Weird Nativity

The Crescat uses a freaky modernistic nativity in the cathedral in LA to inform us about the incarnation and art. She says, "Modern art is often too lazy and it therefore fails to express and inspire; as evidence, I present this nativity scene, the "Haute Sphere." At first glance, and without being told, I would not know what this is."



She's right. Any artwork that needs to be explained is dumb. I remember some modern "liturgical designer" showing me some sort of weird tabernacle he'd made for a church in California. It was like a big metal tree--stark and bare, but above was a dome of green stained glass. "See, that's like the tree of the cross, and above it are the leaves of new life, with light shining through it and that represents the resurrection..." Uh huh. Remember Odgen Nash's little dictum: "Here is a good rule of thumb. Too clever is dumb."



Anyhow. Katrina's article is good. Read it here.