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Join us on The Artistic Vision Podcast for a deep and inspiring conversation with renowned poet and theologian Scott Cairns in this episode, Toward a Mystical Poetics. We explore the intersection of Christian spirituality and creative expression, offering profound insight for Christian artists, faith-driven creatives, and writers of faith. Discover how a sacramental imagination can shape your artistic process, nurture your spiritual life, and lead you toward deeper communion with the divine. Perfect for anyone seeking to integrate Christian faith and art in meaningful, transformative ways. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content on Christian creativity.
Scott Cairns is the author of ten books of poetry. His most recent book is Lacunae, published by Paraclete Press. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Paris Review, The New Republic, Poetry, and elsewhere, and has been anthologized in Best Spiritual Writing and Best American Spiritual Writing. Besides writing poetry, Cairns has also written a spiritual memoir, and the libretto for the oratorios “The Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp” and “A Melancholy Beauty.” Cairns has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and was awarded the Denise Levertov Award in 2014.
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Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
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https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
This week, pastor and author Claude Atcho joins the The Artistic Vision podcast. In this episode Alex and Gary interview pastor and writer Claude Atcho. They explore the transformative power of literature in the creative process and its significance for Christian artists. The conversation delves into the influence of storytelling, the intersection of faith and creativity, and including a discussion on the impact of hip hop, particularly the artistry of Kendrick Lamar. This episode is a must-watch for Christian artists seeking inspiration, practical insights, and deeper understanding of how literature shapes artistic vision. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on faith, culture, and creativity.
Claude resides in Charlottesville, VA where he lives with his family and serves as a pastor of Church of the Resurrection. In addition to his preaching and pastoral work, Claude speaks and writes about literature, film, music, and culture from a theological perspective at churches, conferences, and universities.
His writing has been featured in Christianity Today, The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, Think Christian, Christ and Pop Culture, Living Church, and The Gospel Coalition. His writing often lives at the intersection of theology, culture, and African American experience. He is the author of Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make Our Faith More Whole and Just (Brazos 2022).
Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
@alexsosler
Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community
Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
On this episode of The Artistic Vision podcast, we welcome Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt—Christian art historian and expert in visual culture. Have you ever wondered how to look at art as a Christian? Or what you’re supposed to do when you walk into a gallery? Dr. Weichbrodt shares powerful insights on how Christian artists and viewers can engage deeply with art in a meaningful, faith-informed way. Perfect for Christian creatives, artists, and thinkers, this episode explores the intersection of Christianity, theology, and visual art. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation designed to elevate your artistic and spiritual vision.
Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt (PhD, Washington University in St. Louis) is associate professor of art and art history at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. As a biracial Japanese-white woman, she has navigated the joys and tensions of a hybrid identity. Weichbrodt has published on topics ranging from contemporary Black photographers to the patronage of Hawaiian landscape paintings to documentary photographs of Japanese Americans during World War II. She also enjoys writing for general audiences on the intersection of art history, politics, and pop culture.
Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
@alexsosler
Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community
Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
Today, we have our friend Taylor Worley on the Artistic Vision Podcast to talk about the fascinating world of strange contemporary art and its connection to Christian creativity. Taylor discusses how Christian artists can engage with unconventional, thought-provoking artwork while staying true to their faith and values. Whether you're an artist or art enthusiast, this conversation provides valuable insights into navigating the complexities of modern art from a Christian perspective. Tune in for an inspiring and enlightening discussion on blending faith with artistic expression.
Taylor Worley is the Visiting Associate Professor of Art History at Wheaton College in Illinois. In 2021, he was awarded a grant from the Templeton Religion Trust for a project titled “Thinking About Thinking: Conceptual Art in the Contemplative Tradition.” Dr. Worley served as the Visiting Associate Professor of Faith and Culture and the Managing Director of Trinity International University’s Center for Transformational Churches. In 2010, Worley was awarded his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He received an M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2004 and a B.A. in Christian Studies from Union University in 2001.
Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
@alexsosler
Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community
Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
Today’s episode of The Artistic Vision features Erin Shaw who shares her artistic vision and the role of symbolism in her art. Erin Shaw is a painter of borderlands, the spaces between worlds. As a visual storyteller, the child of an Oklahoma farm, Shaw tills the rich soil of dichotomy through her masterful uses of color, iconography, and story. As a Chickasaw-Choctaw artist, she creates in a state of tension, suspended between two worlds where both solemnity and humor pervade her art.
Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
@alexsosler
Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community
Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
Join Gary and Alex on the Artistic Vision for this special end of 2024 compilation. At the end of each episode we give our guests the last word by asking, "what would you say to Artists who call themselves Christian?" Their words of wisdom are a treasure every week, and we've compiled them all into one episode! Listen in to these artist theologians.
Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
@alexsosler
Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community
Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
On this episode of The Artistic Vision, we welcome Natalie Carnes, renowned constructive theologian and author, to explore the theological vision of beauty. Drawing on Gregory of Nyssa, she unpacks how divine beauty shapes Christian art and how the cross of Christ redefines our understanding of beauty and suffering. Perfect for Christian artists, theologians, and creatives seeking deeper insight into the intersection of faith and aesthetics. Discover how theology can inspire your artistic calling and transform your creative expression.
Natalie Carnes
Dr. Carnes trained at Harvard, University of Chicago, and Duke before coming to Baylor, where she is Professor of Theology in the Religion Department, Affiliate faculty member in Women’s and Gender Studies, and the Director of the Baylor Initiative in Christianity and the Arts. Among Professor Carnes’s scholarship are four books, including Beauty: A Theological Engagement with Gregory of Nyssa, Image and Presence: A Christological Reflection on Iconoclasm and Iconophilia, and Motherhood: A Confession. Her fourth and most recent book, Attunement: The Art and Politics of Feminist Theology reflects on the entanglement of aesthetics, politics, and theology to suggest a path forward by which feminist theology might transform Christian theological discourse.
Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
@alexsosler
Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community
Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
Wes Vander Lugt graciously joins us on The Artistic Vision today. Full disclosure: this was the first interview we did, so you’ll see some real amateurs in action. We’re floundering; Dr. Vander Lugt is great. We talk about art, agriculture, his work at Gordon Conwell, and his new book, Beauty as Oxygen.
Wesley Vander Lugt
Wes currently works as the Acting Director of the Leighton Ford Center for Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness and Adjunct Professor of Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte. He is also the Co-Founder of Kinship Plot, a community of learning and practice imagining and embodying resonant relationships of every kind. Wes holds a PhD in Theology, Imagination, and the Arts from the University of St Andrews and enjoys writing and speaking on a variety of topics including beauty, spiritual formation and the arts, discipleship in the theodrama, slow faith, pastoral ministry, kinship, and creativity. His publications include Living Theodrama: Reimagining Theological Ethics (Routledge, 2014), Theatrical Theology: Explorations in Performing the Faith (Cascade, 2014), and Beauty is Oxygen: Finding a Faith that Breathes (Eerdmans, 2024).
Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
@alexsosler
Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community
Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
In this episode of The Artistic Vision Podcast, Dr. Jessica Hooten-Wilson joins us to explore the intersection of art, creativity, and faith, with a special focus on Flannery O’Connor’s literary theory. For Christian artists seeking deeper understanding, Dr. Hooten-Wilson offers invaluable insights on how O'Connor's artistic vision can shape and inspire your creative journey. Whether you're an artist, writer, or anyone passionate about integrating faith with creativity, this conversation will provide practical wisdom and fresh perspectives on how Christian artists can approach their craft with intentionality.
Jessica Hooten Wilson is the Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University. She is the author of several books, most recently Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage?: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Work in Progress. Her book Giving the Devil his Due: Flannery O’Connor and The Brothers Karamazov received a 2018 Christianity Today book of the year in arts and culture award and The Scandal of Holiness received a 2022 Award of Merit. Most recently, she completed the unfinished novel of Flannery O’Connor called Why Do the Heathens Rage.
Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
@alexsosler
Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community
Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
Join us on The Artistic Vision Podcast as renowned contemporary artist Makoto Fujimura shares profound insights on his creative practice, the liturgy of art that influences his 'slow making. We explore how suffering shapes the artistic journey, and the way beauty, brokenness, and belief intersect in the life of an artist. Perfect for Christian creatives seeking encouragement, inspiration, and purpose in their work. Don’t miss this essential conversation on faith, resilience, and the redemptive power of art.
Makoto Fujimura is an artist, arts advocate, writer, and speaker, and the founder of the International Arts Movement. He is the author of many books, most recently Art and Faith: A Theology of Making (Yale University Press, 2021). Fujimura graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University, then studied in a traditional Japanese painting doctorate program at Tokyo University of the Arts. Fujimura’s art has been featured in galleries and museums around the world.
More about Mako: https://makotofujimura.com
Follow us on Instagram:
@theartisticvisionpodcast
@g_ball2
@alexsosler
Check out CREO Arts: https://www.creoarts.org
@creoarts.community
Buy the Artistic Vision book here!
https://wipfandstock.com/9781666760132/the-artistic-vision/
https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Vision-Cultivating-Sacramental-Imagination/dp/1666760137/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gTOsrim0XMSOuyLOeIeqJHvXQlDWGE8BqOmNzY_TR90uoCegHsEhJBG77UwllpmqLDWKth27lBsmET7L6zvc7ICCVdmkwI33_NEQ_nhHaDv93pdCdMGQIktvJfX8bLqO7YjU6aVmNrGphfVU5ueCV0eG_qJJa9dRQBoebI1YbmZHOhyO178tlKdGbg4x2bjfLI0onx9-uhqzoCsc3lK_qwFOZDjVQwfqxeG4uzRbEpQ.yXgwTDxpCvj4B59DJmY1tcOwV7D8tMdtxas0EndXMCY&qid=1745002821&sr=8-1
From the publisher's feed
Introducing The Artistic Vision hosted by Gary Ball and Alex Sosler! This podcast explores the correlation between faith and art--specifically, cultivating a sacramental imagination for creative…