communities all over the country. Find out more about his work at:
https://www.instagram.com/milt1coronado/
https://www.instagram.com/street_art_ministry/
Former Radio City Rockette and Broadway performer, Cheryl Cutlip, talks about her years in New York City and what it was like to grow spiritually while in the professional dance arena. She performed in several touring shows and worked in Japan at Tokyo Disney before getting the role as a Rockette. She performed with Radio City for 5 years and went on to becoming dance captain and then assistant choreographer.
After the events of 9/11, Cheryl felt compelled to bring hope and healing to New York through the gift of dance and out of that, Project Dance was born. It has grown to become a movement of dancers seeking to positively impact culture through artistic integrity.
She shares powerful stories of how she has seen physical transformation of audiences as they watch the performances of Project Dance which has events in cites all over the U.S. and the world.
Find out more at:
http://www.projectdance.com/
Author, David Taylor, joins me on this episode to talk about several topics that include the state of the union of art and faith culture, dance, beauty and how pastors should care for artists in their church. He is Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Seminary and Director of the Brehm Center in Texas. He was an arts pastor for 10 years in Austin, Texas and has authored many books, his most recent one being The Theater of God's Glory: Calvin, Creation and the Liturgical Arts. In 2016 he produced a short film with Bono and Eugene Peterson to talk about the book of Psalms.
David completed his THM at Regent College and a THD at Duke Divinity School. He has published many essays and articles and has a new book due out soon called Worship and the Arts.
You can find out more about him on his website
http://artspastor.blogspot.com
Seth Haines, writer and attorney, journaled his first 90 days to sobriety in his book Coming Clean.He describes his book as not being about alcoholism but rather it being about the human experience of pain and our tendencies to run from it or numb it with something.
When his youngest son was hospitalized as an infant for failure to thrive, Seth decided he was done praying and decided to turn to alcohol instead. It wasn't until he faced his pain that he began to find God again and healing in the mystery of His grace. Connect with Seth and find out more at:
https://tinyletter.com/sethhaines
Musician, Kaina, just released her full length album, Rise. Producer, Eric Owyoung of Future of Forestry, lends his signature with epic soundscapes and film score like instrumentals. With the overarching message of the album being courage, hope and overcoming, her songs are anthemic and powerful. We talk about her creative process, hear stories behind the songs and what it's like to pursue one's art in the midst of motherhood.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rise/1371567059
https://www.kainamusic.com
Greg Boyd is an internationally recognized theologian, preacher and author. He joins us to talk about his book, Seeing is Believing, a teaching and practical guide to the vital importance of using the imagination for prayer.
Many Christians and non-Christians alike, question if God is real. Greg teaches that the imagination is a tool and God given gift to experience Jesus as real and as a result, leads us into transformational living and healing of wounded memories.
Greg is co-founder of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, MN. He has authored 22 books including the award winning, Letters From a Skeptic, and his most recent books, Crucifixion of the Warrior God and Cross Vision. He has a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School.
You can find more of Greg's teachings on apologetics and other subjects on the network he leads called ReKnew which "exists to encourage believers and skeptics alike to re-think things they though they already knew."
http://reknew.org
https://twitter.com/greg_boyd
Makoto Fujimura, world renown artist, talks in depth about his book, Culture Care. He shares his profound ideas about culture being a resource we are called to steward rather than a territory to be won or lost. We talk about the vital importance of beauty to the sustainablity of a thriving culture for generations to come. He describes artists as being "border-stalkers", people who don't quite fit in to one group but those who walk the margins and are able to move from different cultures and people groups. Border-stalkers can become cultural leaders by using beauty and creativity to ultimately connect us to each other.
Makoto is director of Fuller Theological Seminary's Brehm Center of Worship Theology and the Arts. He has received four honorary doctorate degrees and is an alumni of Bucknell University. He has work displayed across the globe and has served as a presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009. He has also written a book of essays called Refractions and the award winning book, Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering.
Find out more by visiting his websites:
https://www.makotofujimura.com
http://iamculturecare.com
Matt Tommey is an artist of sculptural basketry in which he harvests materials from nature to create elegant and rustic sculptures for luxury mountain homes in North Carolina. He has been in the marketing world and his artistry was a hobby for most of his life until he lost almost everything to the economy and God transformed his pattern of thinking from struggling and striving to thriving and freedom. Matt is a mentor and speaker and has an online mentorship program for artists as well as a yearly retreat called Gathering of the Artisans.
We discuss his newest book, "Created to Thrive", and his passion for helping artists live the life they were divinely designed for. Matt also hosts a podcast called the "The Thriving Christian Artist" that you can find on iTunes and Stitcher and Google Play. To visit his website for more info and find him on social media:
www.matttommeymentoring.com
Facebook/Instagram: @matttommey
Justin McRoberts is on the show to talk about his most recent project, "Prayer: 40 Days of Practice" that he collaborated with artist, Scott Erickson on. It's a book of brief prayers paired with visual images to create a language for prayer that could be accessible to all people no matter what their religious background is. Justin is studying to be a spiritual director and is also a musician, speaker and has a podcast called The @Sea Podcast.
To order the book or find out more about Justin's other work visit:
justinmcroberts.com
You can also connect with him on social media
instagram.com/justinmcroberts
twitter.com/justinmcroberts
facebook.com/mcwhatshisface
Visual artist and musician, Aeron Brown, shares a lot of amazing stories about how he connected with God as a father after he grieved the loss of his father as a 3 yr old boy. Through his art and community work, he has seen cities transform and lives changed. He owns a gallery and recently released his first album. View his work on his website and Spotify.
http://www.aeronbrown.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1enxTJBdMmcZ0rgTP6yzkW?si=P-8eECD9QF-Oh5pacW2quw
Enneagram and personal growth coach, Abby Buter, joins us. She briefly describes each type of the 9 points of the Enneagram and how we can prayerfully approach exploring our own. She also helps us see how it can help our creative work and process. She has a passion for helping people understand themselves better and take steps to cultivating health and wholeness in their lives and relationship with God and with each other.
She teaches the Enneagram at retreats and workshops as well as does personal coaching. You can find out more on her website at
https://www.abbybuter.com
A short episode to encourage you in the care of your inner sanctuary, the sacred space where only God sees.
Dancer, author and educator Marlita Hill talks with us about her 3rd book, "Defying Discord." Her passion is to liberate artists to live in harmony with their artistic career and faith lives. She takes a raw and honest approach to asking questions about how to represent the kingdom no matter where we work. She is the founder of The Kingdom Artist Initiative(KAI), which is a discipleship program for artists working in secular culture. Marlita shares some raw details about her past with porn addiction and lack of self-confidence and how God used the gift of her art of dance to heal her.
She lives in Los Angeles and has a BFA from Towson University. She founded her own dance company, "Speak Hill Dance Project" and also leads the Artists Prayer Collective in partnership with The Salvation Army, Hollywood. Marlita speaks at retreats, universities and churches and is available to speak for events.
Visit http://marlitahill.com for more info
"Defying Discord" is available on her website and Amazon.
We continue our conversation with Allison Bown from Brilliant Perspectives ministry.
She goes into depth on ways to keep the passion in our faith and creativity. We talk about adventure days with God, journal guilt and more!
Her book "Joyful Intentionality" is available
https://www.brilliantbookhouse.com
Speaker and author, Allison Bown, shares a teaching with us from her book "Joyful Intentionality".
She is a creative partner and strategist with Graham Cooke for Brilliant Perspectives ministry. Together they strategize and create for Brilliant TV and recently collaborated on Graham's "Letters from God" series.
Allison's book and message is about discovering God's passion for you and how you best express that passion towards Him. She shares her teachings on God's love and delight for us and the transformational work He is continuing to do as He sees who we are becoming.
Her book is available at
https://www.brilliantbookhouse.com/collections/books/products/joyful-intentionality-a-passion-filled-life-on-purpose
Vesper Stamper is an illustrator and author who just released a brilliantly illustrated novel called "What the Night Sings". It tells the story of the bravery of two holocaust survivors and how they rebuilt their lives from scratch.
Vesper combines her unique style of artwork and writing to tell the stories of the holocaust in a way that shows the inner state of the characters. She talks about her Jewish identity and what it was like to grow up in a family that did not talk about the holocaust.
She also shares with us what it was like growing up as an artist in the Manhattan area and the art and faith culture she experienced. Hear her share about her first encounter with Christ as a teenager and the reaction of her family.
She received an MFA at The School of Visual Arts in New York. She has a background in children's book illustrations and has received numerous awards and grants for her work. Find out more at
http://www.vesperillustration.com
Her book is available on her website and also through amazon
https://www.amazon.com/What-Night-Sings-Vesper-Stamper-ebook/dp/B072SVD1FW/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1
Entrepeneur and author, Jordan Raynor, joins us to talk about his latest book, "Called to Create." He helps artists, entrepreneurs, writers and all creatives see our work as serving God and others. He refers to God as the first entrepreneur and helps us redefine that term as "anyone who takes a risk to create something new for the good of others." Jordan speaks candidly about one of his so called "business failures" and confesses about an opportunity he missed to be transparent and how as Christians, we need to get better at admitting our failures to the world.
Jordan's current venture is as CEO of Threshold 360 which serves as the worlds largest library of 360 degree interactive videos. His book, "Called to Create" is full of stories from over 40 founders such as TOMS shoes, Chick-fil-A and many more. It covers topics we all are faced with no matter what field we are in such as discerning our calling, checking our motives and using our lives as an opportunity to serve others wherever we are.
You can find out more about it at http://www.calledtocreate.org
It is available to order at Amazon and other retailers.
We discuss the latest Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, and how heroism is portrayed throughout many of our popular films and stories. Guest, Ph.D. Chip Crane, joins us to discuss details about your favorite characters including Harry Potter, Bilbo Baggins, Aslan the lion, and Luke Skywalker. We have a fun discussion about how our culture views heroism and how its changed over the centuries and evolved in literature and movies.
Chip teaches J.R.R. Tolkien, Medieval & Renaissance literature, and technical writing at the University of Maryland. He is a Naval Academy grad where he also taught English during his active duty Navy career. Chip considers clear writing a product of clear thinking and sees helping people write—and think—more clearly as part of his life’s calling. You can contact Chip at cecrane@cpointconsulting.com.
Actor, comedian, writer and film director David Leo Schultz sat down with us to talk about the films he directed, Ragamuffin and Brennan.
Both movies tell honest stories that show the darker side of our humanity in order to point to the true hero of our stories, which is God. Ragamuffin is an emotionally darker movie about the late singer/songwriter, Rich Mullins. With the success of the film David went on to release Brennan about the late Brennan Manning who is most noted for his book The Ragamuffin Gospel.
Recently David and his team, Color Green Films, have launched Ragamuffin TV, an internet streaming service they are continuing to roll out new shows, concerts, sketch comedies and movies on.
You can get a free 3 day trial if you go to
http://watch.ragamuffintv.com
Barnabas Piper joins us on the show to talk about his most recent book, The Curious Christian. We talk in depth about why curiosity is vital to our relationship with God and growing in our faith. We also discuss how necessary curiosity is to connect with others who are different than us. The more curious we are, the more we discover others' needs and therefore can reflect God when we see how we can care for others and serve them. As well as being a writer, Barnabas is a speaker and co-host of The Happy Rant podcast.
Find out more at
https://barnabaspiper.com
Salt of the Sound is made up of husband and wife, Ben and Anita Tatlow. Anita joined us to talk about their music and the niche they've found in ambient music to create soundscapes for prayer and reflection. Ambient music is described as atmospheric vs traditional musical structures or rhythms. Anita shares about how their music allows for questions and conversations about what others traditionally think "christian music" is.
Salt of the Sound describe themselves as "peace in audio form." Their latest album titled, "In Prayer" is a 17 min journey through meditation and reflection and is paired with a video compiled of clips listeners sent in from all over the world of places they considered to be prayerful.
They also create under a second project name called Narrow Skies which focuses more on seasons and nature and providing a soundscape with that focus.
You can find their music on digital stores including Spotify, iTunes and YouTube where you can also find their lyric videos.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0S3L6vtzNN4ArFWH2709SB
https://saltofthesound.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/saltofthesound
Guest, Karla Adolphe, from the music duo Enter the Worship Circle, joins us to talk about the heart behind her and Ben Pasley's music and creativity. They consider themselves modern day Psalmists in which they find ways to respond with creativity to life's challenges as the book of Psalms demonstrates. They describe their music as setting a table for others to engage with God, each other and themselves.
You can find out more about them on their website
https://entertheworshipcircle.com
Connect with them on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/entertheworshipcircle/
And also find their music on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/1bglw8NjwKR5tRlYcKWlcX
In this episode we ventured into the topic of the prophetic arts with Codye. She is a painter who paints live at corporate worship gatherings on large 4x4 foot canvases. She is an influential teacher and speaker on creativity and believes it is not something we need to find, but something we need to return to. She recently released the book "Fearless Creativity" that dives deeper into how we can be bold in our artistry because it is birthed in the heavens and given to us as a gift and vision from God for us to bring into the world so others can engage with Him. To order her book or view her paintings you can find both at the links below.
https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Creativity-1-Codye-Reystead/dp/1680198653
http://2911thetreasury.com/gallery/wotr-package
Alabaster Co. was formed by business and creative partners Bryan Chung and Brian Chung. Two friends with the same name. They are passionate about exploring the intersection of creativity, beauty and faith in all of its forms. Bryan joins us on the podcast to tell us about their first project, "The Bible Beautiful". They created a redesign of the four gospel books of the bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John by pairing the text with visual imagery and modern design. They believe the culture is on the cusp of asking the question "What is beautiful?" and they want to be forerunners in that conversation. Just released in April of 2017, the four gospels can be found on Amazon at
https://www.amazon.com/Gospels-Set-Alabaster-Bible/dp/0998741140/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510296853&sr=8-1&keywords=alabaster+co
Or visit Alabaster Co.'s website
https://www.alabasterco.com
Steve Rooks is a compelling artist as a dancer and choreographer. He creates works for dance companies all over the world and currently teaches at Vassar College. You don't have to be a dancer to appreciate his wisdom about the responsibility of being a professional artist living out the gospel in today's world. If you're a late bloomer, you'll love Steve's story of discovering dance post-college and how it changed the course of his life as he then received a full scholarship to train at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance and shortly after became a principal dancer with Martha Graham Company. He discovered the love of Christ when he first walked into the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church and was overwhelmed with a feeling of grace vs condemnation. He has so much depth and wisdom about being a believer and involved in the arts. Grab a journal, you'll want to take notes!