RELIGIOUS ART | NEWS OF WEEK

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Gregory & Ernest Disney-Britton
"Ama Namin" (Our Father) by Kelvin Burzon. Image courtesy of the Alpha & Omega Project  for Religious Arts Collection
Mark 16:9 - Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 

It's Easter, and we’re way too excited about all the ways that today's artists are depicting Jesus Christ as a man of this world. This week, we posted recent depictions by artists Douglas Blanchard (2005), Kehinde Wiley (2008), Kelvin Burzon (2017), and tonight we’ll see musician John Legend play Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” on NBC. Instead of limiting our imaginings of what Christ looked like, these artists push cultural buttons and invite more of us to the table. Blanchard depicted him as a white gay man debating with priests. Wiley’s dead Christ in his tomb is a black man, and Burzon photographed himself portraying a dead Christ, and also as a victorious Filipino risen from the dead (above). In 2018, add the new to your collection like “Ama Namin” by Indiana-based Kelvin Burzon.

NEWS OF WEEK from across the USA, and around the world, see below:
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On Palm Sunday, we celebrate when Jesus entered into Jerusalem as King by spotlighting a recent ceramic work of Indianapolis-based sculptor Gary Gee.
On Monday, Jesus was angered in the temple. Artwork: "Christ driving the Traders from the Temple" about 1600, by El Greco
On Tuesday, Jesus was questioned by the Jewish leaders. Artwork: "Jesus Preaches in the Temple" (from The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision) by Douglas Blanchard
On Wednesday, Judas takes bribe to betray Jesus. Artwork: "Judas accepting 30 pieces of silver" by Bernard Fazlin
On Thursday, Jesus ate the Last Supper with his disciples. Artwork: Belkis Ayón's “La cena (The Supper)” (1991)
On Friday, Jesus died. Artwork: "Pietà" (2017) by Kelvin Burzon in Noli Me Tangere
On Saturday, Jesus lay in his tomb. Artwork: "The Lamentation Over the Dead Christ" (2008) by Kehinde Wiley