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ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY March 28, 2011 CALIFORNIA - Walt Disney Feature Animation Studios and Pixar's Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Brave opens in theaters June 22, 2012. [ link ]

THE NEW YORK TIMES March 28, 2011 "The Vessel" (2011) by David Altmejd NEW YORK - As a mediator of the sacred and the profane, Altmejd makes every object a thing of beauty, the driving force of his work. “For me the grotesque is necessary to understand beauty,” he said the other day. “Things that are pure, I can’t feel them. They have to be infected or else they don’t exist — they don’t have a presence.” “The Vessel,” a 20-foot-long plexiglass diorama of disembodied hands and noses, fairly shimmers in the gallery’s main exhibition space. It features a pair of flayed, swanlike plaster arms, their hands clasping bird beaks of a particularly phallic shape. A kind of Greek chorus of raised fists grasping more beaks surrounds them, all trapped in a rigging of cascading colored threads set off by plantlike crystals. “I’ve really been into Catholic visuals in the past few years,” Altmejd told me. Not that he’s religious. “I just like the metaphors and the imagery,” he said. “Da...

THE TELEGRAPH March 28, 2011 "Belshazzar’s Feast" by John Martin UNITED KINGDOM - When the 19th-century visionary painter John Martin exhibited his best known canvas Belshazzar’s Feast at the British Institution in February 1821, the 8ft high and 5ft long picture had to be cordoned off to keep the crowds at arm’s length. For Belshazzar’s Feast is painting as theatre. As much as it is about art, the Laing Art Gallery’s retrospective of Martin’s work is about the economics of making a living as an artist in the first half of the 19th century. More than 5,000 people paid an entrance fee to see Belshazzar’s Feast and many of them bought the popular mezzotint after it. In the hope that prints after their paintings would hang in front parlours from Sidcup to Surbiton, artists pitched both the subject and style of their paintings to a Bible-reading, philistine public. [ link ]

CHICAGO SUN TIMES March 30, 2011 ILLINOIS - “Kings, Queens and Courtiers: Art in Early Renaissance France,” which recently opened at the Art Institute of Chicago, highlights one such glorious moment in history. It runs through May 30, and a hint of just how good this show is: the rare loan of “The Madonna of the Yarnwinder” by Leonardo da Vinci and his assistants, is not even the exhibit’s centerpiece. In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, art flourished in provincial France, as well as in Paris, not for its own sake but in service to its wealthy patrons — mainly the church and the crown. Art glorified royal families. It was made to decorate their homes, solidify and proclaim their power, and provide objects for private worship. At the same time, art was commissioned for churches, to fill them with beautiful, functional objects that also served to educate a pious but mostly illiterate public. [ link ]

MIAMI HERALD March 29, 2011 "Madonna & Child" by Serge Toussaint FLORIDA - Artist Serge Toussaint — the man behind dozens of multi-colored murals and signs in Miami’s urban neighborhoods. The Haitian-born Toussaint — muralist, sign painter, visual storyteller, son of Little Haiti — has spent nearly two decades brushing walls and storefronts, underpasses and pillars with a rainbow of hues, vibrant scenes and powerful portraits that offer a slice of city life. “Art is what I was meant to do,’’ he says. “For me, art is like an addiction: it’s something I fell in love with and something I cannot walk away from." He has also painted a series of saints on the walls of botanicas and angels on the ceilings of churches. [ link ]

HEY U GUYS UK March 30, 2011 UNITED KINGDOM - Two unique-looking posters for Julian (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) Schnabel’s new feature, Miral, have cropped up online. The film focuses on an orphaned Palestinian girl (played by Slumdog Millionaire’s Freida Pinto) growing up in the wake of Arab-Israeli war, who finds herself drawn into the conflict. The posters successfully blend a graphic art feel with religious overtones, resulting in two striking efforts. The film received mixed responses following its premiere at Venice last year, but any directorial effort from artist Schnabel is definitely worth investigating. [ link ]

YALE DAILY NEWS March 29, 2011 NEW JERSEY - Some artists are known for their use of watercolor, others are famous for their acrylic pieces. British painter Chris Ofili, meanwhile, is renowned for using a different artistic material: elephant dung. Ofili, famous for his use of elephant dung on his paintings, gave a lecture in room 206 of the Sculpture Building at 36 Edgewood Ave. Monday night. Indeed, his works broach subjects ranging from hypersexuality, as in “Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy,” to issues of religious skepticism, as in “The Holy Virgin Mary.” [ link ]

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS March 6, 2011 MEXICO - Valle de Bravo -- a lakeside community of 57,000 in the pine-covered hills two hours west of Mexico City -- feels almost quintessentially small-town Mexico. A dusty half-hour drive later, we arrived at our destination: a gleaming white stupa encircled by the bright, primary colors of Tibetan prayer flags. The temple, consecrated in December by the Tibetan cultural association Garuda Mexico, is the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, my guides claimed. The next day, we visited Valle de Bravo's oldest church, the 17th-century Templo de Santa Maria Ahuacatlan. The church is a site of pilgrimage for Catholics from around the region, who travel here to deposit offerings and pray for miracles. Another religious destination, the Centro de Espiritualidad Carmel Maranatha, not quite four miles outside town, is more striking still. Built in the 1970s, this Carmelite sanctuary has grounds decorated with fountains, flowers and religious sculpture ...

THE CATHOLIC TRANSCRIPT March 30, 2011 Bible-inspired soap sculptures by Ron Daisomont CONNECTICUT - During his 27 years building Broadway and movie sets, Ron Daisomont learned how to work with wood, metal and a variety of other materials. His new medium: bars of Dial soap. Mr. Daisomont, who attends St. Michael Church in Waterbury, hopes to form a nonprofit organization, build a Web site and sell his sculptures at church bazaars to raise money for Catholic causes. Until then, he is stockpiling his art and selling it piece by piece, starting at $29.95. For more information on Crosswerks Ministries, call Mr. Daisomont at (203) 419-6286. [ link ]

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL March 29, 2011 RHODE ISLAND - “Reframing Haiti: Art, History and Performativity” is a vibrant celebration of Haitian art and culture organized by Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. One of the highlights of the exhibit — a selection of the sequin-studded “flags” created for Haiti’s voodoo temples — is housed in one of the weekday-only buildings (the Bass Performing Arts Space). Nevertheless, the display is worth seeking out. If one art form can be said to capture the unique blend of earthy exuberance and deep spirituality that permeates Haitian life it’s here, in these colorful works created for voodoo religious ceremonies. [ link ]

RADAR REDUX March 29, 2011 MARYLAND - The group show Venn Diagram , which consists of drawings, paintings, video and interactive works is currently on view on the fifth floor of the Copy Cat building. Several of the works in the show convey a preoccupation with the eastern spirituality. A persistent concern with eastern spirituality has been in evidence in Baltimore art for a couple years. The spiritual has a funny relationship to visual culture. Spiritual belief or practice is made known through visible signs – religious garments, religious tokens, religious architecture. At the same time, the visible is constantly in conflict with the unseen. The material corrupts the spiritual, and the spiritual becomes a pose, yoga and meditation become fashion. That’s where, according to Gavin, Roche picks it up, once the trappings of eastern sects become part of trash culture. [ link ]

THE CATHOLIC REVIEW March 29, 2011 "Birth of Christ" MARYLAND - A Heritage Edition of the “ Saint John’s Bible ,” a fine art reproduction of a handwritten text, will be on display at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore during an evening of prayer and reflection April 5, from 7 to 9 p.m., courtesy of Loyola University Maryland, College of Notre Dame of Maryland and a gift to those institutions from the Mangione Family. [ link ]

WALL STREET JOURNAL March 28, 2011 NEW YORK - “Ice Buddha,” South Korean artist Atta Kim’s five-and-a-half feet tall, 1,300-pound ice sculpture of a seated Buddha is now on display at the Rubin Museum of Art . That is, until it melts. Until now, much of Kim’s work has centered on long exposure photography. (He was the first photographer chosen to represent South Korea in the São Paulo Biennial in 2002.) As an encore to his current group exhibition, “Grain of Emptiness: Buddhism-Inspired Contemporary Art,” Kim wanted an interactive art installation. [ link ]

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS By Ernest Disney-Britton INDIANA---The youthful, Father Rick Nagel led an energetic Ash Wednesday mass at the amazing Saint John's the Evangelist Church (est. 1837) in downtown Indianapolis, the city's original Catholic parish and former Pro-Cathedral.  St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is an 1860s brick and stone Gothic Revival design. The grand and richly ornate interior, with dark woods and gold-leafing throughout stems from the idea that this church would soon become the Cathedral of Indianapolis. There is so much to see at this amazing church, and it even has a young, energetic Pastor to help it keep being one of Indianapolis' most amazing Gods Art Museums.( South Capital Ave at West Georgia St | Indianapolis, IN 46225-1004 )

Dear: As you know, I am writing to invite you to join me on a journey with art. I believe that art can connect us across faiths and communities, and as executive director of the Alpha Omega Arts, Inc. one of the ways we are doing this is through our Sunday newsletter. Each week we synthesize the religious & spiritual news across the USA, and around the world and send it to our subscribers by email. The artists we cover are of many faiths: Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, etc. I hope you will join me on this journey as we explore what unites us through our art. To join me, follow the link below (or cut/paste into your browser) and simply enter your email address. It's that simple to join the journey.  http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AlphaOmegaArts&loc=en_US

GOD DISCUSSION March 28, 2011 ISRAEL - For the past 800 years, the Franciscan friars have been committed by the Holy See for the preservation and guardianship of all Catholic shrines in the Holy Land. They have nearly a millennium of experience in welcoming pilgrims to the shrines of Israel and the surrounding areas. They have now made their extensive knowledge available on the Internet at their website called " Custodia TerrÆ SanctÆ ", which is available in six languages. The site explains their work, the shrines, and available pilgrimages in the Holy Land, which includes Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebannan, Egypt, Cyprus and Rhodes. [ link ]

THE STAR March 27, 2011 An artist at the Mandala Thanka Painting School in Kathmandu working on a peace mandala. INDIA - Mandalas are one of the oldest holy art forms known to humanity; the basic design, the circle and centre, represents completeness.The designs can help guide any person seeking happiness and fulfilment because they assist the seeker to wholeness and contentment. There was complete stillness when I stepped into the Mandala Thanka Painting School in Thamel; dozen artists were working on patterns, forms, colours and shapes on silk fabrics. [ link ]

THE NEW YORK TIMES March 25, 2011 MARYLAND - “ Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics, and Devotion in Medieval Europe ” at the Walters Art Museum here is the most beautifully mysterious exhibition I’ve seen this season. It’s also a model of institutional sharing. The Walters, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the British Museum, all with deep medieval holdings, have combined their forces brilliantly. [ link ]

TIMES OF MALTA March 9, 2011 MALTA - An art book released in March fuses literature, painting, photography and spirituality just in time for the reflective time of Lent. Via Crucis , a publication by the Divine Mercy Shrine in San Pawl tat-Tarġa, is based on the paintings of the Stations of the Cross found at the church, each accompanied by meditations prepared by Fr Peter Serracino Inglott. The publication, according to the shrine’s rector, Fr Michael Agius, is meant to put on record “two great masterpieces Fr Serracino Inglott’s Lenten reflections and Austin Camilleri’s modern sacred art. The book, edited by Fr Agius, includes two critical essays on the paintings by Lara Bugeja and Charlene Vella. Via Crucis was printed by Nova Arte Editrice Publications in Florence and will be available at the shrine by the end of the week. [ link ]

THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS March 25, 2011 PAKISTAN - The government in Sindh has adopted a strategy to convince the caretakers of the shrines of Sufi saints to help stop the fresh wave of extremism in the province, believing they (caretakers) have influence over 85 percent of the population and may play a key role in helping the government to deal with the crisis. These views were expressed by Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Haq on the occasion of the Sakhi Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Sufi Conference held at an auditorium in Sehwan. The conference was organised by the Jamshoro district government and Jamaat Saleheen, Gulistan Bahu Welfare Trust International, Punjab. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would follow the Sufi’s discourse to stop the wave of extremism in Sindh, he added. [ link ]

BOSTON HERALD March 28, 2011 INDIA -After adjusting to its raucous rhythm, India was rewarding. From the enormous red Agra Fort, almost more magnificent than the Taj Mahal, to the lavish gold-embroidered saris of women on their way to a Delhi wedding, the sights were beautiful. I saw richly decorated tombs, palaces, mosques and temples, where most tourists were Indians, clearly proud of their heritage. Inside, even at the busy Taj Mahal, crowds were orderly, lines moved quickly, people were friendly and the centuries-old buildings were spotless. Sikhs in turbans, Muslims in hijabs and Hindus in saris mingled everywhere. [ link ]

COLORADOAN March 29, 2011 COLORADO - A website purportedly operated by Kathleen Folden, the Montana truck driver who destroyed an Enrique Chagoya lithograph at the Loveland Museum/Gallery last year, describes how she bought a crowbar at the Flying J in Cheyenne, Wyo., and asked God if she was "the right person for the job." The site, http://www.givegodlove.com/ , also attacks the local evangelical Pastor who brought about a reconciliation with the artist. Additionally, Folden says the rapture might take place May 14 and names Bill Gates as the person she believes is the Antichrist. [ link ]

THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER March 25, 2011 "To the Honored Memory of Robert Mitchell (1811-1899)." / Provided/Amy Dehan/Cincinnati Art Museum OHIO - For more than 100 years, the three angels and one Christ figure depicted in the four, life-sized Tiffany stained-glass windows watched over weddings, funerals, baptisms and Sunday morning services. Only half of Tiffany's religious-themed windows, commissioned during the church-building boom at the turn of the century, have survived - the others lost to time and deterioration. The windows, which were carefully removed from the church, are undergoing conservation and cleaning to remove more than a century of soot. The museum plans to put them on display by next winter, as a stunning complement to its collection of Tiffany vases, one of the earliest documented collections in the nation. [ link ]

ALJAZEERRA March 25, 2011 TUNISIA - The Artocracy project, featuring photos of ordinary Tunisians, has proven art can be just as provocative as politics. It is led by JR, the 2011 winner of the TEDPrize. [ link ]

WEST SUSSEX COUNTY TIMES March 27, 2011 Artist Liz Asher marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible with her exhibition at Horsham Museum UNITED KINGDOM - Horsham Museum and Art Gallery is marking the 400th anniversary of the creation of the King James Bible by exhibiting the work of Liz Asher. ‘The Power of the Word’ runs until Saturday April 30 and features a selection of early bibles on display, including a King James Bible owned by George II. Liz says that her artwork has taken a turn towards the spiritual and maintains this is her most fulfilling work. More information about the artist can be found at http://www.lizasher.com/ . [ link ]

THE NEW YORK TIMES March 27, 2011 Halau o Keikiali’i The traditional Hawaiian dance troupe brought the hula to Symphony Space on Saturday. NEW YORK - At Halau o Keikiali’i’s presentation of “The Sacred Hula: Ka Wa Hula — Hula Through Time,” on Saturday night at Symphony Space, the dance suggested gentleness, sensuousness, playfulness and a belief in the simultaneity of the past and the present — that those who came before you live on through memory and the enactment of ritual. [ link ]

BETTENDORF NEWS March 11, 2011 FRANCE - As an artist and founder of the journal “L’Art Sacre”, Father Couturier sought to integrate art and the sacred. Fr. Couturier worked closely with Matisse on the Chapel de Rosaire in Vence on the Riviera. Matisse was a lapsed Catholic, but Fr Couturier said: “Better a genius without faith than a believer with talent…Trusting in Providence, we told ourselves that a great artist is always a great spiritual being, each in his own manner…” Similarly, when commissioned to provide a sculpture of the Virgin Mary, Jacques Lipchitz asked the priest: “But, don’t you know I am a Jew? If it does not disturb you, it does not disturb me” was the answer. Perhaps even more radical was Couturier’s decision to work with twentieth century giant Le Corbusier who “had no place for institutionalized religion within his ideal society”** and sought to demolish historic Paris and replace it with “machines for living” – expressways and high rises. Interesting, th...

THE NEW YORK TIMES March 27, 2011 NEW YORK - As the Roman Catholic Church in the United States struggles with an exodus of American-born faithful, its ranks have been replenished by recent Latino immigrants — most of them Mexicans, who have brought an intense faith and a youthful energy. That buoying effect is especially evident in New York City, where the Mexican population has grown more than 25-fold since 1980. In parishes where they have settled, they have flocked to church, replacing worshipers who have died, moved away, defected to evangelical congregations or abandoned religion altogether. [ link ]

FOR OVER 30-YEARS, Leonard Knight was been constructing a mountain shrine to God's love in the desert near Niland, Calif. If you can't get to the desert, you can also pick up a DVD of his artwork on Amazon. In the meantime, we think you will enjoy hearing and seeing what he has to say on this new video released by KCET this past week.

BIBLE ILLUSTRATIONS have been a focus for many artists for thousands of years. In 1956, Jewish painter, Marc Chagall completed his illustration of the Old Testament and made a gift of it to his second wife, Vava. For years it has been out of sight of the public and in the hands of a private collector but this week it went on view in Paris's Museum of Jewish Art and History . As you consider gifts for this Easter season, why not consider art gifts like Marc Chagall's drawings for the Bible, Minnesota's Saint John's Bible , or even R. Crumb's Book of Genesis .

THE CROSS AND THE BUDDHA are two well known images. You can even pick up a copy of a Buddha statue at your neighborhood Pier One (as I found out this week), but what do Christians know about the Buddha? Is the Buddha head a religious symbol? Does it have a purpose? Is the Buddha a mystical being like Jesus Christ or a prophet like Mohammad? This week, we came across an easy to read essay by Michael Brenner, Senior Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations and Professor of International Affairs at University of Pittsburgh on the Buddha as art and a religious icon. Learn about the Buddha in the " Huffington Post " today.

A NEW CONTROVERSY IN FRANCE has been sparked over recently released design plans for a new Russian Orthodox Church. Critics argue it will change, and harm, the skyline of Paris. What do you think of this new house of worship? Will the design add or detract from the fabled skyline? We believe it's a pretty exciting addition.

BY ERNEST BRITTON It was another great week for the Alpha & Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts . On the program side, we continued to finalize plans for next month's AOA Travel to the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art ; and we completed a 10-month action plan with our program partners for this November's art exhibition entitled, "Faith & Death: A Youth Response." The biggest news however is that we've finally passed round #1 of the IRS review to become an independent 501C-3 foundation. Who knew it would be this complicated, but the IRS has been extremely helpful in moving through the steps as has the Indiana Secretary of State Office, so keep the project in your prayers.

ART OF THE WEEK : Nashville's new Hindu art exhibition (above), and other religious & spiritual arts news of the past week is listed below. If we missed anything, please let us know at sabbathart@alphaomegaarts.com . The religious art news items are grouped into four broad categories: At Home; Congregations; Galleries; and Museums.

KCET | PBS By TAHLIB CALIFORNIA - Just east of the Salton Sea near the town of Niland, Calif. is the famous desert dwelling of Leonard Knight. There, at the entrance of the so-called Slab City, is the 50-foot tall Salvation Mountain , a 30-year (and continuing) labor of love that spans 150 feet in length. The ultimate message of this oft visited folk art installation? "God is Love." [ More ]

BIG ISLAND WEEKLY March 16, 2011 "Pono" by Keoni Alvarez HAWAII - Upon walking into the Papa Mu Gallery, which is located near the center court area in the Prince Kuhio Plaza, you cannot help but feel the mana (power) emanating from this sacred art gallery. At the heart of this gallery lives the "Papamu," a grid of geometric design etched with holes in the surface of pahoehoe (flat, ropy lava), symbolizing a great time of transformation and success. In just six months of opening their doors at their Prince Kuhio Plaza location, the Papa Mu Gallery has been blessed with an enthusiastic response from the community. What once started (four years ago) with only four core artists has quickly grown into a network of 45 Native Hawaiian artists sharing their joy for cultural expression through various art mediums. [ link ]

ARTDAILY March 25, 2011 SPAIN - A view of one of the halls of El Greco Museum in Toledo, central Spain, 24 March 2011. The Minister of Culture, Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde inaugurated the reopening. EPA/ISMAEL HERRERO. [ link ]

THE GUARDIAN March 23, 2011 ITALY - The decision of the European court of Human Rights that Italian schools may continue to display a crucifix in the classroom is obviously a victory for common sense, of which only fanatics would disapprove. But it is also, in a small way, something to help rescue the European project, and to preserve us from the wilder excesses of American political life. The idea that human rights legislation should be used to prevent children from being exposed to a crucifix is a profoundly totalitarian and superstitious perversion of one of our civilisation's best inventions. To understand why, consider another family which would want their children protected from crucifixes, but this time not secular Finns, but Muslims. They exist. One Shia Muslim girl I know was not allowed as a child to walk through much of the Victoria & Albert museum, because to do so would expose her to Christian symbolism. [ link ]

DISCOVERY NEWS March 18, 2011 UNITED KINGDOM - God had a wife, Asherah, whom the Book of Kings suggests was worshiped alongside Yahweh in his temple in Israel, according to an Oxford scholar. In 1967, Raphael Patai was the first historian to mention that the ancient Israelites worshiped both Yahweh and Asherah. The theory has gained new prominence due to the research of Francesca Stavrakopoulou, who began her work at Oxford and is now a senior lecturer in the department of Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter. "After years of research specializing in the history and religion of Israel, however, I have come to a colorful and what could seem, to some, uncomfortable conclusion that God had a wife," she added. [ link ]

THE BALTIC TIMES March 23, 2011 LITHUANIA - Cross-making intertwines archaic, Christian and Lithuanian traditions, and divinity. The art of cross-making is recognized as unique and was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 2001. Quite ironically, Lithuania was the last country in Europe to reject paganism for Catholicism, in the 14th century, and just a few decades ago people still faced persecution for erecting crosses under the iron rule of the USSR. Nevertheless, the problems did not hinder the rise of the famed Hill of Crosses near Siauliai, in northern Lithuania. The shrine has long been a favorite pilgrimage spot for thousands of Catholics. [ link ]

RELIGION & ETHICS September 17, 2010 MAINE - The Shakers, the Christian group known for its devotion to God, demanding lifestyle, beautiful furniture, and a vow of celibacy. Before the Civil War there were nearly 6000 Shakers in 23 communities. Today, according to Religion & Ethics there is just one active Shaker village left, with just three members. Just above Sabbathday Lake, in central Maine, the last Shaker community straddles an old road in the midst of 1800 acres of forest and farmland. At its peak, there were nearly 200 members here. Now, the three remaining are Brother Arnold Hadd, 53. He came here when he was 20. Sister June Carpenter is 72 and too shy for an interview. She has been here for 21 years. And Sister Frances Carr is 83. She was brought here when she was 10. [ link ]

Today, Friday, March 25, 2011 is a "Feast Day" in the Roman Catholic tradition and not a day a Fasting. It is the day to celebrate The Annuciation . Today the Angel speaks to Mary about the eminent coming o the Holy Spirit, and in 9 months is Christmas Day. According to the Church, today we can have "steak" to celebrate the Annunciation, which is essentially a Sunday (Little Easter) celebration on "one" of the Friday's of Lent. Tonight, I will have a burger at the Pacer game! But did you know that the Annunciation provides us with a little respite from our Lenten sacrifices ? The Annunciation is a solemnity, the highest-ranking type of feast in the Catholic liturgical calendar. In terms of our Lenten discipline, the Annunciation is essentially a Sunday, even when it falls on a Friday. And, as we all know (or should know), Sundays are never days of fasting and abstinence but days of feasting and celebration. Can You Eat Meat on the Annunciation? ...

http://www.stlukesumc.com/ After viewing, "Fallen Carpenter" (1969) by D. Jack Rader and "Celebration Window" (1999) by Minnietta Millard at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on March 20, we sat down to listen to Beth Boorman's 30-minute session on "Picturing Jesus in Art." It was great, and although I didn't buy her book (for sale in lobby) I was thrilled with how she engaged the audience, and in particular how she engaged YOU (My husband). She introduced herself as not being an artist, but a person who "becomes lost in art. It takes me places I've never been." She added, "I've seen how art contemplation brings people to life" and that is "draws people into a relationship with the holy spirit." Her presentation certainly worked for YOU. She introduced concepts like Roger Speery's "Left Brain" and "Right Brain" theories adding that the "Right braind does the experiencing of...

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL March 22, 2011 "Easter" by Marc Chagall (1968) FRANCE - For years, a set of hand-colored engravings that artist Marc Chagall made for his second wife, Vava, have been out of public view, in the hands of a private collector in France. Now the engravings are on display for the first time as part of an exhibit at Paris's Museum of Jewish Art and History called Chagall and the Bible , presenting 105 engravings by Chagall to illustrate his famed 1956 edition of the Bible. [ link ]

RELIGION DISPATCHES March 23, 2011 The American Veda  tells the story of a new American tradition, derived from both the practices of yoga, and the philosophy of Vedanta. Phillip Goldberg names this “Vedanta-yoga,” as distinguished from other aspects of Hindu religious culture (such as the worship of multi-limbed deities) that might be less meaningful for Americans. For Goldberg, it all adds up to the slow “Vedicization” of American spirituality. Vedanta-Yoga became such a part of of American culture that other religions could apparently not resist it—thus came Christian yoga, Jewish yoga, and the sign at my local Methodist church ( See above). Phillip Goldberg constructs a broad history for Vedanta-Yoga in America that ranges from Madonna to religion scholar Huston Smith. [ link ]

FLORIDA TIMES UNION March 25, 2011 FLORIDA -  The Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine, Grace Episcopal Church and Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church to coordinate this Saturday's "Day of Immersion" at Riverside Presbyterian Church featuring "The St. John's Bible." To some it may look simply like a really big Bible, printed with a fancy font and illustrated with biblical scenes and symbols. But "The St. John's Bible" is way more than that, according to those who have seen - or, as some say, experienced - the handmade, 1,150-page book. The cost is $20 for early registration and $25 at the door. The workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at Riverside Presbyterian Church, 849 Park St. [ link ]

SF WEEKLY March 21, 2011 Jeremy Morgan CALIFORNIA - Artist Jeremy Morgan recounts the day his parents gave him "various mystical texts" including Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, the Bible, and the Koran. "All of these are possibly right," they told him. "You need to figure that out." Morgan, an associate professor of painting at the San Francisco Art Institute, has been exploring that through painting ever since. The arresting images in his large-scale abstractionist landscape paintings fall somewhere between dream and reality, with colors that appear to transform, as they might in a memory. "I desire to create the moment as sensation rather than record," he says. [ link ]

THE NEW YORK TIMES March 25, 2011 NEW YORK - Experiencing the “The Book of Mormon” (the musical) is a privilege of living inside that improbable paradise called a musical comedy. This is to all the doubters and deniers out there, the ones who say that heaven on Broadway does not exist, that it’s only some myth our ancestors dreamed up. I am here to report that a newborn, old-fashioned, pleasure-giving musical has arrived at the Eugene O’Neill Theater, the kind our grandparents told us left them walking on air if not on water. So hie thee hence, nonbelievers (and believers too), to “The Book of Mormon,” and feast upon its sweetness. Now you should probably know that this collaboration between the creators of television’s “South Park” (Trey Parker and Matt Stone) and the composer of “Avenue Q” (Robert Lopez) is also blasphemous, scurrilous and more foul-mouthed than David Mamet on a blue streak. But trust me when I tell you that its heart is as pure as that of a Rodgers and Hammerstei...

EXAMINER - DC March 23, 2011 WASHINGTON DC - Think Art Deco, what doesn’t come to mind is who created its major murals -- and much of America’s greatest Art Deco murals, mosaics, and decorative arts -- Hildreth Meière. Washington’s National Building Museum is correcting this with a just-opened, much-deserved tribute, “Walls Speak: The Narrative Art of Hildreth Meière”, the first major retrospective of the award-winning artist’s spectacular work. Her 100-plus commissions included designs for: :New York City: St. Bartholomew’s Church, its magnificent Magnificat stained glass window, among its other stained glass and mosaics; and Temple Emanu-El , eight-story high mosaics over the main sanctuary’s ark. Washington, DC: National Cathedral‘s mosaic apse in its Resurrection Chapel.  St. Louis, MO: Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis , which has one of the world’s largest installations of mosaics. 70 portable altarpieces for World War II military chaplains – and she supervised crea...

ARTINFO March 23, 2011 " Excavating the Temple of the New Gods " (1986) by  David Wojnarowicz

MSNBC March 23, 2011 LIBYA - The U.N. agency in charge of the world's cultural heritage urged all sides in Libya on Wednesday to preserve the country's ancient treasures, including the former Greek colony of Cyrene and its temple of Apollo. "From a cultural heritage point of view, Libya is of great importance to humanity as a whole," Irina Bokova, head of the Paris-based UNESCO, said in a statement. While no damage has yet been reported, at least three sites were cause for particular concern due to their proximity to Tripoli and other strategic areas, Francesco Bandarin, UNESCO's assistant director-general for culture, told Reuters. Among five Libyan sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List, he highlighted the Roman ruins of Leptis Magna and the ancient Phoenician trading post of Sabratha, within 130 km (80 miles) west of the Libyan capital Tripoli. [ link ]

BBC NEWS March 22, 2011 TEXAS - A study using census data from nine countries shows that religion there is set for extinction, say researchers. The study found a steady rise in those claiming no religious affiliation. The study, reported at the American Physical Society meeting in Dallas, US, indicates that religion will all but die out altogether in those countries. The team took census data stretching back as far as a century from countries in which the census queried religious affiliation: Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland. [ link ]

ART DAILY March 22, 2011 Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin, Germany GERMANY -- UNESCO has designated the year 2010 as Millennium year of the Shahname. The Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin and the Berlin National Library are seizing the opportunity to introduce this literary masterpiece to the public with their world-renowned collections of Shahname manuscripts and miniature paintings. The exhibition, on view from March 19 through July 3, 2011, communicates the history of the epic and its literary highlights, as well as the important role the Shahname for Persian national identity. The National Epic Shahnameh by the poet Ferdausi is one of the great works of world literature. In nearly 50,000 verses, it recounts a partly mythical, partly historical past of the Iranian people right up to the Islamic conquest of Persia. There is also a companion book available, " Shahnemeh: The Persian Book of Kings ." [ link ]

THE RECORD March 21, 2011 AUSTRALIA - Depicting the history of salvation throughout the rebuilt St Patrick’s Cathedral in Bunbury is the highlight of internationally-renowned West Australian artist Robert Juniper’s career. Mr Juniper has depicted stories from the Bible for 14 seven-metre high window walls, two rose windows and a five-metre wide tapestry for the new St Patrick’s Cathedral. Mr Juniper - whose art has been presented in group shows of Australian contemporary art in London, USA, New Zealand, Europe, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and New Caledonia – became a member of the Order of Australia this year. But he said one of his greatest honours was when Cathedral architect Marcus Collins approached him to design the windows, where his trademark depictions of recognisable Australian flora and fauna are ever-present. [ link ]

WEEKLY PRESS March 23, 2011 PENNSYLVANIA - Philadelphia's historic Church of the Assumption at 12th and Spring Garden Street is associated with two American Catholic saints, and there are not too many of those. Saint John Neumann consecrated the church, built in 1849, and Saint Katherine Drexel was baptized there. Yet the beautiful Gothic Revival church, with its aspiring twin steeples, designed by noted ecclesiastical architect, Patrick Charles Keely, is slated for demolition. The Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and Save Our Sites have joined in an effort to save the Church. The next public hearing regarding the Church of the Assumption issue on Monday, March 28, 11:00 AM before the L & I Board of Review at 1515 Arch Street, 18th Floor. [ link ]

THE PRESS & JOURNAL March 23, 2011 UNITED KINGDOM - A group of history fans are trying to recreate an ancient pilgrimage route to the Highlands from Edinburgh. Back in the reign of King James IV one of the most popular shrines was to Tain-born St Duthus and today there are still close links between the ancient burgh and the Irish-educated preacher. The timescale for the route launch is 2013 to coincide with the 500th anniversary of King James's death. The Collegiate Church of St Duthac is one of the finest mediaeval buildings in the Highlands. It was built between 1370 and 1460 to house the shrine of St Duthac. In the late middle ages St Duthac’s shrine at Tain was one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in Scotland. Around the shrine was a sanctuary under the protection of the church, which was known as the Girth of Tain. [ link ]

THE TIMES OF INDIA March 21, 2011 INDIA - Chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan on Monday announced the suspension of a government resolution (GR) on demolition of religious structures, admitting that there were some discrepancies and lacunae in it. Now, a new policy will be formulated in its place, which will focus on 'relocation' instead of 'demolition' of religious structures on roads, pavements and public places. Till then, all demolitions will be stayed. [ link ]

In this passage I really hear God speaking directly to me. He is letting me know that my broken pieces or imperfections are part of me and not necessarily a sin. My imperfections should not be dwelled upon or worried about. They should however allow the spirit and love of Christ shine through all that more radient. I want to wrap myself in the love and perfection that is Christ! Sent via BlackBerry by AT

PRESS RELEASE March 21, 2011 A copy of a Torah, with an ancient scroll of the biblical book of Esther atop it TEXAS - No Bible occupies a position in the heart of Christianity like that of the King James Version. It (2011) marks its 400th anniversary this year, and in celebration of that milestone, Baylor University will present a three-day international conference in which more than 30 noted scholars of religion will examine the Bible’s history and influence on religion, politics and culture. Baylor also will host a free exhibition of more than 100 items — among them a Dead Sea Scroll, an illustrated Gutenberg Bible and a text handwritten by King Henry VIII about the sacraments — on loan from the Oklahoma-based Green Collection. [link]

METRO WEST DAILY NEWS March 22, 2011 Gordon B. Lankton at his Museum of Russian Icons MASSACHUSETTS - Digging in his heels, the founding owner of the Museum of Russian Icons has refused a disputed order to return loaned artworks four months early until Russian authorities clarify the legal basis for their claim. Gordon B. Lankton said his museum is continuing to exhibit Treasures from Moscow despite a Russian demand he immediately return 37 icons loaned by the Andrey Rublev Museum of Moscow. Under the original contract, the Clinton museum was scheduled to show the rare icons through July 25. Lankton believes Russia's demands stem from misplaced anger over a decision in a U.S. court in Washington, D.C., involving ownership of more than 60,000 Jewish books and religious documents. [ link ]

THE CHRISTIAN POST March 22, 2011 Peter Jackson on Hobbit set NEW ZEALAND - Filming for the J.R.R. Tolkien-classic, The Hobbit , is underway at Stone Street Studios in Wellington, New Zealand after months of setbacks that delayed production. Director Peter Jackson, who has directed all three films in the trilogy, made the announcement over Facebook on Sunday. The first installment of the Warner Bros. and New Line Production film is not expected to be released until December 2012, while the second part is slated for release in 2013. Tolkien, a devout Catholic, wrote The Lord of the Rings series in part to explore his religious faith but chose not to do so in an explicit way but rather to highlight moral themes and philosophies. [ link ]

WORLD ARCHITECTURE NEWS March 21, 2011 Paris' planned Russian Orthodox Church FRANCE - The city of Paris is to become home to a new contemporary structure in the form of a Russian Orthodox cathedral and cultural centre, with officials suggesting that construction work may commence as early as next year. Manuel Yanovski’s Society of Architects and Developers (SADE) and Arch Group have devised a softly undulating religious centre in 3,400 sq m of landscaped public gardens, incorporating sustainable features such as photovoltaic panels into the distinctly Russian concept design. [ link ]

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE March 22, 2011 "La recontre de Ste. Veronique" by Francois Guermon (1775) CANADA - The Calvaire d'Oka, as the collection of seven painted wood bas-reliefs are known, were crafted by François Guernon (aka Belleville) in 1775. They were installed two centuries ago near the Église de l'Annonciation in Oka, about 60 kilometres west of Montreal, and for generations they were the centrepieces Catholic worshippers went to visit when they symbolically relived the Stations of the Cross - the depiction of Jesus Christ's final hours - in four stone oratories and three chapels on the hill near the church. [ link ]