IN THIS ISSUE:
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- Would you like to discover your inner artist?
- Do you wonder how to integrate art into your teaching or worship planning?
- Do you wonder if there's a better way to frame challenging situations within your context as a faith leader?
- Would you like to infuse art and artistic methods into your leadership?
- Would you like to explore artistic practices you haven't used before--poetry, visual art, storytelling, improvisation, photography, etc.?
Intrigued? Take the next step. LEARN MORE or REGISTER.
Explore how modern art interacts with spirituality with Wilson Yates and Jennifer Awes Freeman!
Visual Theology: Spiritual Explorations of Modern Art
Dates: October 5, 12, 19, 26 and November 2, 9 | 1-4 PM
Location: Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis
Artist Credit: "Construction (Crucifixion)" by Barbara Hepworth | Photo by Wilson Yates
Wilson Yates and Jennifer Awes Freeman are leading a 6-week series to delve into the world of modern art through the lens of theology. Focusing on a dialogical approach (art, viewer and artist), you will learn how a culture reflects and addresses contemporary religious questions through visual art. Visual Theology, a book of essays dedicated to Wilson Yates, will give insight on how visual art expresses the traditions that have come before, the political climate of a culture, our natural environment, liturgical expression, and communities seen as being on the fringe.
Conversations with Jimmy coming to the gallery in September
Art Credit: "Girl from France" by Jimmy Reagan
In the gallery: Sept. 21 through Nov. 30, 2017
Reception and panel discussion: October 9, 2017
Jimmy Reagan is internationally recognized as an Outsider Artist. Diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, he creates in a way that isn’t impeded by the rules of mainstream art. Imaginative, bold and color filled—cows can be purple and faces are almost always multicolored in saturated hues of red, orange, green, blue or violet. The casual viewer might see just whimsy, but there is much more to ‘hear’ if we are fully present. What is a conversation? For Jimmy, conversations with words are difficult but conversations in rich colors and bold shapes are expansive and engaging.
Join us in this spirited conversation!
Learn more about Jimmy and his art.
Let us know you're coming to the reception.
Strengthen your creative muscles with Sheila Asato!
Spirited Journaling: Visual Expressions of Creativity
Dates: Fridays 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM | September 29 and October 6, 13, & 20
Location: The Intersection Art Studio at United
The creative spirit expresses itself through image, color, shape, texture and language. Visual journaling is a way to explore and expand our inner lives, to strengthen our creative muscles, deepen our understanding and work with dreams. In this class students will cultivate that creative spirit through a variety of practices including simple book binding, watercolor, collage and lettering. No artistic experience necessary, just a willingness to explore. You will leave with a unique journal filled with pages that reflect your expanding creative spirit.
Sheila Asato, is a passionate educator, artist and a faculty member at MCBA (The Minnesota Center for Book Arts) and the American School in Tokyo’s summer program. She is also a lecturer at The Earl Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. Her work explores healing, creativity, dreams and personal expression. She is a practicing artist and the founder of Monkey Bridge Arts, where she is a teacher and a mentor. Sheila is a certified Embodied Imagination Coach. For many years she was the head of the healing arts program at The Penny George Institute at Abbott Hospital.
Learn ways to bring art into youth and adult faith formation with Melissa Miller!
Art and Faith Formation with Melissa Miller
Date: Friday, November 10 | 9 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: The Intersection Art Studio at United
Since the Stone Age, art has been used in telling stories. The simplest of line drawings hold great importance in passing on stories from one generation to the next down through the centuries. Today, some of the most significant spiritual teachings are in museums all over the world in the form of paintings, tapestries and sculpture.
Melissa Miller will be guiding you through some simple but meaningful art projects that can be used in teaching faith formation for youth and adults or in a pastoral care setting. You’ll explore Blessing Boards, guided painting, water color crayons and the energy of Art in Community.
About Melissa: “I currently hold the position of Children's Ministry Director at River Hills UMC. Exposing kids to the process of making art has become a passion for me. Our creativity is the most unique and powerful part of each and every one of us. In my experience kids thrive on the opportunity to explore and be inspired with art supplies in an unstructured and ungraded environment. I have had more experience with music but in more recent years I have become passionate about visual arts. I love incorporating visual art into church programming thru VBS, Wednesday night programming and worship settings.”
Have you seen our promo video, featuring inspirational United theology and the arts alums? Click the thumbail to watch and explore more great videos on United's YouTube page.
To learn more about Theology and the Arts degree programs at United, click here.
