If you haven’t checked out the new design redux over at St. Austin Review, do so! It’s simple, creative and I think perfectly in tune with their goal and mission is–it’s not trying too hard to be what it’s not.

One feature of the new web site is the StAR blog, the Ink Desk, featuring snippets of the faith and culture conversation.

Read my first entry on Grassroots Films search for interns.

I received this via the SAF’s email newsletter:

Greetings!

The Foundation has reached a critical financial moment. We still need an additional $20,000 to cover operational costs through the balance of this year. Without it, the Foundation will be forced to cease activity and close its doors by mid-September. Yet, if each person on this mailing list offers a contribution of just $50, this financial need will be more than satisfied. The Foundation depends entirely on the generosity of its friends for the support of its programs. We urge you to consider helping us continue our vital mission to evangelize the world through art.

“In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art.” – Pope John Paul II

Contact Us!
1413 K Street NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
202-898-1288
info@thesacredarts.org

Happy Feast of St. Josemaria Escriva!

This painting is done by Sr. AnneMarie Heyne, who is currently a novice with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Florence, Italy. If you would like to support her vocation and promote the sacred arts, consider purchasing her paintings. Contact me at ruahfellowship@gmail.com if you’re interested.

For more on St. Josemaria:

• Short biography, links and the collect for the day
• St. Josemaria’s works for free online

I heard a joke at daily Mass that made me laugh today. As I’ve said before, I don’t hate all modern or contemporary art (though much of it is based on erroneous principles), but a lot of it is characterized by this:

A man is looking at a painting in an art gallery, and is intrigued with one particular painting. It was a canvas covered with black paint, several large orange splotches, with thin, yellow lines criss-crossed. Tilting his head with furrowed brow, the man was approached by the artist.

“I don’t know if I understand this painting at all. What’s it about?” asked the gallery patron.

Nodding seriously, the artist declared, “Few people understand my work. It comes from inside of me.”

“Maybe you should take an Alka-seltzer,” suggested the man.

I laughed out loud. Yes. Maybe you should take an Alka-seltzer!

You may be a reader of aeternus blog, a lovely online page for commentary on spirituality and mysticism, but what you may not be aware of is that the author, Lisa A. Johnston, is an artist and photographer. And her photography is gorgeous. Take a look.
(Photo used with permission.)

He writes page turners to sell his “theology”. It’s not a big surprise to faithful and well-formed Christians–and in particular, Catholic Christians–but it seems to be news to the millions who read and love him into theological and historical delusion.

Read NY Times Op-Ed Columnist Ross Douthat here. He opens up the cancerous body of work and operates from head to toe, noting that Brown isn’t just your run of the mill anti-Catholic bigot, but an avant garde DIY hater of organized religion in general:

“Piggybacking on the fascination with lost gospels and alternative Christianities, he serves up a Jesus who’s a thoroughly modern sort of messiah — sexy, worldly, and Goddess-worshiping, with a wife and kids, a house in the Galilean suburbs, and no delusions about his own divinity.

But the success of this message — which also shows up in the work of Brown’s many thriller-writing imitators — can’t be separated from its dishonesty.”

That’s right folks. Douthat’s calling him a liar. In the NY Times. Sweet.

As a side note, I went to this Theology on Tap last week that, contrary to its description, was a thorough treatment of the book and movie, “Angels and Demons,” along with a fantastic overview of the Church’s teaching on art and film. Dr. Daniel VanSlyke, Associate Professor of Church History at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, was great, if not an eensy weensy bit long-winded. I’ll post the audio when I get it.

In lieu of being an actual arts marketeer and faith-and-culture non-profit manager, I read about it.

I can’t remember how I came across ArtsJournal, but I read it every so often and love it. It has a great variety of articles, ranging from news to opinion to news opinion. It nicely breaks up the articles by subject: issues, dance, ideas, media, music, people, publishing, theater, visual, etc. It even has a classifieds section where arts-related jobs and educational ops are posted.

As a little appetizer to your arts news consumption, they’ve also got a couple dozen bloggers rockin’ out commentary on, well, rock, among other things. One of my regular web stops is Madison’s own Artful Manager, a blog about the business of arts and culture, by the Director of our local Bolz Center for Arts Administration.

A new favorite, though, is Life’s a Pitch, which has more to offer than punny, pithy and witty titles. She’s got a little insight to arts marketing and promotion, is smart, and best of all, she’s a little critical and, well, bitchy, which isn’t all too different from Mrs. Ruah here. We’re tired of mediocre, folks! Don’t be shrinking flowers in the face of criticism! Face it, own it, and move on and up.

That’s all here for today. I hope you enjoy ArtsJournal and their blogs as much as I do. Perhaps we’ll start a little Sacred Arts Journal???

Have you heard of St. Ambrose Academy in Madison, Wisconsin? Madisonians in this Diocese know it’s the only 100% orthodox Catholic junior high and high school (although props to Edgewood HS for recent renewal), but it’s not just the alma mater of that whiz kid, Bobby Marsland, or the Madison area locus for uber-Catholic activities, it’s a place for well-rounded education.

That’s right. St. Ambrose Academy is working on their Renaissance factor, and last month their wish list ended with “Artwork & Sculptures for the environment.” This is St. Ambrose Academy, which is becoming more well known. If you’re an artist with mad gifts, and are looking to practice philanthropy and get a little press, too, I’d recommending contacting St. Ambrose. You will not lose your reward.

If you’re near the Chicago area, I urge you to attend this.

THE FOUNDATION FOR SACRED ARTS presents

A New Way of Seeing: understanding Christian art April 25th, 2009 10:00am – 3:00 pm at Saint John Cantius Parish 825 North Carpenter Street, Chicago, Illinois 60642 ________________________________