Disney-Britton

Media reports today are that House Speaker-to-be John Boehner (R-Ohio) is telling the Smithsonian Institution to pull an video that features images of a ants crawling over a crucifix or else face tough funding scrutiny when the new Republican majority takes control in January. House Majority Leader-to-be Eric Cantor, a born-again Christian-Jew (R.-Va.), even called on the Smithsonian to pull the entire exhibit on Lesbians & Gays. No matter what happens, this is story is going to be around for a long while.

Start a new tradition this year by giving the gift of religious art in honor of loved ones.  The gift is a simple but important part of continuing the journey of faith in America through artistic expression. We've selected the following three museums to support because of our cornerstone strategy help others continue the journey of religious expression in America. We invite you to join us with the knowledge that your gift will keep supporting artists and interfaith communities for years to come. Our three recommendations for 2010 are below. Pick one or all , and please share your choice with others: Museum of Divine Sculptures | Canton, OH - A 501(C)3 founded to rescue and restore ecclessiastical statues in a reflective and respectful museum setting. With your help the museum can open in early 2011. To donate,  click link . Museum of Contemporary Religious Art | Saint Louis, MO - Located on the campus of Saint Louis University, MoCRA is the first interfaith museum of cont...

by James Hipps It’s not too often I get to church.  I really haven’t found one that I feel completely at home in, but it is something that I find important so I continue to search for a place of worship. Even though I’ve yet to find the house of God that suits me best, I can honestly say I try very hard to maintain objectivity when visiting various houses of worship as I realize not all places are for all people.  However, my most recent visit to a service was the first time I've ever gone to church, then had to go home to pray that I wouldn't go to hell for going…to church that is. As much as I hate to admit it, if I’m going to be honest, this encounter could be the direct result of my dark side coming to surface. As I mentioned, on a Sunday not too long ago, I woke up, showered and put on some nicely pressed clothes and headed to the Sunshine Cathedral .  I had read online this was a gay-friendly church and I thought perhaps this may be a good place to look.  Being...

In Matthew 2:1-12 I find myself praying to have God reach out to me with the righteous path that he reached out to the wise men with.  I want to know when to follow others and when to avoid following those with only good intentions verse good hearts.  Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Painting is the grandchild of nature . It is related to God . - Rembrandt

In honor of the 400th anniversary of his death, a German museum has mounted an exhibition in honor of Italian painter Caravaggio (1571 - 1610). This one-room show, presented by the Kupferstichkabinett, accompanies the Gemäldegalerie's exhibition 'Homage to Caravaggio 1610-2010' that will be on display thru  March 6, 2011 in the Gemäldegalerie, Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz.  For those of us who can't make the trip to Germany for the show, we can pick up this summer's best-seller by Andrew Graham-Dixon on the artist, Carvaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane .

"Refugee Thanksgiving" Norman Rockwell (b. NYC, 1894) C. 1943, Oil on canvas, (cover, Saturday Evening Post, Nov. 27) Original: Lost (likely destroyed by Rockwell after printing)

Over the last several weeks, New York City's  Lincoln Center has presented the White Light Festival, billed as an exploration of the spiritual in music. (The last festival event, “The Manganiyar Seduction,” a musical work in the Indian classical and folk traditions was last night at the Rose Theater). During this period of time, classical music critics and a reporter at The New York Times have also discussed the works, transcendence and the merits of the festival in the paper's blog,  ArtsBeat . It's been interesting to follow. On Monday however, a reporter challenged whether the festival has been about "soul" or selling tickets as if that was a problem. In truth however a soul festival should do exactly both, attract large crowds with music that transforms the soul.

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Ernest Britton Are you an artist looking to start a new business for a growing market? Then you might try coffin art. In Asia, artists are already creating such personalized coffins. The Lien Foundation's CEO Lee Poh Wah says, "The traditional negative associations surrounding the coffin were transformed into a celebratory symbol of courage, life and beauty" through art (AARP). This could be a real opportunity for an American artist willing to partner with a major or minor casket company. Last year, American coffin-makers saw their sales decline as more people turned to cremation even as the size of American coffins grew  due to obesity, as well as the growing number of aging baby-boomers.  Who said you can't take your art collection with you?

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Just in time for Christmas, a prominent Biblical scholar answers the questions , "Was Jesus really Jewish?" "Was his message unique in first-century Palestine?" and even "Was he born in Bethlehem?" In the November/December 2010 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR), editor Hershel Shanks gets answers to these questions and more in an exclusive interview with archaeologist and historical Jesus scholar Sean Freyne. Previous works by Freyne include Jesus, a Jewish Galilean: A New Reading of the Jesus Story (2004), and he describes his work as a historical Jesus scholar as the quest to uncover “the figure of Jesus as he is represented in the documents of Christian faith as a historical person.” Yet some of the Gospels took liberties with the story to convey theological values, he says. “We have to try to work with historical methods and try at the same time to recognize the literary creations.” Based on this approach, Freyne recognizes a core of historic...

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.   - Michelangelo (Italy, 1475-1564) 

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib Just in time for the holidays, Mens Health Magazine compiled a listing of America's Most Religious Cities. Can you find your city on the list of America's most religious hometowns? My own NYC is near bottom at #84...shocking? 1. Colorado Springs, CO 2. Greensboro, NC 3. Oklahoma City, OK 4. Wichita, KS 5. Indianapolis, IN 6. Jacksonville, FL 7. Portland, OR 8. Birmingham, AL 9. Charlotte, NC 10. Little Rock, AR

President Obama signed an executive order  this week permitting churches that receive federal money for providing social services to keep their religious art, icons, scriptures or other symbols inside their facilities, and unaltered. 

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS  By TAHLIB Crucified Christ Agnolo "Bronzino"   (b. Italy, 1503-1572) C. 1540 On View : Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy (Source: Independent )

Kathleen Folden, the 56 year old Montana woman who destroyed the work of California artist Enrique Chagoya because she felt it was obscene was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty. The work, The Misadventures of the Romantic Cannibals was on display this past summer in an exhibit at at the Loveland Museum/Gallery in Colorado and was the center of a heated debate in the community including anger voiced at city hall. According to the Huffington Pos t , a hearing is set for January 28, 2011 to determine restitution.

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Ernest Disney-Britton INDIANA - Once you reach the far rear corner of the stark Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis for Tony Melendez's three-piece installation, there is a pronounced sense of arrival. With twinkling brush strokes, Melendez has created shimmering portraits of biblical pairings like David & Jonathon that allow the viewer to step inside his translucent dream.

The Sacred and the Profane exhibition of 156 works by French painter Georges Rouault will run through February 13, 2011 at the  Bilbao Fine Arts Museum  in Spain.  The abstract expressionists, whose work we recently highlighted from the Cleveland Museum of Art is a devoted artist of religious expression, and this exhibit includes oil paintings, etchings and even one of the artist's stained glass windows. While not considered a conventional retrospective, the exhibit focus is on exhibiting unknown and unfinished works from Rouault's studio.

AOA NEWS By Ernest Britton INDIANA - Dressed entirely in black with heavy silver jewelry laced with red feathers and semi-precious stones, Roseta Santiago guides us through her new exhibition at Watts Fine Arts in Zionsville, IN. The Native American painter is best known for her oil paintings of ancient relics, but she also paints human figures, Indian clothing and horses all suffused in dramatic lighting. In fact, consider the image of an artist surrounded by the spirits of ancient artisans who inspire her creativity. That's the experience of this Native American high priestess of art. You feel it in her art, and in her presence. She describes the process as "magical, a religious experience" and to illustrate the spiritual nature of her dramatic works she pointed to the largest of the paintings on display, a horse in full gallop that leaps from a spiritual unknown entitled, "Leap of Faith." For those unable see her artwork in Indiana or the Blue Rain Gallery ...

As in Matthew 7:7-8 I asked and he gave me my answer. We need to be there for Leslie and her family during their time of joy. It is also understandable for us to stay if our family is in need right here at home. Pray and ask, I was given clarity! Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Matthew 7:7-11 is a great reminder of the power of prayer! All we need to do is ask our father in heaven. He may not always give what we desire, but surely what we need. I have been asking for clarity on the Kreines wedding. He keeps telling me to go and show her family the love she shows many! Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib Keith Haring Untitled (Inverted Crucifix) , 1984 Bid on Keith Haring's Untitled (inverted Crucifix) online at Artnet.com through the end of day tomorrow November 17. Signed "K Haring" and dated April 14, 1984, the work is 5 ft  x 5 ft in the iconic style of  this graffiti art pioneer. An homage to the martyred Saint Peter , the upside-down crucifixion doubles as a powerful emblem of the battle against AIDS. Done in black and bright orange on muslim, the work carries a pre-sale estimate of $850,000 - $1,200,000, and bidding begins at $600,000. [ Bid now on artnet Auctions ]

Matthew 7:15-23 reminds me it is not enough to do good. We must do good in the name of the Father and expect no earthly reward.  If our good deeds aren't holy then He will not know us when we come to him!Se Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

I'm puzzled. You aren't going to post this to our blog site? "Tahlib1.disney-britton@blogger.com"   In a message dated 11/16/2010 10:09:22 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, phonepoleclmbr@aol.com writes: Matthew 7:15-23 reminds me it is not enough to do good. We must do good in the name of the Father and expect no earthly reward.  If our good deeds aren't holy then He will not know us when we come to him! Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Danish artist Carl Heinrich Bloch was born in 1834 and is best known for his religious paintings. "God helps me," he once said. "That's what I think, and then I'm calm." While I am unclear about his denominational affiliation, he has been widely embraced by the Church of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and just in time for the Carl Bloch: The Master's Hand exhibition (thru March 7) at Brigham Young University's Museum of Art in Utah, two books on the artist have also been released. The first is The Master's Hand: The Art of Carl Heinrich Bloch  which includes 95 works by the artist, as well as commentary on each of the images. The second book, This is the Christ  is a visual look at the life of Christ as depicted in many of the 250 paintings of Carl Bloch.

God helps me. That's what I think, and then I'm calm.  - Carl Heinrich Bloch (Danish, 1834-1890)

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS  By TAHLIB Five Holy Men at Dal Lake  Mughal artist Govardhan. (India) Circa 1625-30, Gouache heightened with gold on paper (23.8 by 15.2cm.) 

Religious bigotry by Oklahoma voters might be a boon for artistic freedom. As shared last week, Oklahoma voters overwhelming approved a change in the state constitution, banning judges in state court from considering international law in general, and Islamic law in particular. However, a federal judge in Oklahoma has  temporarily blocked Measure 755 , citing a pending lawsuit which argues that the measure is unconstitutional. While the ACLU and Islamic civil rights activists may view this new law as unconstitutional and perhaps discriminatory, many artists in England are offering a different way of considering the conflict. They are fighting to ensure that religious-based censorship is not upheld by the courts. I stand with the UK artists and the view that an abuse should not take away a use .

AOA NEWS By Ernest Britton INDIANA - The Vineyard Community Church in Greenwood, Indiana is the mega-church model with free coffee, a rock-n-roll band, big screen TVs, and a laid-back pastor in blue jeans. The congregation is friendly, and fairly diverse by Hoosier standards. The current sermon series, which is well delivered by a charismatic pastor is classic mega-church messaging: How to be Rich . The location is inside a former elementary and what the church lacks in visual artistic power is made-up for with its musical power, and warmth for visitors.

Reacting against an increasingly materialistic, secular society, expressionist artist George Rouault  (b. France, 1871-1958) dedicated himself to creating deeply spiritual art. To convey his emotional interpretation of the subject, he built of layers of rich color through thickly encrusted paint. Rouault's early experience in a stained-glass workshop encouraged his preference for luminous color and strong black outlines. One of his many powerful, yet serene images simply entitled Head of Christ (above) is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Like last year's Precious , the new movie adaptation, For Colored Girls is often too hard to watch. It's hard to watch even if you've seen the original 1975 play several times, as I have. This is a movie that will leave you disturbed if not shattered as it graphically tells the stories of women dealing with issues ranging from rape to abortion to unsafe sex to domestic violence. It is also a movie about God, and the performance by Whoopie Goldberg of a religious zealot & mother is the most powerful and damning out of a ensemble of powerful performances. Dressed in pure white and turbaned like an orthodox Muslim, Goldberg's character has jumped over-the-cliff to God ( " Elohim " ) to keep from going insane over her pain. Goldberg calls her "crazy as a bedbug" and plays her psychosis to the maximum. Critics will debate the merits of this play-turned-movie:  USA Today panned the film while The New York Times praised it for its "force, feel...

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Ernest O. Britton NEW YORK --- Following WWII, an inscription was found scratched on a wall in Germany by someone hiding from deportation to a Nazi concentration camp: "I believe in the sun even when it is not shining... in love even when I am alone... and in God even when he is silent." Those words haunted me during the Alpha & Omega Journeys  visit to an exhibition of Martinez Celaya's The Wanderer   at the Museum of Biblical Art . Celeya's paintings are a series of desolate landscapes leading the viewer to question the existence or intention of God. It's not the traditional Biblical Art exhibition where the connections to biblical narrative are clear, this exhibition is more about questioning assumptions about how we perceive God or as the WWII inscription suggests, how we know God exists "even when he is silent." The exhibit’s guest curator is Daniel Siedell, author of God in the Gallery and assistant professor of art hist...

In the end, these are indeed just human bones, but they are bones that belonged to individuals touched by the living power of God." - POPE BENEDICT XVI, 2005

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS  By TAHLIB Head of Christ George Roualt (French, 1871-1958) C. 1937 Collection : Cleveland Museum of Art

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Ernest Britton The establishment of Abu Dhabi Art Fair is a major step towards embedding the emirate's cultural credentials in the international public consciousness. Last year, some of the world's most high-profile galleries came to sell their artworks to an increasingly hungry buyers' market. There are also plenty of talks and workshops, and plenty of  Middle Eastern art on display. The real draw, though, is the 48 world-class galleries that will gather again in the halls of the Emirates Palace in the hope of attracting buyers including many first-time buyers. If you've not yet made a purchase of Islamic religious art, why not try the Abu Dhabi Art Fair?

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS SPAIN---After 128 years, on Sunday, November 7, Antonio Gaudi's cathedral in Barcelona will formally be opened as the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia. Pope Benedict will lead the consecration mass before 7,000 people. Begun in 1882 , the design and construction of this church so consumed Gaudi that his body was interned there at his death in 1926. It's perhaps the biggest and longest incomplete work of  religious art  in the world because even though it opens for mass this Sunday, the cathedral is still not expected to be completed until 2033 .

OHIO - The physical remains of holy men and women and other objects associated with them play a central role in a number of religions and cultures and were especially important to the development of Christianity. How artists and craftsman came to encase these body parts or "reliquaries" is the subject of the newest exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art . Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics, and Devotion in Medieval Europe is the first major exhibition in the United States to consider the history of relics and reliquaries and features more than 150 works of art from Late Antiquity, the Middle Ages and early modern Europe. The exhibition runs from Oct. 17, 2010, to Jan. 17, 2011, before traveling to on to Baltimore and then London. As visitors to the exhibition, we witnessed the transformation of reliquaries from simple containers (small caskets) for the earthly remains of Christian holy men and women to lavishly decorated objects of personal and communal devotion. To conv...

On Tuesday, Oklahoma voters overwhelming approved a change in the state constitution banning judges in state court from considering international law in general, and Islamic law in particular. Measure 755 " forbids courts from considering or using Sharia Law ." Of course, existing law already doesn't permit that and Islamic civil rights activists say the 30,000 Muslims in the state have never advocated for it. Is this one more example of how Islamaphobia is gripping the USA as argued by religious rights advocate  Haroon Moghul ? The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the ACLU plan to challenge the law as unconstitutional. On the other hand, is it a positive step toward protecting freedom of expression as argued by  Islamic artists in the UK  in an upcoming exhibition in London entitled, Passion for Freedom of Art ?

"How do we kknow that we are venerating the bone of a saint and not the bone of some thief, or of an ass, or of a dog, or of a horse." - JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564), A Treatise on Relics

INTERNATIONAL ARTS MOVEMENT By Christy Tennant NEW YORK --- International Arts Movement offers a huge congratulations to Dr. Ena Heller, who has been selected by the American Academy of Religion to receive the 2010 Religion and the Arts Award. Dr. Heller, who is the Executive Director of the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBiA), is being honored "for her exceptional work fostering interfaith dialogue and scholarship linking art and religion." Given annually to an artist, performer, critic, curator or scholar who has made a recent significant contribution to the understanding of the relations among the arts and religion, the award was presented during a special ceremony at the Academy’s annual meeting in Atlanta on Sunday, October 31, 2010. [ link ]

THE ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By TAHLIB Father Dempsey at Museum at Contemporary Religious Art MISSOURI---In recognition of his curating the spring 2010 exhibition, "The Suffering Christ in Contemporary Art," the Alpha & Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts is pleased to name Fr. Terrence E. Dempsey, S.J. as the 2009 recipient of the A&O Prize for Clergy Advocates.

NEW YORK - Alpha Omega Arts members have voted to make the US postage stamp portrait honoring Mother Teresa their 2010 choice for the A&O Prize for Contemporary Religious Art of the year. The commission was created by illustrator and sculptor, Thomas Blackshear II . The A&OPrize (no trophy or cash prize) is an annual contemporary religious art recognition for a single artwork by an American artist which has promoted a major dialogue about religion in America through during the past 12-18 months.

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Tahlib The lives of significant artists are inseparable from their art. Are you willing to share yours? This is your chance! The process is simple: Answer seven questions (25-50 words each) and send images as illustration of those answers. You will then be added to the Artist Advisory Board and to the" "Artist" roster " for Alpha Omega Arts News . Lastly, you will be profiled as an  INSPIRE ME! Artist of the Month  with a permanent link direct to your website site via this profile. Interested? Here's the format: What is your faith tradition, and how does it impact your art?  Describe your artwork. What style or genre is it?  Have you ever had to defend exploring religious ideas?  Who collects your work, and why?  What "risks" have you taken in creating your work?  Which artists have influenced your style or direction? (Send image as example)  How can A&O readers collect/experience your work?...