Interviewing Creatives

I hope to blog at least twice each month.  This journey I have started, God in the Creative Process: In Search of the Story, is taking some fun and enlightening turns.

My interviews have been especially insightful.  

Dr Bill Edgars (see the June 28 blog for more info on Bill)

Dan Cautrell is a hockey buddy of mine and full time artist.  From his Fusion Press Studios he produces some great, thought-provoking art.  He has also done some uplifting nature art he refers to as Offerings To The Winds.  (I intend to show some of his work in a future blog)

Michael Card has been one of my all time favorite songwriters.  He has written nineteen number one songs on Christian radio including El-Shaddai and won five Dove Awards.  Of his twelve books, I just recenty reread Scribling in the Sand and for the first time, The Walk, a wonderful story of his spiritual journey with his mentor, Dr. Bill Lane, who taught at Seattle Pacific University until he moved back to Franklin, Tennessee to show Michael ‘how a Christina man dies.’  I cannot recommend highly enough, these two books.

Monica Ganas and her husband, Scott, were friends of ours at Asbury Seminary.  We spent an inordinate amount of time just laughing.  Marsha and I still repeat quotes from those days.  

Monica is now Dr. Ganas at Azuza Pacific University, where she started out teaching a few classes on the arts, culture and faith, and is now professor over the department of Theater, Film, and Television.

If you IMDB her, you will find she was Mrs. Jelly Donut on the Pee Wee Herman Show, Ruby on Mork and Mindy, a regular performer on the Billy Crystal Comedy Hour, and writer with Paul Reubens on the 2011 The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway.

Makoto Fujimura is an artist, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer by both faith-based and secular media. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts (2003-2009),  he is the founder of International Arts Movement.

For more info check out his website:  www.makotofujimura.com

I have three more interviews I want to complete.  These will be done by phone.

Mark Johnson started Playing for Change.  I stumbled across PFC when I saw ‘Stand by Me’ being played by musicans from around the world on the internet.

From the PFC website:  PFC is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating positive social change through music education. We are driven by the belief that peace and change are possible through the universal language of music. By providing children a safe place to learn, flourish and express themselves, PFC programs provide a creative alternative to the struggles many children face daily.  To date, seven music schools and programs have been created in countries including South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Rwanda, and Nepal. Each offers students the mentorship and guidance they need to grow and thrive through interactions with other students, schools, teachers, and musical cultures.

This last Saturday, September 10, was the first Playing For Change Day to help further Mark’s vision.  Somewhat ironically, I found myself playing guitar and singing ‘Stand by Me’ with some friends at a party.  

I met Mickey McGrath a few summers ago at the Grunewald Guild in Leavenworth when I was taking a songwriting class.  Mickey is an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales who lives and creates in Camden, NJ.  He and other creatives are combining art and faith to bring beauty and God’s love to this troubled city.

In 2010, Mickey enjoyed two memorable events: His painting, CHRIST THE TEACHER, was presented to Pope Benedict XVI ; and ST. CECILIA’S ORCHESTRA, (World Library Publications), a collaboration with Alan Hommerding, was awarded a silver medal prize for children’s books on spirituality by the Moonbeam Children’s Book Publisher awards.

I’ve used several of Mickey’s books, including ST. CECILIA’S ORCHESTRA for my children’s sermons.  

Berta Yazzie.  It has been my habit, for some time, to purchase local art when we travel.  I have some great art from Paris, Venice, Israel, London, Jamaica, Caribbean, Italy, and Mexico.  When Marsha and I were at Four Corners this summer I bought a unique piece of art.  It is a Navajo sandpainting called End of the Trail.  Berta took a beautiful piece of stone, in the shape of a thick drink coaster, and painted a picture of a Native American on horseback using naturally colored sand.

I plan on sharing some art work with you for my next blog.

Once again, I welcome your interaction.

Keep on Creating.

Ministry to and with Creatives

It's been over a month since my last post.  Marsha and I enjoyed a great vacation with the kids and grandkids and then some beautiful national parks.  We both took over 1,000 pix each.  Great time.

Although my sabbatical is offically over, I have been exposed to an exciting spiritual journey that will engage me for the rest of my life.  There is so much I would like to blog about, but wanting to keep you also engaged, I will share an abbreviated look at some of my discoveries and some possibilities for ministry.  

I welcome your comments.

PREMISE

-First five words of the Bible, “In the beginning, God created ..”

God is the Great Creator

-Genesis 1:27, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

The Great Creator created us in His image

-Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness ...’”

The Great Creator is in Community

All of us are creative

We need to create

The church needs us to create

We need a supportive and creative community

Anonymous:  “It is the creative potential itself in human beings that is the image of God.”

Julia Cameron: “The act of making art is a direct path to contact with God.”

PROBLEM

Generally speaking, the Protestant Reformation threw out, not only indulgences, but art as well.  

Fear chocked out creativity within the church community.

Dick Staub has noted that after the 60’s the Christian community has degenerated into an intellectual and artistically anemic subculture.

While interviewing a creative Follower of Jesus and a creative non-Follower of Jesus, I was told by both, that they felt the church did not welcome the creative person.

Makoto Fujimura: “Even though the church has left the arts, God has not.”

SOLUTION

Robert Gelinas: “If Christ’s redemptive work was, in part, intended to restore the image of God in us and if creativity is central to God’s being, then creativity should become more and more a part of who we are.”

Julia Cameron:

“As an artist you are a cultural healer.” 

“It is a great grace that we are born creative beings.  We may not, and need not, do it perfectly.  But we do need to do it.  It is my belief that the making of art makes us more fully human.”

Dick Staub also sees the creative pursuit as part of becoming fully human.

Makoto Fujimura:  “Art helps to prepare the way for the word of God to be proclaimed.  Artists are vital for the church, because their creativity and passion expose a language to communicate the gospel to a dying world.”

“Art helps us to confront darkness head-on.”

I have experienced creative worship during a Sunday and a festival gathering.  This experience does not have to stay on the mountain top, as is the case with most conferences or other gatherings.

It does, however, take courage.

Ministry Possibilities known as Expressions

Expressions Gathering

Objective:

-to encourage, develop, & offer a platform for the creative arts

-to offer a unique, safe, encouraging, and supportive path to explore the mysteries of God
                and continual transformation for the creative Truth Seeker

 
Monthly creative arts evening

2 hours

Invite local artists to share

Varied arts or specific expression each meeting?

Light refreshments

Expressions Small Group

Objective:

- to provide a safe place for creatives to experience transformation through creative 

           Bible study

Weekly

off campus

Street Expressions

Objective:

-to bring God’s transformative love to others

-to provide creative opportunities for those who are overcome with just surviving.  This can

reveal their creative God and give them avenues to explore themselves within this

  framework of grace.

  -to provide creative Truth Seekers unique opportunities to take their art to those who may
                 not otherwise be exposed to God’s creative love

More than art? - food, blankets, etc?

Streets

Schools

Hospitals

Special needs population

Creative expressions

poetry

basic instrument

basic water coloring kits

inexpensive digital cameras

sidewalk chalk

drama

Annual Expressions Celebration

Objective:

-to provide an opportunity for creatives to share their art

-to provide an opportunity for the larger church community to experience 

                God’s love and grace through art

-to provide a safe environment for Truth Seekers to be exposed to The Story

-to help those overcome with surviving to find their value as loved children of God through 

creative expressions

Well, what do you think?

Sabbatical Work Update

Since my last blog I have been doing research, reading great books, attending plays, setting up and conducting interviews, pretending to be a glass blower, learning necessary computer programs, and working on music.

Glass blowing?  Marsha and I used Groupon coupons to take a glass blowing glass.  We now have two beautiful spinner plates but all we did was blow into a tube three times.  It was more like a magic trick played on us than creating art.

Dick Staub’s book, The Culturally Savvy Christian was a great read and spoke to what I am trying to explore with art and our spiritual journey.  Dick states that we are in an intellectually and aesthetically impoverished age of Christian-lite.  We are caught between a popular culture attempting to build art without God and a religious culture that believes in a God disinterested in art.  I am in total agreement with this.  He goes on to explain that what started out as a healthy church movement within culture before the 60’s has produced  several un-Biblical models.  He names three:

Cocooning - keeping ourselves protected and insulated from those Jesus calls us to reach

Combating - The ‘Us versus them’ mentality.  One of the plays we went to see with some 

                               close friends was Jesus Christ  Superstar.  Outside the theater I was hear two 

                              men telling all of us we were going to hell.  The reason?   The Bible’s stance 

                             on men with long hair.  Really? 

Conforming - I am afraid there is more of this than we realize.  Does God want us to run 

                             churches like businesses?  NT Times columnist Walter Kim wrote, “Christianity 

                            doesn’t compete with pop culture.  It is pop culture.”

I think Dick is really onto something when he refers to our need to become fully human in God.  These include being:  Creative, Spiritual, Intelligent, Relational, and Moral.

Dick suggests that we as Followers of Jesus, pursuing a fully human life through God, can have three roles in culture, instead of the unhealthy three previously mentioned ones.

Communicate in culture like an Ambassador

Counter culture like an Alien (we can be a winsome alternative)

Create culture like an Artist.

There is so much more in The Culturally Savvy Christian than I have time to share here, but here is Dick’s advice to Artists.  By the way, we are all artists in one form or another.

Be an artist who is deeply Christian, not a Christian artist

Produce art, not just religious art

Strive for the spiritual, intelligent, & inventive

Make art, don’t just appropriate art

Demand better art

Some years ago I read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.  This book has been a standard for artists and those exploring art since it came out in 1992.  Her 2002 sequel, Walking in This World, is a fantastic exploration into the creative process, the creative, and the Great Creator.  I am beginning to understand the magic of committing to something, such as this sabbatical, and having resources come to light.  I will never be able to do Julia’s book justice in this blog but here are a few impressions that I found enlightening:

I love her name for God - the Great Creator. 

The Great Creator loves the artist and is waiting as a lover waits to respond to our love 

                when we offer it.

  The moment we open ourselves to making art, we simultaneously open ourselves to our 

                Maker.

The act of making art is a direct path to contact with God.

Artist to artist, we can safely have faith in the Great Creator’s interest in our creative

         pursuits. 
        When we express our creativity, we are a conduit for the Great Creator to explore, express, 
                and expand His divine nature and our own.

We are made by the Great Creator and are meant to be creative ourselves.

Julia states that we are all creative and our truest self is creative. This is not exclusive to the ‘professional artist’ but all of us.  If we would just stop to consider what we do, we would find we are making creative decisions on a regular basis.

Here are a few more of Julia’s thoughts:

Art maybe the finest form of prayer.

Art is tonic and medicinal for us all.  As an artist, you are a cultural healer.

Arguably, we are all in the service of an artist greater than ourselves.

If you are an artist or would like to have a healthy inside look at what goes on in the creative process, you would benefit from reading Walking in This World.

Next blog:  Kindlingsfest

Last Blog for All That Jazz class at Regent College

Churchill once said of a cabinet member, “He is a modest man and he has a lot to be modest about.”   I can relate to that sentiment.  While at Regent College it felt like I jumped into the deep end of the intellectual pool and in need of some water wings.

David Gill and Bill Edgar were generous in spirit and creative instructors.  At this point of my processing, I think my biggest takeaway from the week was how our spiritual journey can be enhanced by approaching it as one would playing jazz.  There are some essentials to this mature type of music that relate to a mature spiritual life.

-Know the standards  We need to know what the essential songs are to be able to make  music with others.  

What would be my Ten Top Faith Standards? 

Biblical stories/themes, creeds, hymns/songs, etc?

-Know music theory  We need to know what musically works and what doesn’t.

Do I know how life works based on God’s truth?

-Know your instrument  We need to know the attributes, limitations, and special features of our instrument.

What am I able to do?  What are my temptations and giftings?

-Trust  We need to know we can count on the other musicians and they need to know they can count on us.

Am I willing to serve the bigger cause of Christ?

-Improvise  We need to be secure in the previous four areas to have the freedom to bring our expression to the music.

Am I living out my spiritual journey in joyful freedom or am I in bondage to rules.

If you are interested, the two books we read before class started:

Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life by Wynton Marsalis 

Finding the Groove: Composing a Jazz-Shaped Faith by Robert Gelinas

My sabbatical continues.  I am into my interviews with creative people, some famous, some not.  This week I am reading Dick Staub’s book, The Culturally Savvy Christian.  I cannot recommend this book enough.  In a few weeks I will be with Dick on Orcas Island for the international Kindlings Fest.  The theme this year is Turning Mourning into Dancing.

Some of those who will be there are:

Jerry Root - C.S. Lewis scholar

Störling Dance Theater

Karin Stevens Dance troupe

Larry McAdams - artist

Susan Osborn - singer, songwriter

Lucy Shaw - poet

Marty O’Donnell – Halo Game audio/composer

Michael Card - singer, songwriter, author, teacher

Jeff Johnson – Windham Hill recording artist

Nigel Goodwin – British actor & arts advocate

12 minute Kindlings Fest moments 2009 & 2010 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBMa8TKg_ob

 Although lengthy, I want to leave you with one of the many wonderful stories of creative people I have run across in the last three weeks.  I think it speaks to my search of God in the Creative Process: In search of the Story

From Finding the Groove:  In 1957 John Coltrane went into his room and began praying and seeking God’s help to withstand the pain of withdrawals.  For four days it was just water and God.  When he emerged he said God met him in a most unusual way.  It was a sound, a droning resonance, a reverberation, unlike anything he had ever heard.  “It was so beautiful.”

For years he would try to find that sound while playing before audiences.  He would solo for thirty minutes, slowly searching, listening for the sound of God as he performed.  He never found that sound again.

Seven years after hearing the sound of God he recorded A Love Supreme.  Although he never claimed to become a Follower of Jesus, his liner notes for this album tell of a man who was touched by God through his music.

DEAR LISTENER: ALL PRAISE BE TO GOD TO WHOM ALL PRAISE IS DUE.  Let us pursue Him in the righteous path. Yes it is true; "seek and ye shall find." Only through Him can we know the most wondrous bequeathal. 

During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD. 

As time and events moved on, a period of irresolution did prevail. I entered into a phase which was contradictory to the pledge and away from the esteemed path; but thankfully, now and again through the unerring and merciful hand of God, I do perceive and have been duly re-informed of His OMNIPOTENCE, and of our need for, and dependence on Him. At this time I would like to tell you that NO MATTER WHAT ... IT IS WITH GOD. HE IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL. HIS WAY IS IN LOVE, THROUGH WHICH WE ALL ARE. IT IS TRULY – A LOVE SUPREME – .

This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say "THANK YOU GOD" through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor.

The music herein is presented in four parts. The first is entitled "ACKNOWLEDGEMENT", the second, "RESOLUTION", the third, "PURSUANCE", and the fourth and last part is a musical narration of the theme, "A LOVE SUPREME" which is written in the context; it is entitled "PSALM". 

In closing, I would like to thank the musicians who have contributed their much appreciated talents to the making of this album and all previous engagements. 

To Elvin, James and McCoy, I would like to thank you for that which you give each time you perform on your instruments. Also, to Archie Shepp (tenor saxist) and to Art Davis (bassist) who both recorded on a track that regrettably will not be released at this time; my deepest appreciation for your work in music past and present. In the near future, 

I hope that we will be able to further the work that was started here. 

Thanks to producer Bob Thiele; to recording engineer, Rudy Van Gelder; and the staff of ABC-Paramount records. Our appreciation and thanks to all people of good will and good works the world over, for in the bank of life is not good that investment which surely pays the highest and most cherished dividends. 

May we never forget that in the sunshine of our lives, through the storm and after the rain – it is all with God – in all ways and forever. 

ALL PRAISE TO GOD. 

With love to all, I thank you.

Why "Naming the Muse?"

I believe all creativity comes from God.  The first three points of my thesis state:

-God creates

-We are made in God’s image

-We have the God-given need and capacity to create

Even our friends who create and don't acknowledge God receive their expressive drive from Him.  Often they refer to "finding their muse."  One of the definitions found in dictionaries is a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. I feel the creative muse is God.  Hopefully my study will provide opportunities to discuss this with creatives who are still chasing their muse.

Knowing the Standards, Improvisation, Creativity, & Freedom

The second day of class was pretty amazing.   Bill Edgar walked us through the development of jazz with its origins in slavery.  We watched some great video clips (yeah YouTube!) and Bill played examples on the piano. Bill was then joined by Rob Des Cotes, a local pastor and a jazz flute player.  For some information on songs he has written go to http://freepraiseandworship.org/new/artists/380.htm  Rob invited Mark, a local bass player to be part of the trio for class.  This was Bill's first meeting with Rob & Mark.  Rob asked Bill what he wanted to play and off they went.  Incredible!!  These three jazz players wove in and out of the music like they grew up together.

So here is the main point of this class:  Our spiritual journey can be very much like jazz.  

In jazz there is the need to know the standards, know your instrument, and know music theory.  Now, with this musical maturity you confidently take your voice into community and trust each other to improvise an amazing experience. 

In our spiritual journey we need to know God's standards, know ourselves, and know how life works.  As a mature follower of Jesus we can now bring our individual talents into community and really cook.

Although Bill, Rob, and Mark sounded great, there was something else yesterday that really hammered this idea.  Micah, a young 15-year-old boy is attending our class with his father.  This is a pastoral family from Ohio.  After the trio played two songs they asked if Micah would like to fill in for Bill.  Rob asked Micah if he knew Billy's Bounce.  He did and Rob said, "Ok.  In F.  One, two, three, four."  We were treated to four minutes of some awesome jazz while the three 'traded fours.'  I recorded this and will get it online as soon as I figure out how to do it.

So how can this happen?  How can a 60-year-old flute player and 50-something bass player from Vancouver play this great music with a 15-year-old from Ohio?  They know the standards, they know their instruments, they know theory and they trusted each other enough to bring their individuality into community.  They improvised.

Keep groovin'

1st day of sabbatical

June 28 blog

Yesterday was the 1st day of my sabbatical.  

Title - God in the Creative Process: In Search of the Story

Thesis

God creates

We are made in God’s image

We have the God-given need and capacity to create

We need more than just words to grasp, communicate,  and live our  spiritual journey story

We can better know God and ourselves through the creative gifts of His people

Do we have a responsibility to create

Components

Classes / Events

June 27 – July 1     All That Jazz:  A Christian Take – Regent College

July 27 – 30            KindlingsFest:  Turning Mourning into Dancing - Orcas Island

Workshops

July 16           Glassblowing at Uptown Glassworks

Independent study

Interviews

Blogging

Personal expressions

Outcome

My desire to enter more into the mystery of God to get a fuller picture  of Him

Engage others in this conversation

Written dissertation

Creative expressions

This week I am at Regent College which is a Christian college on the University of British Columbia campus.  Quite the 'city'.

My class this week is "All That Jazz:  A Christian Take."  David Gill, Professor of Workplace Theology & Business Ethics, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Bill Edgar, Professor of Apologetics, Westminster Theological Seminary. are the instructors.  Bill is a jazz pianist who is going to China from here to teach this type of class.  If you want to know more about Bill, check this out - http://www.wts.edu/faculty/profiles/wedgar.html

Yesterday was Jazz Intro, History, & Potential Witness to God’s Truth.

I have already written up papers on two books that were assigned:  Finding the Groove:  A Jazz Shaped Faith by Robert Gelinas and Moving to Higher Ground:   How Jazz Can Change Your Life by Wynton Marsalis.  Both were very informative.

There are several summer classes going on.  Alister McGrath is here and spoke last night on "Why God Won't Go Away:  Reflections on 'New Atheizm’” (UK spelling)  

He says that the New Atheists bring good questions to the discussion.  He addressed three of their main points:

1  Religion is intrinsically violent

2  Religion is fundamentally irrational

3  Science destroys religion

He was fantastic!

I'm looking forward to blogging about tomorrow's class.