Art & Faith Conversations

Greg Holmes is a pastor in the Dallas area. He began his studies in the arts as a painter but decided to choose seminary instead. Not until recently did Greg return to painting and to discover just how valuable it was to have in his life. He continues his work as a pastor but now makes working on his art a daily discipline which he says makes him a better pastor and a better human. Greg shares his unique perspective on how artists and the church can work to have a better relationship.

You can find out more about Greg's work at:

http://www.gregholmes-art.com

Wayne Adams is a Brooklyn-based artist who received his B.F.A. from Calvin College and M.F.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. Adams has exhibited throughout the Midwest, New York and Vienna, Austria. Wayne has served as the Board Chair of CIVA for the last several years and I talk with him about what the CIVA community has meant to him. Wayne is a studio artist who explores biblical themes through a contemporary art lens. He shares with us some of his practical disciplines and creative processes and his thoughts on being a Christian in the contemporary art world.

His recent shows include, "The Flat Files Year Three" TSA, Brooklyn, NY (2015) "Wayne Adams is Speaking in Tongues: A show of objects and images organized by the unrelenting voice of interpretation" Barrington Center for the Arts, Wenham, MA (2014), "Works Off Canvas" Denny Gallery, NY (2013), "Control Alt Delete" HKJB, Brooklyn, NY (2011), "Adams | Miracle" STOREFRONT Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (2010).

https://wayneadamsstudio.com

Micah Behr received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Wisconsin in 2014. He resides and works in Madison, WI as a professional viola player and collaborative pianist. Micah has experiences playing chamber music and in orchestras, but recently has found himself frequently composing music for the local church. He serves as the artist in residence and worship director at Geneva Campus Church, and released an EP of retuned and new hymns earlier this year. I talk with him about his classical music training and whether it helps or hinders his work with contemporary music in the local church.

Leslie Iwai is an installation artist from Middleton, WI. She approaches her work with two questions: How Is It? and What Is It?

She shares with us about her creative process and the surprising way she discovered that she was called to be an artist. Leslie has several installations that have been on display in various venues. To preview her work visit:

https://www.leslieiwai.com

Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, children's book illustrator, author and printmaker. Some of his works include It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God, The Chronicles of Narnia Comprehension Guide and Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups.

With his hand in so many projects, I talk with him specifically about his creative process and the balance between commissions vs. personal projects.

He is the creative director for Square Halo Books, curator of the Square Halo Gallery, designer for CIVA and serves on the boards of the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art. and The Row House, Inc.

https://www.worldsendimages.com/index.html

https://www.etsy.com/shop/WorldsEndImages

Eva Ting is the coordinator for the W83 Ministry Center of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. Her background is in art administration and she is passionate about creating spaces for art that allows different communities to intersect and interact. She talks about the impact that sharing the space of the W83 center has on the surrounding neighborhoods. In creating space for art that allows people to intersect it thereby builds relationships and cultivates ongoing conversations.

https://www.150w83.com

Live discussion with author and advocate, Belinda Bauman and visual artist, Natalie Salminen Rude, on the partnership of entering empathy through works of art. Belinda founded One Million Thumbprints(OMT) which exists to end violence against women and girls in conflict zones. She recently released her book, Brave Souls-Experiencing the Audacious Power of Empathy, to tell the stories of the women she met in Congo. The transformational work of empathy Belinda witnessed among their sisterhood to help each other heal from violent crimes of war against them is what changed Belinda's life. One woman in particular gave Belinda permission to tell the world her story and signed her name with her thumbprint.

Belinda realized she needed creatives and artists to help share these stories that were too difficult to hear unless wrapped in the beauty of artistic expression. Natalie, a visual artist who specializes in encaustic, was commissioned to do a painting for OMT and part of the weekend events was her revealing the painting at singer/songwriter Josh Garrel's concert. Josh Garrels has collaborated with OMT in the past and wanted to highlight it at his recent concert in Minneapolis.

Prints are available to purchase and go towards the efforts of meeting the needs of women in war zones.

https://nataliesalminen.com/the-commissions-project-3/the-commissions-project-prints/

To find out more about OMT and purchase Belinda's book:

https://www.ivpress.com/brave-souls

https://onemillionthumbprints.org

Kutter Callaway joins me to discuss his book, The Aesthetics of Atheism, co-authored by Barry Taylor. We explore the questions raised in the book about the radical idea that what if Christianity needs atheism. Kutter explains how the aesthetic dimension of the absence of God or religion in popular culture, actually provides deeper theological insight and points to the core of Christianity. We discuss the contemporary horror genre such as the Netflix series, Stranger Things, and how the art we are seeing today is a response to the repeated trauma this next generation is experiencing.

Kutter is assistant professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is also co-director of the Reel Spirituality Institute and serves as a consultant and advisory board member for various film and TV studios. He has authored several other books which you can find on his website.

https://www.kuttercallaway.com

He hosts The Kutter Callaway Podcast at:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kutter-callaway-podcast/id1435004474

https://soundcloud.com/user-635740617

Join Art & Faith Conversations on Patreon and hear bonus content from this episode:

https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast

Musician Strahan Coleman, joined me from New Zealand to talk about his recent project Prayer & Vulnerability. The album is a collection of songs reflecting on a dark time he experienced with his health and resulted in depression and anxiety setting in. The songs are paired with a collection of poems he wrote as prayers when he'd lost the ability to even sing and he learned of God's deep love and friendship in his darkest hours. Hear his brutally honest stories behind these songs and prayers and the beautiful vulnerability he expresses in his music.

Find all of his music and his new Prayers Vol 1 book here:

http://www.strahanmusic.com

https://strahanmusic.bandcamp.com/merch

To join the podcast on Patreon and become a supporter:

https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast

This live podcast episode was recorded at Studio Haiku in Duluth, MN. My guest, Natalie Salminen Rude, is a visual artist who specializes in encaustic style painting and has also been practicing the art of haiku for several years. We talk in depth about the invitational nature of haiku that can lead us into conversations with our Creator. Natalie shares with us how it has informed and influenced her creativity and also shaped her prayer life. Haiku has shown Natalie the value of pausing and taking notice of the present, even when life feels chaotic or confusing. She shares tips on how to get started writing haiku and also shares several of her own in this episode.

For more information on Natalie's work visit:

https://nataliesalminen.com

The Q&A from this interview is available on Patreon! Become a supporter and join our community!

https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast