RELIGIOUS ART | TALK OF WEEK

ART OF THE WEEK: One artist's imagining of Judgment Day (above), and other religious and spiritual arts news stories of the past week are listed below. AOA NEWS is new each weekday with an email news summary on Sabbath Sunday. If you’re interested in daily updates, you can subscribe by Facebook or Twitter. This week's stories are grouped into six categories: Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Christian, and Other.

BUDDHIST:

Ancient Buddhist Rock Carvings Threatened in Pakistan (Dawn)

HINDU:

Hyderabad, India on May 18, International Museums Day (The Hindu)

ISLAMIC:

Arab-American Artist Paints to Inspire Dialogue for Peace (Arab News)

JEWISH:

Elijah is Top Male Baby Name in Indiana, Jacob Nationally (Indianapolis Star)
Dispute Over Jewish Archive Leads Russia to Nix Art Loans (ABC News)
Chagall and the Cross at the Paris Museum of Art (The Jewish Press)
The Blue, Indian Jews on View in Manhattan (AOA News)

CHRISTIAN:

5 days left - NY Man Spends Life Savings on Judgement Day Ad Campaign (Fox News)
"Amazing Grace" by Elvis Presley (YouTube)
4 days left - Judgement Day, May 21. What's Behind the Rumors? (TIME)
"Amazing Grace" by Leann Rimes (YouTube)
3 days left - Bill Maher's Take on May 21st (Video)
"Amazing Grace" by Mormon Tabernacle Choir (YouTube)
2 days left - May 21, 2011, and Other 'Judgment Days' (ABC News)
"Amazing Grace" in Cherokee (YouTube)
1 day left - Will Christ Return Tomorrow, May 21? (Atlanta Constitution-Journal)
"Amazing Grace" by Mahalia Jackson (YouTube)
0 days left - Mormons Don't Play the Judgement Day Game...Anymore (Chicago Tribune)
0 days left - The Apocalypse For Dummies (National Catholic Register)
"Amazing Grace" by Soweto Choir (YouTube)
International Bible Exhibit Tour Launches Today in OKC (The Oklahoman)
Premiere of Oklahoma Museum of Art's Bible Exhibit (Video)
High-Tech Robots Bring Bible History to Life in Oklahoma (The Christian Post)
New Florida Art Fair Explore Spiritual Heart of Art (The Miami-Herald)
Blue Law Sunday at NYC's the Museum of Sex (The New York Times)
Film Points to Mormon Bigotry Against LGBT Americans (Tucson Citizen)
Consecration of 8400-lb Virgin Mary on Sunday, May 22 (Chicago Sun-Times)
North Carolina Baptist Church Unveils Murals on May 21 (ENC Today)
India's Museum of Christian Art in Goa leads International Museum Day (Digital Goa)
Was Osama Bin Laden's Burial at Sea Ritually Correct? (Miller-McCune)
Alabama Abbey and Art Grotto Untouched by Tornado's (The Tennessean)
Mexico's Flashy New Art Museum Features Religious Art (NPR)
Virgin of Guadalupe Surfs into California City Council Hearing (NPR)
Reviewer Skewer's Showtimes "The Borgias"(The New York Review of Books)
Missouri Monastery Auction Continues on May 21 (Saint Louis Review)
Pittsburgh Artist, Dino Guarino Supplies Art for Uptown Church (Post-Gazette)
Texas Artist finds Inspiration in Spiritual Symbols (My West Texas)
Chicago Area Church Dedicates 8400-lb Mary Statue on Sunday (Chicago Sun Times)
City Council in California Votes to Remove Surfing Madonna Mosaic (AP)
Artists Seeking Face of Christ in Utah (KSL News)
Art and the Apocalypse (Artnet)

OTHER:

AOA Travels to Spiritual Arts Utopia this June (AOA News)
Dig a Symbolic Ditch. Then Build a Bridge (AOA News)
Review of "Thor: the Movie" (AOA News)
Brad Pitt's "Tree of Life" at Cannes Film Festival (Salon)
Answers to NYC Questions: Holy Grail and Religiosity (The New York Times)
SUNY's Students Install Graveside Art (Observer Today)
Texas Clergy Unite Against Gay Jesus Play (San Antonio-Express)
Art Review: Magic Scrolls: "Talismanic Art of Ethiopia" (The New York Times)

Thought for the week: My prayer for today is that more artists and faith leaders will unite to build stronger communities without anxiety over Judgment Day.