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Novelist Bret Lott Contents
Features
Gallery Watch
Message Board
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FeaturesIssue 59 Is Here
Image issue 59 mailed late last month and is now lying dog-eared on sofas across the nation. The issue features the deceptively quiet paintings of Vija Celmins, whose lamps, kitchen appliances, spiderwebs, and starscapes are subtle, delicate explorations of perception. There's also an essay by art critic Daniel Siedell, who challenges modern Christians to become better viewers of modern art. As a follow-up to his essay, we asked him some practical questions about how that might happen, and he responded in a web-exclusive interview. The issue also includes an interview with writer and undertaker Thomas Lynch in which he discusses the need for surviving family members to "go the distance with the dead," as well as an excerpt from Kathleen Norris's new book, Acedia and Me, which combines memoir with a study of the little-understood "Noonday Demon" that the church fathers called acedia, sometimes translated as apathy or sloth. Essayist Artur Grabowski explains why he'd rather pray to the "Renaissanced-out buttocks of the creator" in a Baroque cathedral than in a church with empty walls, and Jessie Van Eerden reflects on the ambivalence about heaven she felt as a child at summer camp in West Virginia. There is a short story set in the grotto of Assisi—and another set in Jo-ann Fabrics. And there is poetry by Daniel Tobin, Nick Samaras, and Amit Majmudar, who imagines how Job might have responded to God's voice in the whirlwind. Missed it? Subscribe here. God With Us Book Events with Kathleen Norris In anticipation of the Advent and Christmas season, Image journal invites you to an evening featuring award-winning poet, writer, and speaker Kathleen Norris. The opening event will be held at the Seattle Art Museum in downtown Seattle on November 8, 2008, at 7:15 p.m. (note time change). Events will also be held at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on November 12, 7:15 p.m., and at the National Gallery in Ottawa, 7:15 p.m. Author of New York Times bestsellers The Cloister Walk, Dakota, and Amazing Grace, Norris will give a thought-provoking talk on the meaning of Christmas entitled "Remembering, Waiting and Hoping: The Countercultural Pursuits of Christmas." The event is a celebration marking the launch of the book God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe. God With Us is a beautifully illustrated collection of daily meditations for the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, and includes scripture selections, master works of art, and reflections from writers such as Kathleen Norris, Luci Shaw, Eugene Peterson, Scott Cairns, and others. The collection invites the reader to slow down and reconnect with the often-overlooked meaning of Christmas. All three events are free and open to the public, and will begin with a wine and cheese reception at 7:15, followed by Norris's keynote at 8 p.m., and book launch and signing at 9 p.m. To RSVP for the Seattle events, contact Julie Mullins at (206) 281-2988 or jmullins@imagejournal.org. For the events in Canada, contact Greg Pennoyer at Greg.Pennoyer@IncarnationExhibition.org. Bret Lott's new novel, Ancient Highway, begins with a runaway jumping aboard a train bound for California. It is 1925, and Earl is leaving his family's farm in Texas, and the anonymity that defines his life there—he is the tenth among thirteen children—and going to Hollywood in search of a career in the "flickers" and everything that such a career represents: fame, money, importance. But his dreams bump up against reality soon enough, and the next time we meet Earl is through the eyes of his daughter, the nine-year-old Joan, living in a cramped apartment in California, where her daddy busses tables at a restaurant and spends his days going to casting calls and scheming up ways to be discovered. Joan longs to go back to her "real home" in Texas, the one she has visited once, where her grandparents live and she can play with her cousins, sleep on a "sleeping porch," and take tap dancing lessons. But some secret keeps them from ever going back, and meanwhile Earl's preoccupation with being discovered, his need to be "seen," gets in the way of his life, the actual living of it—he seems always to be acting, even in the role of father and husband. But the beauty of this novel is that Earl does not come off as just a selfish father but as a complicated and stubbornly hopeful character. The family is shaped not only by Earl's failures (and minor Hollywood successes), but by the secrets they all keep, their unforgiven hurts, and all the ways they love and fail to love each other. The novel's third-generation narrator is Joan's son, Brad, who visits his grandparents in California while dealing with his own grudges, and whose hope is not the glamorous hopes and dreams of his grandfather, but "a kind of scuffed up and scarred hope, a kind of hope that's had an eye gouged out and lost an arm and has only the clothes on its back." Which, it turns out, is just the kind of hope this family needs. Click here to buy the book. Alfonse Borysewicz: Ordinary Time
What stands out about Alfonse Borysewicz's paintings is that there's a certain physicality about them. A Catholic artist, Borysewicz paints with what might be called a sacramental sense of reality—his paintings confront mystery with earthy, human gestures. Ordinary Time, a new exhibit of Borysewicz's paintings, is being held now at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City. Included in this exhibit is a portrait of Mary Magdalene in which a face emerges, raw and elemental, a kind of abstract likeness that calls to mind an aged Byzantine icon or a weathered statue carved out of stone. Borysewicz has been featured in the pages of Image and was our Artist of the Month in July 2004. The Ordinary Time exhibit is sponsored by the Church of St. Paul the Apostle and Openings, the Paulist outreach to young adult visual artists. There will be a reception on Thursday, October 16 from 7-9 p.m. in the church and a talk by the artist at 8 p.m. The exhibit will be on display until November 20, 2008. The Church of St. Paul the Apostle is located at W 60th and Columbus Ave, New York, NY. For more information, click here. Call + Response
Call + Response is a feature-length "rockumentary" about the widespread phenomenon of human trafficking—i.e., slavery—combining compelling interviews (Cornel West, Ashley Judd, Julia Ormond, Madeleine Albright) and twelve powerful musical performances by the likes of Imogen Heap, Matisyahu, Switchfoot, Moby, and others. It details some of the varieties of human trafficking, including sex slavery and child soldiers, with appalling statistics and some deeply unsettling undercover footage. But perhaps the most interesting thing about this film is that it is radically independent: not only was it made independently, but it is being distributed independently. According to the filmmakers, Call + Response is a project based on a "new model" of community-based activism. "There is a sea of change happening in human rights activism," they write. "The world's issues cannot be solved alone by governments and non-profits, but require community-based participation." Because this project was funded completely through donations (rather than corporate investment), 100% of the profits will go to fund global field projects on the front lines of this issue. The money raised "will be directed, by the viewers, to these projects with clear start and finish points (a landrover for a child soldier rehab camp, sewing machines for a after-care training facility). Our goal is to fund and celebrate completed projects together in community." The Seattle Times called Call + Response "impassioned...eye-opening" and concluded: "ignoring this crisis is no longer an option." The film is returning to Seattle for a limited run at the AMC Uptown starting Friday, October 17, and is showing in other cities around the country. Go to the film's website for more information. See the CNN story here. Gallery WatchMary McCleary: For the Time Being
After a few weeks on hurricane alert, The Moody Gallery in Houston is delighted to present Mary McCleary and her exhibition, For the Time Being. The collection, which runs through October 18, highlights McCleary's ability to convey art that is both distinctive and familiar through mixed media collage. Take, for example, her Sugaring Moths, which catches eyes with a Thiebaud-esque sequence of moths and butterflies—each insect intricately constructed and boldly displayed against a dark backdrop. After a career that began in 1975, McClearly recently retired as Regents Professor from Stephen F. Austin State University. Future openings in 2009 include the Grey Gallery at NYU and the Parrish Museum on Long Island. The Moody Gallery is located in Houston, Texas at 2815 Colquitt. See the gallery page for more information, or click here for more about the artist. Rick Nahmias: Golden States of Grace
From Buddhists inside San Quentin Prison to deaf Mormons in San Diego, "Golden States of Grace: Prayers of the Disinherited," looks at the "us" in "them" and shows how these groups are finding faith, family, and sanctuary outside main line churches. The show is composed of 56 environmental portraits, two audio tracks, and full didactics by photographer and writer, Rick Nahmias ("The Migrant Project"). University of New Mexico Press will be publishing a companion book to the exhibit in Fall 2009 (featuring a foreword by Pulitzer winner Jack Miles). Nahmias's work has been profiled and published in national magazines, journals, and newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post. His work has been presented on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, is part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian, and resides in several private and public collections across the country. Golden States of Grace will be on display through December 12 at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Santa Barbara, California. Click here for more. Terry Maker: The Garden of Nineveh
The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver presents artist in residence Terry Maker. Her new installation, The Garden of Nineveh, includes large-scale pieces that rise over ten feet tall. Mounted on opposite sides of a single wall, the sculptures Sweet and Bitter play to tensions between good and bad, light and dark, heaven and hell. Sweet features a wall-sized honeycomb, layered with resin teardrops and filled by warm yellows, greens, and browns. Bitter includes foot-long resin thorns protruding from a surface of skulls, earth, and bones, and even an audio component through hidden speakers that whisper recorded wants and desires of Maker's friends (developed with sound designer Mica Gross). Garden of Nineveh runs through January 18, 2009 at the MCA Denver, located on 1485 Delgany in Denver, Colorado. For more information, click here. Message BoardIf 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 e-mail to gwolfe@spu.edu. Film, Faith, and Justice in Seattle: October 23-25The Other Journal is hosting the third annual Film, Faith, and Justice festival from October 23-25, 2008. The event, which is held at Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, features eight powerful films from the 2007-2008 Human Rights Watch Traveling Film Festival, including Up the Yangtze, Project Kashmir, and Letter to Anna. The films are complimented by engaging lectures and discussion panels that articulate personal and communal faith responses to the issues raised in these films. The speakers at this year's film and lecture series include Christopher Heuertz (Executive Director of Word Made Flesh), Dr. Eugene McCarraher (Dept. of Humanities & Augustinian Traditions, Villanova University), Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock (Award-Winning Author, Co-Director of Faith Voices for the Common Good), Dr. J. Kameron Carter (Theology & Black Church Studies, Duke Divinity School), and local community leaders. To buy tickets or learn more about this event visit here. Broken Prophets: Counseling for Artists and MusiciansBroken Profits is a sustainable three-way approach for artists in the Seattle area to affording initial counseling. This is made possible through the Artist Life Guild and a coalition of registered counselors in the Seattle area dedicated to honoring and assisting the arts community. This opportunity is available to any artist earning under $30,000 a year. Participants commit to an eight week, eight session program, and each individual session rate is $25. To apply, the artist should email brokenprophets@artistlife.org to receive an application form. The application itself is confidential and does not require any information on the artist's need for counseling; it simply verifies the artist's financial need and how they are artistically active in the community. Artistay: Residencies in FranceA residence is an important stage in an artist's career. It represents a major investment, in terms of time and money, and therefore needs to be carefully thought through. Artistay's aim is to help every artist in this process and to give him/her concrete answers to questions. Artistay works closely with a network of professional residences in France; their service is for artists in all media, art professionals (critics, curators, agents), and other creators (architects, designers, writers). Applications are accepted year round and may be completed through artistay.com. The Other Journal Call for SubmissionsThe Other Journal publishes creative writing, visual art, and scholarly essays that encounter life through the lens of theology and culture. Our upcoming issues explore a variety of topics, including death, beauty, the metaphysics of change, and the ongoing U.S. presidential election. We are seeking poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Fiction submissions may include short stories or self-contained novel excerpts, and creative nonfiction submissions may include personal essays or memoirs. We also welcome films, paintings, prints, photography, music, and academic essays. Please send submissions to submissions@theotherjournal.com. For more information about our submission guidelines, click here. ImageNews -- The Scoop on Our Programs
Image Readings: Rodger Kamenetz The poems of Rodger Kamenetz are full of jazz rhythm, ancient tragedy, and dark wit. They draw on Jewish song and prayer in a voice that is thoroughly modern—with an equanimity and a quiet humor that may come from his Buddhism and may come just from himself. Have a listen—he's our next poet in the Image Readings series. Click here to listen. Now Hiring a Director of Development at Image Image is looking for a full-time Director of Development to build our charitable giving and help us grow to meet the increasing demand for our programs. By giving our fundraising efforts the attention and guidance they need, the Director of Development will enable Image to remain at the forefront of cultural transformation and broaden its influence. We are looking for a creative, hard-working professional who is passionate about Image's mission in the world of art and faith and skilled at motivating others to support that mission. The position will involve creating a development plan for Image, building relationships with donors and potential donors, making asks for major gifts, writing solicitation materials and grant proposals, and systematically evaluating the results of Image's fundraising initiatives. Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree, excellent verbal and written communication skills, excellent relational skills, and an ability to work effectively and creatively, alone or as part of a team. Previous experience in development and/or experience working for a non-profit is a plus. Is this you or someone you know? To apply, send a CV; a cover letter that states how you came to know about Image and what you envision bringing to Image's development program, outlining your particular skills or areas of interest; and a 5-10 page sample of your prose writing. Mail to: Image, Attn: Director of Development Application, 3307 Third Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119. Or email to jmullins@imagejournal.org with the subject line: Director of Development. If you have questions, contact Julie Mullins at (206) 281-2988 or jmullins@imagejournal.org. Click here for a complete job description and list of qualifications. Subscribe to Image in Print and Get More Art, Fiction, Poetry, Essays, Interviews, and Every Good Thing If you like reading about great new art and writing inspired by faith in ImageUpdate, and you're ready to get down to reading and seeing the stuff itself, it's time to subscribe to Image. Each quarter our editors comb the world of art and letters to bring you our favorite new work--work that respects transcendent mystery as well as the gritty truth of the material world that bears the divine imprint. A one-year subscription gets you four beautifully produced issues delivered right to your door. Ninety percent of the journal's content is not available on our website, but only through what we call "the sacrament of print." Click here to get the magazine Terry Tempest Williams calls "evocative and inspiring" and Bret Lott calls "the most meaningful literary journal being produced today." ImageUpdatePublisher: Gregory Wolfe ImageUpdate is the biweekly e-mail newsletter from Image, a quarterly print journal that explores the relationship between Judeo-Christian faith and art through contemporary fiction, poetry, painting, sculpture, architecture, film, music, and dance. Each issue also features interviews, memoirs, essays, and reviews. ImageUpdate brings you news about books, CDs, organizations, websites, conferences, exhibitions, and tours--all of which inhabit the intersection between faith and imagination. ImageUpdate will also notify you whenever a new issue of Image is printed, an Image event is upcoming, or new content is posted to our website. Copyright © 2008 Center for Religious Humanism. All rights reserved. |
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