kelsey- icons

When I was writing my paper on icons I came across some information that explained how there are restrictions and regulations on the creation of icons that include particular ways of mixing or not mixing of colors. I thought that was interesting and noticed that there was a lot of meanings and planning in those rules. I had mixed feelings on them though because I felt that to a certain extent the restrictions seem unnecessary and over regulating. With a more free approach there would be a better flow of the spirit of the art itself in the experience that would allow for multiple interpretations or possibly a more free flowing spirit throughout. With greater diversity in art, there could be an interesting effect in which particular pieces of art would speak to particular people.

kelsey - gods love

When I make something , for instance a vase in my glass blowing class, I have a special connection with my creation that I reminds me of the relationship we have with God. While the relationship is not interactive there are still many similarities. I for instance, know the effort, every move, and action taken in the proess of forming the product. This gives me an attachment to the piece because Not only do I know everything about it, but to me its not just blue, its royal blue with a mix of white specks, and its not just round I know that there is a small lump on the bottom left side. I feel in the same way god knows us inside and out, he know every minute detail as well the things we have been though and how we were made down to the smallest detail. No one else in the world know us like he does just in the same way no one else in the world knows my glass creations like I do and no one can appreciate and love them the way I do either.

kelsey - art participation

If art offers a look in to the holy and helps us see God then can art be considered a form of worship? Or possibly is it more enlightening to make art instead of just viewing it? Van der Leeuw claims that art is made to be interacted with and I think that creating it would be the ultimate form of interaction. When I draw or create forms of art I feel that it is in some way an act of worship. My participation in the experience of crating art as well as my experience interacting with the forms and image seems to be to be a closer more personal interaction than viewing the art.

kelsey - nature and art

Since God made creation , I believe it is possible to see him through his handiwork, and therefore, even non believers or people who do not know god can still experience him and see him in it. Does this apply to art too? IN the sense that it is possible to learn something you have never heard of or experienced before through a wordless interaction? I know this sounds like what we talk about in class but i think there is a big distinction to seeing and understanding things we have knowledge of verse things completely out of our realms. I kind of feel like it might be possible -the same way C. S. Lewis saw the beauty in his lid garden more so than the real one for example makes me think that it is possible. But, I also think that creation was made directly by god and therefore should be more powerful in demonstrating himself to others. Art, being indirectly made by god, in a sense, made by people with Gods ideas, seems like it would be less awe inspiring.

kelsey - language praying

One day in class we talked about how even though we have a verbal language it is visually based in that when we pictures words we picture them as they would be written…with spaces and punctuation. I never realized this before, but to some extent I think it is kinda of sad. I feel that our thoughts, especially in relation to language, are limited somehow. Is it possible to think or pray without words? I often try to pray in my head with out words and its really hard. I cant help but wonder if it is actually really possible at all. Sometimes I just emotion (used as a verb) to God but im still not sure If Its just my imagination that im doing this or if I only think I am. Ill keep trying.

kelsey - symbols

An interesting quote form class I wrote down is: “symbols function as a surveyor’s staff or guide for becoming oneself. I thought that this was interesting that it fit in so well with some of the stuff I have learned in my communications classes. Just as there is the relationship with the self and the other, there is the relationship with the self and the society. In Communications symbols serve the same purpose as a means for creating a mutually understood language that conveys meanings. In religion and art we see it in the way, let take a painter for instance, uses symbols and puts them together in a wy that creates meanings. These meanings help us see beyond the art into the holy other which lies beyond it. In the same way language is made up of symbols, understood meanings given to objects and ideas that we put together in such a way as to construct meanings that we use to relate to other or society as a whole. But most interesting, is not that symbols help us communicate to theres, but through the shared meanings we have created, but the way we relate all these symbols to ourselves and use them personally which helps us create who we are.

kelsey - Lewis and books

One thing that struck me from class the other day was something Professor Redick quoted from C.S. Lewis. I dont remember the exact quote but it was in regards to metaphorical parallel to the story of salvation in the Lion Which and the Wardrobe. It generally went: We dont need to try to create metaphors for Christ and salvation because since it is the basis for all things portrayals of it will come naturally. First of all I thought it was crazy that the book was such a perfect metaphor with out even trying because it just seemed to be filled with that intent. At the same time though, It makes complete sense because in the same way that an author is reflected in his work, god is reflected in his - and his work is the creation of this world and everything in it. In that sense all interactions and object will reflect and contain pieces of himself. This might be a stretch but the idea of god as an author iv also heard used to describe the trinity. God the father is the author, writing the story and creating it. God the son is the main character in the story. As God portrays himself in literary form the character contains all aspects of God, his personality and characteristics, and thinks in the same way. At the same time though, because it is a character in a book He will assume the qualities of other characters in the story as well. And lastly there is god the spirit, which is the personality and soul of God which flows through out his work. In the same way some part of an artist is in all his art, God is in all the things in his story. There is no way that an artist can create something that has no part of him or nothing of himself in it or an author can not help basing a book off their own experiences and mindset because thats who they are and what they know. God is not limited like this but his art still cant help but convey its creator.