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RELIGIOUS ART | NEWS OF WEEK

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By TAHLIB
After 69-years working to build a "utopian" community where the racial & religious divide no longer existed, The National Conference for Christians and Jews in Cincinnati called it quits this week. "Utopian communities" were mostly 19th century experiments led by lofty personalities with idealistic and impractical visions; but while the founders may fade from view, they still leave behind design markers to remind us of their intentions. In Cincinnati, the "National Underground Railroad Freedom Center" is the marker for the NCCJ; and in NYC the forgotten communities of the Shakers to the Separatists of Zoar live on in the exhibition "Utopian Benches" (above), featuring works by wood sculptor Francis Cape. Creating markers of Utopia is my NEWS OF WEEK.

In other religious art news from across the USA, and around the world:
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Ernest Disney-Britton said…
The simplicity of the benches are stunningly beautiful, and wish I could get to Manhattan to see them before the show moves on. Gratefully, there is also a book tied to the show. What also stands out though is how truly fragile this idea of "utopia" has become. Are all idealistic communities that don't survive labeled "utopian" or only the ones that don't survive like the Shakers or like the NCCJ? Wasn't America, originally envisioned as a "Utopian" society where spirituality and individual freedom would thrive? What about the Hippie movement? I close with three Utopian failures that should cause us all future reflection: Pullman, a community where capitalism & spirituality would create utopia; Oneida, where spiritual freedom also meant open marriages; and Shaker Village where utopia required total sexual abstinence. They all failed? Why?
Sun Jul 28, 10:58:00 AM EDT
Lynette Heard | The Cincinnati Hearald said…
BRIDGES, founded as the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, has been at the forefront in this region’s human relations crises and diversity developments since 1944, promoting and fostering inclusion and diversity in the workplace, schools and community. Since that time and especially in recent years, the community has seen improvements in attitudes toward diversity and inclusion with many specific accomplishments listed below. Improving community attitudes toward diversity and inclusion, which are a direct result of BRIDGES’ work, coupled with increasing competition in providing services caused the organization to experience persistent financial challenges in recent years, BRIDGES’ officials said. The economic downturn that began in 2008 has had a negative impact on many nonprofit organizations’ abilities to raise revenue, and BRIDGES has been no exception. “The BRIDGES Board made this difficult decision to cease operations after a full review of its current financial condition and related factors,” said long-time board member Thomas Urban. “With that said, this community would not be what it is today without BRIDGES.” BRIDGES once stood out as the primary leader during community upheaval and dissent over crises and issues such as the April 2001 racial disturbances in Cincinnati, the post-September 11 anti-Muslim backlash, the 2003 ballot Issue 3 to repeal the anti-gay Article 12 amendment in Cincinnati’s charter and the creation of a campaign to increase awareness of the contributions made by Latino and other immigrants to encourage a more welcoming community that embraces diversity. In 1994, BRIDGES not only introduced and organized a campaign to build the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center but also was appointed by Major League Baseball to conduct diversity training for the Cincinnati Reds, the first professional sports franchise to receive such training. BRIDGES is not alone among organizations once part of the 65 NCCJ organizations across the country. The number of similar organizations has dwindled over the years from 65 to 13, including BRIDGES, today.
Mon Jul 29, 08:52:00 AM EDT
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