The Image Florence Seminar
This September 15-22, a small group of inquirers will gather in Florence, Italy, with the Image staff to explore the astonishing outpouring of art and culture that came to be known as the Renaissance. Together we will investigate the ways in which the artists and writers of this period struggled to render an incarnational balance between things human and divine. And we will ask how such a thing might happen again...in our time. We have just a handful of slots left available. If you’re interested, check out our Florence Seminar video and download the Florence Brochure PDF for more info, or contact Julie Mullins here.

Issue #53 is Here!
Our spring issue is arriving in mailboxes now. The cover features German artist Wolfgang Laib, whose meditative sculptures are made of rice, brass, milk, marble, and flower pollen. There’s also a terrific essay by TV writer Brad Winters about the Saint John’s Bible Project, a collaboration between renowned British calligrapher Donald Jackson and a Benedictine monastery in Minnesota to create a modern illuminated manuscript of the entire Bible—the first project of its kind to be undertaken in centuries. With color plates. The issue also includes: an interview with essayist Scott Russell Sanders; Greg Wolfe’s editorial on east-west dialogue and the Islamic tradition of illuminated miniatures of sacred texts; Robert Fink’s lyrically braided family memoir of Idaho and Oklahoma; Mary Kenagy on Chekhov, O’Connor, the sixth day of creation, and what went wrong with her novel; Lindsey Crittenden on ad hoc parenting and her search for prayer; an excerpt from Janet Peery’s new novel; Cold War short fiction by Valerie Sayers; and poems by Betsy Sholl, Robert Cording, Jeanne Walker, and many more. What’s that you say? You don’t subscribe to the print journal? Your subscription expired?! Fix that here.

Announcing the Fourth Annual Levertov Awardee: Bret Lott
Bret Lott, author of the Oprah Book Club selection Jewel, which sold more than three million copies, will receive the fourth annual Denise Levertov Award and give a reading at the newly expanded Seattle Art Museum on Tuesday, May 8, 7:30 p.m. Lott's fiction explores the beauty and dignity of ordinary things and ordinary people. His characters embody the old-fashioned virtues of modesty, hard work, and staying in it for the long haul. In his nonfiction and public addresses, he exhibits a keen and sometimes wicked sense of humor: he is at once a fervent Christian believer and an irreverent critic of the absurdities of modern culture—both inside the church and out. Publishing fiction since the age of twenty-three, Lott is the author of the story collection The Difference between Women and Men, the essay collection Before We Get Started, and the novels A Song I Knew by Heart, Jewel, and many others. Co-sponsored by the SPU English Department, the Levertov Award is presented annually in May to an artist or creative writer whose work exemplifies a serious and sustained engagement with the Judeo-Christian tradition. The Denise Levertov Award is named for one of the twentieth century's greatest poets. Levertov, who spent her last years in Seattle, embraced the landscape and culture of the Pacific Northwest. Her identity as a Christian believer—a pilgrim whose faith was inextricably entwined with doubt—became another important facet of her work, particularly in her later poetry. Previous recipients have been poets Madeleine DeFrees and Franz Wright, and nonfiction writer Kathleen Norris. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information and directions, click here.

Into It by Lawrence Joseph
In his newest collection of poetry, Lawrence Joseph grapples with the task of giving witness to a brutal world. Into It takes the hard, cold materials of the madness and violence that have entered the American consciousness since 9/11 and the Iraq war, and shapes them into portraits that honor the horror and let it stand on its own terms. He considers a “woman, her personality / and appearance described as lovely,” kneeling in her “predawn prayers” just before her husband, son, and brothers are shot to death, immediately wondering whether or not “to write about pleasure— / in times of killing like this is a crime.” In “Why not say what happens?” he sets out thudding detail after detail of the aftermath of the fall of the Twin Towers, recalling the pungent “smells of burning wiring, dankness / from the tunnels, the sharp and sweet / cherrylike smell of death.” Joseph’s reverent attention to the unsayable draws one in rather than repels, bringing us to our senses even as it tears at our sense of sanity. It also allows the insistent question of victim versus perpetrator to dissolve into a larger question: how it is that the “slow, the meek, or the poor of spirit … allowed themselves to disappear / into the long, red evenings.” Those in love with death are always with us, Joseph laments, even from ancient times—an irreconcilable mystery. Yet, for all that, Joseph is drawn to beauty, “the gold burnt into gold … an incandescence condensing the sunlight, / outburning the sunlight … The unexpected breeze, warm, the sense / of the river.” He marvels, amid everything, at “what / light there is in that landscape …”

Buy the book here.

Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
Taking its title from the John Kennedy Toole novel of the same name, Arcade Fire's Neon Bible evidences an awakening of sorts. If Funeral (ImageUpdate #67) was an admittedly introspective and elegiac set of songs, Neon Bible turns its gaze outward on a world gone wrong. With prophetic crankiness that veers close to-but never over-the cliffs of self- righteousness, the band's driving music and honest lyrics "target the government, the church, the military, the entertainment industry, and even the basest instincts of the common man." Neon Bible's pulsing opener, Black Mirror, introduces both the album's musical tone and its thematic focus. Named after an ancient device that was believed to foretell the future and gain insight into the human heart, the song arrives in waves: "I know a time is coming / All words will lose their meaning." Singing with an urgency that would indicate such an age is perhaps near, Win Butler's piercing lyrics hit close to home. In the album's title track, Butler addresses our modern times: "Oh God! Well look at you now! / Oh! You lost it, but you don't know how! / In the light of a golden calf / Oh God! I had to laugh!" In Intervention, the focus switches to the effects wrought by a lack of love: "Working for the church while your life falls apart / Singing halleluiah with the fear in your heart / Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home." If the album is bleak, its narrator's final recognition of the need for salvation can be seen as hopeful. "I'm living in an age," Butler sings in My Body is a Cage, "That screams my name at night / But when I get to the doorway / There's no one in sight ... Set my spirit free / Set my spirit free / Set my body free." Recorded in an unnamed church in Quebec, and backed by church organs, horns, and imaginative guitar work, the songs continue to grow in depth and power with each listen. On Neon Bible Arcade Fire has managed to become more polished while maintaining its inventiveness. Remarkably, the band-ranging from seven to eleven members on a given night-continues to elude narrow categorization. Led by Butler and Regine Chassagne, Arcade Fire will begin its North American tour on April 26, 2007 in San Diego.

For more information: www.arcadefire.com

It was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God, 2nd Ed.
Hard on the heels of our April Fools' issue of Image Update, we were tempted to name this review "It Was Gooder: Son of It Was Good ." But we're not going to do that, because we're a serious arts e-newsletter. In all seriousness, if you are looking for a single-volume collection of essays by contemporary artists and critics about the relationship between art and faith, this is the book you want to have. The first edition of this book was published in 2000 and featured essays such as "Form and Content" by Mako Fujimura, "Identity" by Theodore Prescott, "Creativity" by James Romaine, and "Imagination" by Image editor Gregory Wolfe. The publisher was Square Halo Books, a small, indie publisher that has courageously carved out a niche featuring exqusite art books (and books on art) by contemporary artists of faith. The first edition of It Was Good became a quiet, but persistent seller: it provided intelligent and bracing reflection on the meaning of art-making in the light of the Gospel. The brainchild of Square Halo editor/designer Ned Bustard, It Was Good struck him as a good that should not just be reprinted, but expanded and improved. And that's what we now have. New essays by the likes of Adrienne Chaplin ("Beauty"), Mary McCleary ("Crafsmanship"), Dale Savidge ("Incarnation"), and Roger Feldman ("Substance") are now accompanied by four-color reproductions throughout the book. The art reproduced in the book itself is worth the cover price: you will find not only works by now-well-known individuals like Ed Knippers and Tim Lowly, but emerging artists like Anita Horton, Dayton Castleman, and Greg King, plus illustrations from classic art that connect the now with the great tradition. Even if you own the first edition, you will want to pick up It Was Good 2.0.

Order a copy of the book here.

Glen Spaces Going Fast!
If you’ve been thinking about attending the Glen Workshop this summer, now is a good time to sign up. Spaces have been going quickly, so we recommend contacting us soon to guarantee you get your first choice. As of today, the Fiction workshop with Moira Crone, Drawing from Life with Barry Moser, both Poetry workshops, and Spiritual Writing with Ann McCutchan are full—however, we’ve opened up free waitlists for those classes, and there’s always a chance that a spot will open up. Give us a call at the number below or send us an e-mail with “waitlist” in the subject line. Include your name, address, phone number, and the course option you'd like to be waitlisted for. There are still slots open in Songwriting, Calligraphy, Playwriting, Mosaic, and the Seminar: Peoples of the Book. With Pierce Pettis as the musician-in-residence, and special appearances by the likes of Over the Rhine and Sandra Scofield, this is one Glen not to be missed!

To register, check online to see which classes are filled. Then, go here to register or call us at 206.281.2988.

If you have information other ImageUpdate readers might find interesting, share it here! Do you have a question that you hope a member of the ImageUpdate community might have the answer to? Ask it here. Have your messages posted by sending an email to gwolfe@spu.edu.

The Nibroc Trilogy Off-Broadway
78th Street Theatre Lab's production of The Nibroc Trilogy by Arlene Hutton runs from now until April 29. The trilogy, Last Train to Nibroc, See Rock City, and Gulf View Drive, are performed in rotating repertory, covering nearly 15 years in the life of a Southern couple struggling to realize their hopes for vocation and marriage during the mid-1900s. Reviews of the show have called it “an undeniably moving portrait of a changing America in mid-century,” and “a nice vacation from self-conscious cynicism.” For more information or to purchase tickets online, click here.

SoulFest’s First Annual “Great Art” Exposition—Call for Entries
The Christian music event SoulFest is seeking to make visual art, a wellspring of cultural renewal, a primary element of its festival. To this end, its organizers have established their first juried “Great Art” exposition. The purpose of the exposition is twofold: first, to expose the Christian community to art’s power and beauty; second, to nurture Christians as they grow and develop their creative gifts. This event will be an opportunity to meet other artists, sell your art to the New England community, and enjoy an inspirational series of musicians and speakers. The event is open to painting, photography, and drawing submissions—the only limits imposed will be those of the exhibition space. The Exposition will be held in an indoor gallery from Thursday, August 2 through Saturday, August 4. The deadline for registrations is June 15, 2007; for more information or to register on line, click here.

New England Arts Festival
This June, the international, interdenominational, His Gifts and Presence New England Arts Festival will be taking place at the Greater Portland Vineyard Christian Fellowship, located at 715 Bridgton Road, Westbrook, ME, 04092. Come watch, show, play, dance, read, act, and glorify our creator with us! Visit www.newenglandchristianartscouncil.org and download the brochure to participate.

Oneiros Press Poetry Broadside Contest
The seventh annual Oneiros Press Poetry Broadside Contest is here! Judged by Oneiros Press Editors, it offers the winner letterpress publication of his or her poem, along with 15 free letterpress copies. Submissions should include poems under 30 lines (previously published work OK), $5 for the first three poems and $1 for each additional poem (checks can be made to Chuck Rybak), and a SASE for announcement of the winner. All entries should be postmarked by June 30, 2007, and mailed to

Oneiros Press
Stephen Frech
English Department
Millikin University
1184 W. Main St.
Decatur, IL  62522

Questions? Direct them to sjfrech@yahoo.com.

Christians in Theatre Arts Networking Conference and Auditions
Breeze into the Windy City to join us June 13-16, 2007 at Moody Bible Institute for an extraordinary conference focused on excellence and aesthetics. An American cultural capital, Chicago is a city that appreciates beauty, theatre, and art. The 2007 National Networking Conference involves four days of challenging workshops, inspiring presenters, and passionate performers. Attendees will enjoy hearing from remarkable speakers, including Colin Harbinson (Toymaker & Son), Calvin Seerveld (Rainbows for the Fallen World), and Ken Wales (producer of the Christy TV series and Amazing Grace), and spend an afternoon and evening taking in Chicago’s world-famous museums, some of the country’s best live theatre, and the other unequaled attractions of The Second City. Come to network with old friends, meet new ones, and be encouraged, equipped, and filled with a fresh aspiration for excellence as Christians in the Theatre Arts celebrate the aesthetics of our craft. There are discounts for early registration and groups. Registration rates include options for discipline tracks, workshops, plenary performances and the opening gala networking reception.

Register now here. Call 877.277.CITA or e-mail admin@cita.org for more info.

Angels of Light: Ethiopian Art from the Walters Art Museum, including icons, manuscripts, and bronze processional crosses, will be on exhibit at The Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) through May 20.

Register Now for the 2007 Glen Workshop!
"God of the Desert: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam through the Prism of Art"
July 29 - August 5, 2007

The Glen Workshop is an illuminating conference on the arts and religion, where participants practice and strengthen their craft and vision in community. This weeklong event combines the best elements of a workshop, an arts festival, and a symposium. By exploring this year's theme, "God of the Desert: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam through the Prism of Art," participants will share a common ground for discussion during the week. This year's faculty includes illustrator Barry Moser, playwright Mark St. Germain, poets Scott Cairns and Daniel Tobin, musicians Linford Detweiler and Karin Berquist of Over the Rhine, fiction writer Moira Crone, calligrapher Timothy Botts, ceramics artist Ginger Geyer, and spiritual writer Ann McCutchan. A seminar class, "Peoples of the Book," will be led by Rodger Kamenetz. Afternoons and evenings at the Glen feature faculty readings, lectures, and presentations. Guest speakers Jamal Rahman, George Dardess, Rodger Kamenetz, and Scott Cairns will explore the relationships among the three Abrahamic traditions and the role art and story play in each during selected evening sessions. Each evening concludes with an ecumenical worship service that incorporates the arts. This year's musician-in-residence, Pierce Pettis, will be giving a concert as well as playing during worship throughout the week. Please note that class sizes are limited: don't wait too long to register!

To register for the Glen Workshop, or to find out more information, click here

A brochure will be printed and mailed in early February. If you are on the Image subscriber list, you'll automatically receive a brochure. If you'd like to have one mailed to you, send us an e-mail by clicking here.