On the Horizon: God in the Gallery Symposium

Beginning on July 13th, we are set to have a new book symposium on God in the Gallery: A Christian Embrace of Modern Art, by Daniel A. Siedell, which was released in October of last year.  Here is the book description:

Unfortunately, within certain Christian communities, art is often viewed with skepticism, if not disdain. Art historian, critic, and curator Daniel Siedell presents a different perspective in God in the Gallery: A Christian Embrace of Modern Art. The latest book in the Cultural Exegesis series, God in the Gallery is a welcome addition to the scant volumes that cover an evangelical reflection on the arts and the aesthetic life. Siedell ultimately contends that art is not antithetical or hostile to Christianity. Instead, it's in dialogue with it as well as a gift as opposed to a threat to faith. The author extracts insights about worldviews from thinkers ranging from Francis Schaeffer to David Naugle. Furthermore, he constructs a framework for interpreting modern art "in Christ." Siedell also examines the role of visual art in worship and Christian experience. The book is enhanced with images from such artists as Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Enrique Martinez Celaya, and others.

Here is the schedule of engagements, forays, and excursions into Siedell's book:

July 13 - Ch. 1, "Overture"
     Introduction by Jamie Smith

July 20 - Ch. 2, "A History of Modern Art"
     engagement by  Matt Milliner

July 27 - Ch. 3, "Enrique Martinez Celaya's Thing and Deception: The Artistic Practice of Belief"
     engagement by  Bruce Ellis Benson

Aug 03 - Ch. 4, "Embodying Transcendence: Material Spirituality in Contemporary Art"
     engagement by  Jason Hesiak

Aug 10 - Ch. 5, "Art Criticism"
     engagement by  Dayton Castleman

Aug 17 - Ch. 6, "Art, Liturgy, and the Church"
     engagement by  Kevin Hamilton

Please read along with us and join in the conversation! See you then.