ARTS AT REZ
WHY SHOULD THE ARTS MATTER TO THE CHRISTIAN?
At Rez, we notice in the Bible that the Word and its Author make use of the arts in significant ways. God is the first visual artist, creating things pleasing to the eyes; the first music director, developing and coordinating the symphony of the angels, of humanity, and other creatures; and the first theatre director, guiding history to a perfect end.
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Everything in creation declares the glory of God in a unique way. As people perceive the world, details between mountains and trees, even between worms and aphids, declare God’s glory in manners other pieces cannot replicate. There is intricacy in the pitch, rhythm, and tempo of music that conveys what is good, true and beautiful differently than the movement, saturation and material of a painting. Beauty shares an idea not by subverting, but by saying “welcome.” It gently invites us to engage with art not just for art’s sake, but to draw us into a sensory and experiential intimacy with God as it declares His glory.
Participation in this kind of beauty gets at what C.S. Lewis must mean when he describes poetry:
“Ah, but we want so much more— something the books on aesthetics take little notice of. But the poets and the mythologies know all about it. We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else – which can hardly be put into words—to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.”
9 Lewis, C.S. "The Weight of Glory." Oxford, Church of St. Mary the Virgin, June 8, 1942.
God cares about the arts because by them he introduces the aesthetic parts of our humanity to ineffable truth. In the words of David Taylor, “…the arts bring us into an intentional and intensive participation in the physical, emotional, and imaginative aspect of our humanity….”[1] They help us experience the world in color since they train our senses to grasp abundant life. They teach us to feel things we would not otherwise experience, and thereby grow our empathy. They help us cultivate a desire for beauty satisfied only as we abide in Christ. This aesthetic formation is a discipleship necessity that helps us love God and love our neighbors more deeply.
[1] David O. Taylor, Glimpses of the New Creation: Worship and the Formative Power of the Arts (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2019), 40.
At Rez we believe that arts catalyze and support the mission of the church. Artists do not just decorate the walls, but rather represent a deeply needed part of the body of Christ. Artists surmount communication barriers, just like the physical gestures of an expertly choreographed dance can communicate to all irrespective of language differences. Like the parables of Jesus or the visions and street theatre of the prophets, the arts invite the listener to wonder, question, and analyze. They are the cords the heart uses to guide reason into and through the world of emotional understanding.
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God used the arts to reveal himself. Think of the detailed instructions in Exodus concerning the construction of the tabernacle and its equipment. Solomon later used those instructions and spent nearly seven years building the temple of the Lord. God endowed artists with skill to construct and furnish these worship spaces; and he honored their efforts by manifesting his glory in them.
Recall the strange actions of some of the prophets. Jeremiah wore a yoke on his neck for several months followed by a spoiled linen sash to represent the nations’ fate under Babylon and Israel’s vile sin. Isaiah at one time went about naked for three years. The prophet Ezekiel put on street shows where he enacted the siege of Jerusalem, cut off his beard with a sword and destroyed the hairs to signify the fate of God’s people; and he followed a strict diet and sleep regiment for the people’s benefit. Hosea’s whole life was a tragic play.
These same prophets were afforded visions for various reasons. Amos saw a basket of almonds that represented God’s watchfulness. Zechariah was treated to visions of heavenly proportions to signify God’s redemptive work in the world. Daniel received imaginative dreams that revealed the future of kingdoms ending in the manifestation of Christ’s everlasting reign. The Apostle John was ushered into the council of heaven and saw marvelous revelations. It wasn’t enough that these prophets should receive words. God chose to reveal himself and his plan through stark visual means.
Music-making threads through Scripture as well. God dedicated a whole book of the Old Testament to record prayers set to music. Prayer and praise delivered Jehoshaphat from his enemies (2 Chronicles 20). The fingers of a harpist facilitated the music that gave Saul relief from his demonic sufferings. It was a musician that helped Elisha to hear the word of the Lord.
Like visual arts, theatre, and music, other art forms feature in Scripture in deliberate ways that advance the redemption narrative. At Church of the Resurrection, we believe that beauty-bringing, imagination, and artists are an important member of the body of Christ.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
The artist in residence program is hosted by the Church of the Resurrection (Rez) in Washington DC, and guided by the church’s Arts Council. Our congregation prioritizes creativity and artistic expression because of their centrality within Holy Scripture. God is the first visual artist, creating things pleasing to the eyes. He is the first music director, developing and coordinating the symphony of the angels, of humanity, and other creatures. He is the first theater director, to guide history to a perfect denouement.
As God’s image-bearers, we believe that we are also called to creativity. Artists facilitate acts of creation in their own lives and in their communities, thus being vitally important members of the body of Christ. Rez’s Arts Council creates space for artists to learn and grow within our community and inspire our collective worship and creativity through an accelerated experience of art in a sacred context.
At Church of the Resurrection, we believe that imagination and beauty-bringing glorify God, enrich our own church community, and give life to the world.
For a period of nine months, the Artist in Residence will receive professional support as well as spiritual development opportunities as they engage in the life of the church. The program is designed to shift with the artist's needs and giftings, but the goal is to benefit both the church and the resident. What the resident can expect from this program:
- Career Development
- Spiritual Direction
- Theological study on Faith and Arts
- Venue Space
- Stipend of $2,000
Our hope is that the Artist in Residence is an integral part of the life of our church community. (While it is not necessary to live in DC full time, the expectations on time would remain.) The expectation is that you would be in regular attendance at worship services, host community engagement opportunities for the artists at Rez, attend monthly meetings with the Arts Council, and take a key role in planning our Christmas and Easter services. The full scope of your involvement as the Artist in Residence will ultimately be decided throughout the application process in conversation with the Arts Council.
This program is best suited for those who already have an established creative/studio practice but need a boost of community and financial encouragement. Ideal applicants will seek to integrate their understanding of their Christian faith with their vocational calling as an artist—developing practices that seek to create work for the benefit of the broader community.
Questions?
Contact Arts@RezChurch.org