I know I'm not the only Christian dedicated to serving the arts in Pittsburgh. But I do fall to the temptation of 'bad attitude' when it seems clear, in my little world, that my political and spiritual views are truly repulsive to many folks in the very industry I've dedicated my life to! This affects me on a personal level. It's not 'just business' try as I might.
I'm quickly reminded of my experience at Urbana 2006 where I participated in the Arts Track and had the delight of meeting many talented and accomplished arts professionals and students. The most important take-away from it was Dick Ryan's (InterVarsity's regional arts coordinator) advice to find fellow Christians in your sphere and get together regularly, even if only monthly, and even if only to pray. Dick understands the high value of fellowship and community in the arts world, not only as a self-help measure, but as a witness to God's existence. Have I taken his advice yet? Of course not!
Okay, so I acknowledge this solution, but can't make this happen overnight. What's a savvy young Christian arts administrator to do then? Turn to the Internet of course!
This is the extreme tip of the iceberg:
Christians in Theatre Arts (CITA) is having a conference in June for artsy Christian folks. I almost cried watching the homepage web video of all these arts managers sharing their love for God and their love for the arts. It was like a message from the mothership!
Cam Anderson--who I will always remember as the director of my month-long-in-the-woods Student Leadership Training with InterVarsity 13 years ago--has apparently just been appointed Executive Director of Christians in the Visual Arts. How cool!
Okay, not alone. Now that we're feeling better, let's 'go there' with a vintage blog post about conservatives and the role they should play if any at all in the arts marketplace. A taste:
Socially there is also the problem of the lack of interest in the arts among so-called conservatives who persist in seeing Beauty as superfluous, secondary to the material goals of the free market. Just as the left gives lip service to supporting the arts (so long as the arts are seen as good team players), the American right gives lip service to a few complaints that there are no conservatives involved in the arts. Read more...Okay, I feel your eyes rolling. "Christians are not necessarily conservatives, Maggie. Yours is a political problem." Thoughts?
2 comments:
Just have a minute, so let me encourage you to consider the Following Christ Arts Track ... coming up at year end in Chicago. I'm sure there's still space for you to join Theresa, Lily, and myself at the conference ;-)
On-line audio from Following Christ 98 includes Jeremy Begbie, check out Theology Through the Arts (links page), and Luci Shaw. Be encouraged, more coming later. ...
Hey Tom,
Thanks for this encouragement. God is good. I was lamenting my state of angst to a friend at church today and she innocently cited one of my favorite Bible stories: 1 Kings 19. This is the one where, basically, the prophet Elijah is complaining to God about being the only one of his kind left, all alone, scared and abandoned by God. This is all the while God has preserved over 700 folks just like him who are hiding in the house right across the street! (marginal reading)
Doh!
So you guys will be at FC08? Cool! I am considering it (I'm such a conference junkie) though it would be way expensive for me. Also considering the Arts Camp in Mississippi next summer with Dick Ryan and Colin Harbison.
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