Renew The Arts Podcast

Justus and Michael talk on the phone with Michael Wright about engaging the arts as a Christian guest in “secular” cultural spaces. As a culture curator who helps develop curriculum resources for Fuller Seminary’s Brehm Center for the Arts, Michael Wright is well-suited to assist newly awakening patrons to develop fruitful practices of appreciation. Stay tuned at the end for “Riverwide (Bendblock Remix)” by Lolo Meares. (mateoandlo.squarespace.com) (mattlumpkin.com) Things mentioned in the episode:

Justus and Michael meet with author and pastor George Grant in his home in Franklin, Tennessee to discuss the relationship between the Reformed church and the arts. If the Reformed church has very good theological reasons for supporting the arts, why does it seem like there is so much resistance to the arts and artists in Reformed communities?

Your host Justus sits down with singer-songwriter Anthony Quails who shares stories of becoming a sponsored artist, knowing God’s grace through shortcomings, evangelizing in music, and his new album of his most personal songs yet. Stay tuned to the end for the demo of “I Wish That I Was Him” from Anthony’s forthcoming EP The Man I Thought I’d Never Be. Check out his Kickstarter before it ends Saturday, June 29!

Justus sat down with singer-songwriter Derek Webb to discuss his experience in the Christian music industry and how it may have contributed to his loss of faith. Stay tuned at the end for “Wedding Dress” from Webb’s 2003 record She Must and Shall Go Free. We also want to thank Ryan Lane of Civilized Creature for permission to use “Unexpected Gifts” from his forthcoming record The Way Back Home.

Allison and Michael field your questions about art history, tackling some new material to close out the season. Stay tuned at the end to hear the full version of “Eyes Closed Dance Party” off of Permission to Feel by Civilized Creature. Thank you all for writing in!  

In a fully-loaded episode, Allison and Michael discuss the art historical trends and challenges of today, with a discussion of digital, indie, and multi-media art. Then they present a flyby of how the various movements covered in this season might apply to or inform artists and patrons now. Stay tuned at the end for “Before the Silver Tether Breaks,” composed and arranged by Phil Hodges, from Death is Their Shepherd, by Physick.  

Allison and Michael discuss the Pop Art movement, the divide between “high brow/low brow” art, and the prominence of celebrity and popular culture. Stay tuned at the end for Phil Hodges’ classical guitar arrangement of Neil Young’s “Old Man.”  

Allison and Michael unpack the hopelessness of existentialism, and they discuss why despair concerning merely human attempts at meaning provide fruitful ground for the Gospel. Stay tuned at the end for a John Cage piece performed on the classical guitar by Phil Hodges.

Your hosts Allison and Michael discuss some reasons to appreciate Modern Art, bringing up some of the most famous of the nearly 70 movements comprised by it. With all of its snark, modern art has a lot to say about honesty in the face of the brutal realities of human existence, and Christians can learn something from it about how to make “ugly” art the right way. Stay tuned at the end for a classical . . . [ Read More ]

Allison and Michael discuss some of the features of realism and impressionism, and how these movements represent the first murmurings of “modern” art. Additionally, they address how and why female artists began to enjoy greater representation in the mid to late 1800s. Special thanks to Dr. Sachs for his contributions, and stay tuned at the end for another classical guitar piece from Philip Hodges.

Allison and Michael discuss the important transition from the Baroque to the Romantic era. Why did Nature vs. Civilization become such a central theme of Romantic artists, and why does it still matter? Special thanks to Dr. Sachs from Kennesaw State University for his contributions on the relationship between the Neo-Classical and Romantic movements. And stay tuned at the end to hear Philip Hodges play the first movement of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” arranged for classical . . . [ Read More ]

Your hosts Allison and Michael unpack the transition from Renaissance into Baroque art with an emphasis on the impact the Reformation had on culture in its time (and beyond). Stay tuned at the end for a Bach Cello Prelude played on classical guitar by Phil Hodges.  

Your hosts Michael and Allison discuss the birth and rebirth of Greek and Roman values in ancient and Renaissance art, discussing the history and impact of Platonism on culture and the church. Stay tuned at the end for a Renaissance lute piece arranged for the classical guitar played by Phil Hodges. Special thanks to Dr. Sachs from Kennesaw State University for his helpful contributions.  

Is art history important for anyone but museum managers? Michael and co-host Allison Knight talk about the substance and importance of our season 3 theme for everyone—artists, consumers, leaders, and taste-makers. How does art history differ from just plain history? How does it direct you and your culture even if you remain ignorant of it? Listen to the end to hear sponsored artist and classical guitarist Philip Hodges play Opus 35, No. 13, by Fernando . . . [ Read More ]

Join your hosts, Justus and Michael, as they field your questions and discuss your comments from two seasons of the Renew the Arts podcast. What was our most controversial episode? What’s so great about raw milk? Were we wrong about Tolkien? Stay tuned through the end to hear the lyrics-included version of the Season 2 theme song, “Sounding Brass,” by Civilized Creature from Of the Uncaused Cause.

Clearly, artists within the church need greater support from Christians, but what about artists outside the church? Should Christians support or receive art from unbelievers? And if so, how? Special thanks to Bryan John Appleby for allowing us to close this episode with “Noah’s Nameless Wife” from his record Fire on the Vine.

Given the degree to which Renew the Arts supports art and artists, it might surprise you to hear Justus and Michael talking about how some aspiring artists should be discouraged from pursuing their dreams. In this episode, they pitch some practical ideas on how you can determine if God has really called you to the arts, and what that might look like. Wait until the end to hear “Songs for Friends” from Physick’s Songs for . . . [ Read More ]

What do prophets have to do with art? Throughout the Scriptures, the prophetic calling is closely associated with the arts, especially with music, poetry, and prophetic theater. In this episode, Justus and Michael explore the way in which this close association persists today, closely following the discussion of this in Steve Turner’s excellent book, Imagine. Special thanks to singer-songwriter Drakeford Lanier for permission to end this episode with the song “Whitewash” from his record, The . . . [ Read More ]

Does church architecture matter? Does it do anything more than house people and programs at the lowest possible cost with the potential side goal of attracting new members? Or should we be aiming higher and deeper? Justus and Michael discuss what our architecture says about our priorities and why we should be giving greater leadership to visionary artists in this crucial area. Stay tuned at the end for another excellent track from Warbler off of . . . [ Read More ]

Why devote any time to craft? If the information being communicated is all that matters, wouldn’t the quickest, cheapest, most direct form of communication be best? In this episode, Justus and Michael are joined again by Rusty Hein to discuss why good craft makes art hospitable and why that’s so important. Stay tuned at the end for “Testimony” by Warbler off of Sea of Glass.