"Study for Improvisation V" by Vassily Kandinsky
I've had a weekend full of art. Very different art experiences. Saturday I attended a Juried Art Show reception at Trinity at River Ridge in Eagan, a show in which I had two paintings. This first annual event included guest speaker Gregory Wolfe, founder and editor of Image, a journal on Art, Faith & Mystery. It is interesting to be part of the many voices of those who wrestle with what faith means and to the interplay of faith and art. We all come at it differently, each with our own story, our own experiences. The next day I grabbed an hour at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, asking where the Abstract Expressionists reside. I found a few favorites, but of all of them, Kandinsky speaks to me most deeply. In this painting, the vibrant color and simple shapes allude to portions of Revelation, a book full of colorful, powerful images. I topped off the day with a Bach Oratory directed by New Ulm native son, Matthew Olson. Bach's creations are full of minor and major notes, pointing to the suffering and wounds of life, moving to chords of hope and promise. I was bathed in the beauty of human voice and musical instruments woven together, pointing to what it means to be human and human in relationship with God. All of these disparate art events strengthen my inclination that the arts are a voice that speak to the mystery of what it means to be human in a way that goes beyond language. The combination of word, visual art and music is especially powerful. This weekend affirmed my inclination to lean into visual interpretation of music, especially choral music. I am looking forward to where it takes me.
