Weekend in Black & White - May 11, 2024

 

                                                   For Weekend in Black & White

Brief Book Review: The Bible In 20th Century Art

The Bible In 20^th Century Art

Author: Nicholas Usherwood & Paul Holberton

Publisher: Pagoda Books

111 pages, including: Forward, Introduction, The Plates, The Artists, Glossary, and Additional Acknowledgements

   Nicholas Usherwood, at the time of publishing this volume, was a foremost British art critic and historian. He worked at the Royal Academy in London, and as Deputy Director of Exhibitions at the British Museum. He wrote an informative Introduction to this volume.

    Paul Holberton worked on many books as both art historian and editor—including Sir David Piper’s four-volume Encyclopaedia of Art, and at the time of publishing this volume, he was completing a doctorate with the Warburg Institute. He wrote a helpful commentary on the artists. The Glossary was compiled by Julius Nelki, which will be appreciated by readers without a background in art.

    This volume consists of the works of 40 artists, profiling both Hebrew Bible and New Testament stories—most of which are paintings, with a few exceptions, like the collection of wood engravings of Paul Nash, depicting the creation story of Genesis chapter one. This reviewer was not familiar with many of the artists; hence I appreciate, for the most part, the authors’ selection of artists. However, female artists are definitely under-represented in the volume—there is only one, Paula Modersohn-Becker, and her oil on paper painting, The Good Samaritan.

    With the exception of Paul Nash’s wood engravings; all of the other works are accompanied by each of the biblical texts; cited from the Good News Bible.

    During this sobering time of the coronavirus pandemic; I highly recommend reading and viewing this volume and others containing works of art in order to lift readers’ spirits; as well as appreciate God’s gift of artistic creativity; bringing joy and hope to humankind.

Maud Lewis: A world without shadows

The following documentary is of a largely unknown Nova Scotia artist, Maud Lewis. It is the work of the National Film Board of Canada. I like the way the film portrays Maud’s simple life in a very small house in rural Nova Scotia. It harkens back to a bygone era, a time when life moved slower.

   Maud never took art classes, she was self-trained, and painted the world around her—i.e. no further than 60 miles in each direction. Her paintings are filled with light and life, her colours are bright and beautiful—illustrating the love and peace, hope and contentment of life. The song is okay too. Enjoy.

Creative Challenge 265: Colourful

Abstract

 

This week I decided to go with one of my digital art pieces, which I did last month rather than a photo. It intentionally, I hope, has a "stained-glass effect." When I think of colour [yes, one of my Canadianisms is that I spell it with an u] I am reminded of several things. The beauty of God's creation, with all of the diverse, panoramic shades of colour; the different thoughts and emotions that colour evokes within us human beings; and the sheer joy of the gift of having eyes to see and be inspired by colours. You can check out the other entries here.

God's Covenant with Abraham

In Genesis chapter fifteen, Abram (Abraham) is in conversation with the LORD. Initially, in the holy presence of God, it seems that old Abe is fearful, shaking in his sandals—since the word from the LORD is one of reassurance: “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” So, in the face of old Abe’s fear, the LORD promises protection and a “very great reward.” How often do we fill ourselves with fear in the face of God’s presence at work in our lives? How often have we missed the LORD’s words of comfort and reassurance that he is with us and wants to give us a generous blessing?

As the conversation continues, Abram wants to know what God will give him, since he is not getting any younger, and he and Sarai are still childless—more and more from old Abe’s perspective, it seems that Eliezer his slave is destined to be his heir. However, that is not God’s plan. Abram is told that “no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” I wonder why the phrase “very own issue” is employed here; this phrase does not remind me of a human heir—rather, it reminds me of something like a newspaper or magazine, “Extra, Extra, read all about it in Old Abe’s Times, Vol. 3, No. 5, Issue 7.” So why the phrase “very own issue”? Why not “your very own son”? Or is this a subtle way of God telling old Abe that the gift of life vis-à-vis Abram and Sarai really comes from God alone, by changing Sarai’s barren womb into a fertile one?

At any rate, old Abe is given another reassurance that the LORD would make good on his promise to him by employing an example from his creation. It’s a beautiful clear night and God takes Abram outside and says: “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So shall your descendants be.” WOW! What a promise! Old Abe and Sarai on their way out of this world and wondering if the promise of a child is pure fiction; then God’s voice speaks the word of promise and true to his word; the word of promise becomes reality because if God can employ words to create the universe, then surely the LORD can speak a word of promise to these two old seniors combine his creative word with their ability to procreate and give them a child. Moreover, that child, says the LORD, shall be the first-fruit of as many children as there are stars in the heavens.

Do we see the promises of God at work in our lives? What about the generosity of the LORD, are we aware of the countless blessings as we journey through life? At times, like old Abe and Sarai, God delays his promises and gifts and makes us wait. Is that because we are not capable of receiving them at a time when we deem it appropriate; or is it a matter of God having to work behind the scenes and between the lines to orchestrate everything before it comes into reality? With God all things are possible. May we believe as old Abram did, and may the LORD reckon it to us as righteousness.

Easter Day Resurrection of our Lord

Christ is risen by GW-H [i.e. DimLamp]

"Here the true Pascal Lamb we see, whom God so freely gave us,

who died on the accursed tree-so strong God's love!-to save us.

See, his blood now marks our door; faith points to it; death passes o'er,

and Satan cannot harm us, Hallelujah!"

-Martin Luther, #370, Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Good Friday

The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

[Isaiah 53:6] by GW-H [i.e. DimLamp]