Christian Culture Creators in the Spotlight
I just read through an interview with Andy Crouch, author of “Cultivators and Creators”, and was led to the work of Bruce Herman. I wondered as I watched a video by Bruce Herman, how many other Bruce Hermans there may be out there. What I mean is, how many Cultural Creators who would identify themselves as followers of Christ are there out there?
I was also inspired by a comment made by techne on the Friday Five post from last week, about wanting to spur on some more discussion on the site. I too want to hear more from you Christian Creatives out there, and about what you’d like to see on the site and what you most appreciate about what I’ve had to say in the past.
So, to start of discussion, to educate myself and to inspire us all, I want to open up the comments on this post to become a listing of Christian Culture Creators - any you know of or can think of. If you can share ONE link about the person and/or their work, that’d be great too. If you post more than one link in a single post, your comment will be held for moderation, but no worries, I will moderate them all. I hope we can get a big list.
So, who should I know about, people? Who do you know that follows Christ and is creating culture in a meaningful way? Please share below.
(also, please be aware I value creativity from those outside of the Body of Christ as well, but I think a list like this will be encouraging to those of us following Christ and creating).
November 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
i’m not sure i understand. are we suggesting lists of visual artists, filmmakers, poets, musicians, gallery owners, choreographers, designers, writers, critics, non-profits, etc.? what do you mean by “creating culture”? do you mean ‘cultural products’? one creates culture by working within the existing structures and institutions as much as (and possibly more than) than producing products/ objects. is one a “culture creator” once one reaches a certain level of influence or recognition? do we need to be dana goia (director of the NEA) or tim hawkinson or tim rollins (+ K.O.S.) or can we be tj or aaron or even edward van vliet? maybe we should develop lists around a single discipline and build it from there e.g. this month is visual artists. next month will be christians in the film industry. the month after is skateboarders and motocross.
which reminds me: i need to pick up that book and read it…
November 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I suppose by anyone’s definition, Culture Creator could mean almost anything. We are all contributing to culture in some way when we step out of front door each morning, but I’m not sure we are making meaningful contributions. And, for the sake of this site, since we focus on art, we are going to limit our discussion to the arts.
So, to word it differently, who do you know that is a follower of Christ and making excellent art?
I also agree that we could narrow the scope a bit, but you forget Edward, that while you may have a hundred names to throw out there, I (and I am assuming many people who read this) do not. Which is the very reason I want to brainstorm and share on this, because even when it is as broad as just “the arts” I would run out of names before I ran out of fingers. Which is horrible. But, I think, fairly normal.
So, I want to start general this post and see what we can generate. Don’t just name anyone and everyone, name artists who have wowed you. Artists you keep returning to. Artists who have awakened something in you and made you want to create something of meaning yourself.
We will do this again, because I like your idea of narrowing in on disciplines. But for today, let’s make our narrowing in criteria be the above paragraph - in a word, inspiring and “must see”.
And yes, in all honesty, you would be on my list …
Edward Van Vliet.
Visual Artist and Faith and Arts thinker/writer
http://etechne.blogspot.com/
November 10th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
so if there were organizations that i thought were impacting culture, would i name their founders (e.g. IAM international arts movement - makoto fujimura or imago - john franklin)?
certainly, one of my major influences would be tim rollins and K.O.S. (kids of survival) — tim went into one of the poorest schools in one of the poorest neighbourhoods of new york as a substitute teacher and years later ended up with those students exhibiting their collaborative work internationally, as well as going on to university and master’s programs. yes, some of the students didn’t escape, but the commitment to the students that extended over decades, and the power of art to change lives, are powerful lessons and encouragements i take from his example. there is no website per se, but if you google his name you’ll find plenty of references. his serving work will impact generations, which is really cool…
November 15th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
read the article, and it makes me that much more interested in reading the book. what i found particularly arresting was that this is really a call to action. his point that a copy, or even a critique, of culture is not the same thing as creating culture is a good point. simply analyzing and unpacking isn’t enough, no matter what we find. we need to get involved in the conversation and initiate.
i also appreciate his note about what culture is — it’s not simply “Culture” he’s talking about, but the range of human activity. that means we all have a responsibility.
his idea of cultivating what is already good reminds me of our conversation abot phil 4.8 where we took the stance that the whatsoever there is about finding the good, not just poking at what is “not good” in things (read: culture).
November 17th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I’d love to read it and come back here and discuss it if you’ll be reading it to techne.
And yes, now that you mention it, it does remind me of the Phil 4:8 discussions we had. I’d be surprised if Crouch didn’t reference the verse actually because to me that is exactly what is being said here. Focus on (discovering and creating) what is good.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:13 am
it’s definitely on my wishlist — though who knows how long it’ll take before i can buy it…
one thing i really like about the book is that it is looking at “high” art - art in the galleries and museums - as opposed to the old saw that we are all artists (or at least artistic - as opposed to creative) and therefore art as a cultural (and institutional) practice. that interests me, especially within some of our other conversations here about impacting and perhaps even shaping culture. you can sample a bit of the book at http://www.amazon.com/God-Gallery-Christian-Cultural-Exegesis/dp/0801031842
- though that idea (that we are all artists a la joseph beuys) can also make for interesting discussion(s).
December 1st, 2008 at 8:19 am
i’m also a big fan of lewis lavoie and what he’s doing with his mural-mosaics (see http://www.muralmosaic.com/index.html for more). i got to know him when i worked in st. albert — he’s a wonderfully generous artist who really looks for ways to serve. he is also involved with NOA (night of artists - http://www.nightofartists.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1). i highly recommend supporting lewis and his friend phil in their endeavours.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 am
Seriously though, I think he has a good balance of what is commercially viable (he is reaching the masses) and yet still maintains a high level of artistic integrity and skill. My church is bringing Lewis in to share soon. We should spend more time praying for Lewis and Phil (whose Night of Artists event has always intrigued me as well, so I’ll have to check it out next time around).
Thanks for bringing these guys to mind.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
when is he coming? if i’m around i’d love to reconnect with him…
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I will for SURE post it when I know.