Introducing: Art-Sunday
Few things give tribute to the glory and majesty of God like art does. For me, the primary way I express beauty in worship to God is through my writing. I consider writing an art, as do I consider theology (as academic as it may be), too, an art. In both, beauty and creativity are essential.
I think that art is one of life’s most important and worth-while endeavors. Beyond writing, which is my first love, I also have a passion for many different artistic expressions. Particularly painting, writing poetry, composing music, and playing music. Creativity makes me come alive with joy and wonder!
I say all this because I want to introduce a new series for this website: Art-Sunday! From now on Sunday’s will be set aside for the purpose of sharing some of my favorite works of art. (Including some originals!) We could all use a little more art in our life, so why not celebrate it together here?
Some art that I present here may have deep meaning with theological parallels, while some also may just be beautiful. Not every piece has to have intellectual importance. Beauty is for beauty’s sake alone! But those pieces that do have some spiritual importance will be taken note of, and many in fact do. Even so called “secular” art has the ability to speak profoundly about God and life.
I plan to include many pieces of art within the realms of painting, music (classical and modern), poetry, architecture, design, and fiction writing.
I’m truly excited about this series and I hope we can together discover something beautiful and inspiring. We’ll start next week with a full article, but for now I’ll begin this series with one of my favorite pieces of music: Eight Lines by Steve Reich.
I’ve listened to this composition well over a hundred times, and I still am fascinated with it. Steve Reich does a wonderful job interlacing complexity with simplicity in order to create a beautiful soundscape. It is repetitive, I know! Reich writes within the modern style of “Minimalism.” Steve Reich is one of the pioneers of this movement alongside Philip Glass, and John Cage. Reich’s piece here is one of his best, along with my second favorite piece he’s done: “Music for 18 Musicians”. Enjoy the rhythmic melodies, and the subtle changes. Sit back, relax, maybe close your eyes to get the full effect of this piece, and enjoy!
What did you think of this piece?
Do you have a favorite piece of music? (Share it with me in the comments!)
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