beyond "sloppy agape" christian art...

Whenever I post an essay, sermon or reflection, I search for visual art images to supplement and enhance my words.  It is literally a beautiful time of meditation for me - with one exception. There is so much sentimental, ugly and theologically offensive religious "art" clogging up the pages of "google image search" that I often pull the plug in despair. There are, however, a few go to sites that continue to feed my soul.

+ First, is the Christian Modern Art compendium @ http://christianmodernart.com/. This is an internet directory listing many of the most creative artists mining the vein of intentionally Christian contemporary art.

+ Second, would be CIVA (Christians in Visual Arts) @ http://civa.org/. Less an actual art "gallery" than an educational resource for further exploration, this site helps connect those who are hungry for art beyond "sloppy agape" piety.

+ Third, is another directory, Art in the Christian Tradition @ http://diglib.library.vanderbilt. edu/act-search.pl.  Collected and updated by Vanderbilt University, this is worth taking time to explore.

+ Fourth, there is the Methodist Modern Art Collection from the UK @ http://www.
methodistorg.uk /static/artcollection/listofworks.htm. I love this site. I used to visit the Episcopal Cafe, too but of late there seems to be less and less visual art in their new format. 

+ And fifth is the Art Index found on The Text This Week lectionary/preaching site @ http:// www.textweek.com/art/art.htm. This listing is extensive; sadly, there are a number of links that no longer work, too.

Other places that have helped me would have to include

+ Deviant Art @ http://www.deviantart.com/  for really out of the box - and often arrestingly beautiful - images.

+ Mako Fujimura @ http://www.makotofujimura.com/.

+ Artnet (Georges Rouault) @ http://www.artnet.com/artists/georges-rouault/.

It helps to be married with an aesthetically creative and theologically savvy visual artists and photographer, too!  Dianne's photographs continue to be a source of inspiration.