Luke 1:26-45 | 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 | Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 This week, we recognize what preceded Mary’s song of praise: news that was disorienting and bewildering, possibly threatening her life. Together, Mary and Elizabeth find courage and comfort in spite of their unusual circumstances. We, too, are called to […]
Painting Appraisal
Speaking with Miki Mu on BedStuy Walls Mural Festival
I recently had the opportunity to speak to BedStuy Walls Mural Festival founder and chief curator Miki Mu about the hugely successful community arts festival held earlier this month on Lexington Avenue and Do the Right Thing Way in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. This is all so wonderful. What was your […]
RIP Bookforum
The New York-based literary magazine Bookforum will cease publication, according to an official announcement today, December 12. The news that Bookforum’s current December–February issue will be its last comes just days after the surprise reveal that Penske Media Corporation has acquired its sister magazine and parent company, Artforum. Bookforum was […]
Children’s Lessons for Advent–Epiphany — A Sanctified Art
The holidays are a magical time for children. We’ve created these children’s lessons to be used with our Close to Home series for Advent–Epiphany (Year C) in worship, Sunday School, or at home. Each week includes a scripture to read from the International Children’s Bible, some “wondering” statements, a good […]
Magic and Monet | Reagan Upshaw Fine Art
Suppose I came into a possession of a box of junk from my childhood that my mother had neglected to throw out. Included in the box might be an old baseball from my Little League days. What would that baseball be worth? Nothing, of course. You couldn’t even play ball […]
Bartek Swiatecki / Pener: Selected Works 15-21
A new book here features six years of selected works from a Polish graffiti writer, muralist, and professor of art and painting at a secondary school in his hometown of Olsztyn, Poland. He reckons that his life is one of ‘Planned Freestyle,’ meaning that having structure imposed upon him is […]
On the spot: Madie | Displate Blog
In case you hadn’t already guessed by looking at her lovely character drawings, Madie arts loves clean lines and cozy couches. There is a huuuge pool of charming individuals living in her mind at all times, planted there by the movies, games, and books she greedily consumes. But mostly, she […]
What’s an Amateur, Anyway? : Open Space
Eds note: The prose in this post was written by Creative Growth Poet-in-Residence Lorraine Lupo Heather Edgar, Untitled, 18″x24″ acrylic on paper I like to proselytize to any non-poet who will listen. My speeches go something like this: You don’t have to understand every poem that you read, and you […]
Developing Your Art Style Through Experimentation — Caryl Fine Art
2. Play at Improvisation Have you ever taken an improv class? This strikes fear in many people, while others find it a fantastic experience. Artists can borrow from the improv playbook by using the “yes and…” prompt. Improv players use this prompt to build on the storyline that has been […]
The “thrill of the hunt”
Last week in the Collage Art Collective, I asked this question: What is it about collage that inspires you? Of the many responses I received, several mentioned their love of the “thrill of the hunt”, looking to add interesting papers to their collection, and then using those papers to create a different and […]