Both Sides Now: The Blake Prize for Religious Art
ABC NATIONAL RADIO: THE SPIRIT OF THINGS
By Rachael Kohn
AUSTRALIA - Australia's most generous prize for religious art is celebrating its 60th year. The Blake Prize is named after the 18th century poet, painter and mystic, William Blake, who challenged the Church of England, and rejected its sexual mores. It's a matter of debate just what part of Blake's legacy should be in the foreground; his reverent use of mythic and mystical imagery, or his dissenting views on sexuality and church power. In our day the debate has morphed into whether the Blake Prize should reflect broadly humanistic values and personal spiritualities or directly engage living religious traditions. Today my guests roughly represent the two sides of the debate, with Rod Pattenden, a Uniting Church minister who is the Chair of the Blake Prize, and the Sydney Morning Herald art critic John McDonald. [Link]
By Rachael Kohn
AUSTRALIA - Australia's most generous prize for religious art is celebrating its 60th year. The Blake Prize is named after the 18th century poet, painter and mystic, William Blake, who challenged the Church of England, and rejected its sexual mores. It's a matter of debate just what part of Blake's legacy should be in the foreground; his reverent use of mythic and mystical imagery, or his dissenting views on sexuality and church power. In our day the debate has morphed into whether the Blake Prize should reflect broadly humanistic values and personal spiritualities or directly engage living religious traditions. Today my guests roughly represent the two sides of the debate, with Rod Pattenden, a Uniting Church minister who is the Chair of the Blake Prize, and the Sydney Morning Herald art critic John McDonald. [Link]
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