Art & Faith Conversations

Greg Holmes is a pastor in the Dallas area. He began his studies in the arts as a painter but decided to choose seminary instead. Not until recently did Greg return to painting and to discover just how valuable it was to have in his life. He continues his work as a pastor but now makes working on his art a daily discipline which he says makes him a better pastor and a better human. Greg shares his unique perspective on how artists and the church can work to have a better relationship.  You can find out more about Greg's work at: http://www.gregholmes-art.com

Wayne Adams is a Brooklyn-based artist who received his B.F.A. from Calvin College and M.F.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. Adams has exhibited throughout the Midwest, New York and Vienna, Austria. Wayne has served as the Board Chair of CIVA for the last several years and I talk with him about what the CIVA community has meant to him. Wayne is a studio artist who explores biblical themes through a contemporary art lens. He shares with us some of his practical disciplines and creative processes and his thoughts on being a Christian in the contemporary art world. His recent shows include, “The Flat Files Year Three” TSA, Brooklyn, NY (2015) “Wayne Adams is Speaking in Tongues: A show of objects and images organized by the unrelenting voice of interpretation” Barrington Center for the Arts, Wenham, MA (2014), “Works Off Canvas” Denny Gallery, NY (2013), “Control Alt Delete” HKJB, Brooklyn, NY (2011), “Adams | Miracle” STOREFRONT Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (2010). https://wayneadamsstudio.com

Micah Behr received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Wisconsin in 2014. He resides and works in Madison, WI as a professional viola player and collaborative pianist. Micah has experiences playing chamber music and in orchestras, but recently has  found himself frequently composing music for the local church. He serves as the artist in residence and worship director at Geneva Campus Church, and released an EP of retuned and new hymns earlier this year. I talk with him about his classical music training and whether it helps or hinders his work with contemporary music in the local church.   

Leslie Iwai is an installation artist from Middleton, WI. She approaches her work with two questions: How Is It? and What Is It? She shares with us about her creative process and the surprising way she discovered that she was called to be an artist. Leslie has several installations that have been on display in various venues. To preview her work visit: https://www.leslieiwai.com

Ned Bustard is a graphic designer, children’s book illustrator, author and printmaker. Some of his works include It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God, The Chronicles of Narnia Comprehension Guide and Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups. With his hand in so many projects, I talk with him specifically about his creative process and the balance between commissions vs. personal projects.  He is the creative director for Square Halo Books, curator of the Square Halo Gallery, designer for CIVA and serves on the boards of the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art. and The Row House, Inc.  https://www.worldsendimages.com/index.html https://www.etsy.com/shop/WorldsEndImages  

Eva Ting is the coordinator for the W83 Ministry Center of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. Her background is in art administration and she is passionate about creating spaces for art that allows different communities to intersect and interact. She talks about the impact that sharing the space of the W83 center has on the surrounding neighborhoods. In creating space for art that allows people to intersect it thereby builds relationships and cultivates ongoing conversations.  https://www.150w83.com

Live discussion with author and advocate, Belinda Bauman and visual artist, Natalie Salminen Rude, on the partnership of entering empathy through works of art. Belinda founded One Million Thumbprints(OMT) which exists to end violence against women and girls in conflict zones. She recently released her book, Brave Souls-Experiencing the Audacious Power of Empathy, to tell the stories of the women she met in Congo. The transformational work of empathy Belinda witnessed among their sisterhood to help each other heal from violent crimes of war against them is what changed Belinda's life. One woman in particular gave Belinda permission to tell the world her story and signed her name with her thumbprint.  Belinda realized she needed creatives and artists to help share these stories that were too difficult to hear unless wrapped in the beauty of artistic expression. Natalie, a visual artist who specializes in encaustic, was commissioned to do a painting for OMT and part of the weekend events was her revealing the pa

Kutter Callaway joins me to discuss his book, The Aesthetics of Atheism, co-authored by Barry Taylor. We explore the questions raised in the book about the radical idea that what if Christianity needs atheism. Kutter explains how the aesthetic dimension of the absence of God or religion in popular culture, actually provides deeper theological insight and points to the core of Christianity. We discuss the contemporary horror genre such as the Netflix series, Stranger Things, and how the art we are seeing today is a response to the repeated trauma this next generation is experiencing. Kutter is assistant professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is also co-director of the Reel Spirituality Institute and serves as a consultant and advisory board member for various film and TV studios. He has authored several other books which you can find on his website. https://www.kuttercallaway.com He hosts The Kutter Callaway Podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kutter-callaway-podcas

Musician Strahan Coleman, joined me from New Zealand to talk about his recent project Prayer & Vulnerability. The album is a collection of songs reflecting on a dark time he experienced with his health and resulted in depression and anxiety setting in. The songs are paired with a collection of poems he wrote as prayers when he'd lost the ability to even sing and he learned of God's deep love and friendship in his darkest hours. Hear his brutally honest stories behind these songs and prayers and the beautiful vulnerability he expresses in his music.  Find all of his music and his new Prayers Vol 1 book here: http://www.strahanmusic.com https://strahanmusic.bandcamp.com/merch   To join the podcast on Patreon and become a supporter: https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast

This live podcast episode was recorded at Studio Haiku in Duluth, MN. My guest, Natalie Salminen Rude, is a visual artist who specializes in encaustic style painting and has also been practicing the art of haiku for several years. We talk in depth about the invitational nature of haiku that can lead us into conversations with our Creator. Natalie shares with us how it has informed and influenced her creativity and also shaped her prayer life. Haiku has shown Natalie the value of pausing and taking notice of the present, even when life feels chaotic or confusing. She shares tips on how to get started writing haiku and also shares several of her own in this episode. For more information on Natalie's work visit: https://nataliesalminen.com The Q&A from this interview is available on Patreon! Become a supporter and join our community! https://www.patreon.com/artandfaithpodcast

Improv comedy performer, Dave Ebert talks about his path to his purpose of making people laugh. He shares about his past battles with depression and suicidal thoughts and God's still small voice telling him to live one more day. Dave chose to live one more day and climbed out of that darkness by finding a new purpose in spreading joy and making people laugh. He founded HAHA Men Sketch Comedy and Improv Troupe and in 2018 launched PureFest, a faith based improv and sketch comedy festival.  Dave's story will inspire you to see that there is hope in any situation and suicide is not the end of your story. He is an advocate for suicide prevention and is training to become a licensed minister to help others. To find out more about his work visit: http:// www.PureFest.org If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts and depression, Dave shares his email to reach him at if you need to talk.  dave@Gifts4Glory.com  Twitter @Gifts4Glory and @PureFestChicago Facebook @GiftsforGlory and @PureFestChicago. 

Chris Soal is a visual artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He graduated from the university there in 2017 and won the PPC Imgainarium award in 2018. He is known for creating large bodies of work out of ordinary objects such as toothpicks and bottle caps. With his sculptures of found objects, Chris finds that it challenges the viewer's perception of the ordinary materials and leads them to deeper questions about what and who we ascribe value to and why. He describes his practice as being concerned with the materiality of objects so common that they have become invisible to us. Chris gives us an idea of the art and faith culture of Johannesburg and how it's different than other parts of the world. He also describes the story of how his fascination with these ordinary materials began with a moment of disappointment but has led him to meaningful discoveries in his faith and creativity.  See photos of these amazing sculptures on Chris's website: http://chrissoalart.tumblr.com Tickets: Live Podcast Event A

Justin Wells is a documentary filmmaker and a camera technician. He studied philosophy at California State Long Beach, theology and art and Fuller Seminary and received his MFA at the Art Center College of Design. Throughout the course of his interdisciplinary studies, he discovered the power of documentary film in revealing deeper truths about our humanity and spirituality. He compiled his discovering in his recent book, How to Film Truth, in which he explores the history and evolution of documentary film but also dives deeper into the act of documenting our reality and the beauty hidden within that vulnerable process. Justin describes the five spiritual genres of documentary film and how choosing a specific one can narrow your focus and help your creativity thrive.  You can learn more about Justin's work and order his book at: https://justinwellsfilms.com Also, I give details about our first live podcast event coming up April 18th. Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-faith-conversations-live

Lectio Divina and observing the beginning of Lent with my guest, Summer Gross. Summer is an Anglican priest, a spiritual director and an inner healing minster. She describes her spiritual training and the desire for mystery that fueled her. We talk about the importance of creating space for silence and slow scripture reading in order to allow room for God to speak. In observance of Ash Wednesday, she shares with us a reading from the book of Hosea and we practice long pauses of silence. Join us on this special episode where we take a break from our normal rhythms and carve out intentional space and time for our hearts and minds to practice hearing the voice of God and practicing his presence.  For more information on Summer and her meditations and teachings go to  http://www.athirstforgod.com She also shares readings and teaching on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/revsummerjoy/ For the prayer she shares for artists and to participate in the Lent readings and contemplative video series, go to:  http://l

Robia Scott, leading actor in the upcoming film, Unplanned, joins me. We talk about her return to acting with this intense role after leaving the entertainment industry several years ago. Unplanned is about the true story of former Planned Parenthood worker, Abby Johnson, who experienced a life transformation after witness an abortion procedure in an exam room one day. Robia and I discuss the power of storytelling even with such a divisive issue such as abortion and the way art can lift the veil on how we view the world.  Robia is a speaker, author and minister. She started dancing professionally as a teen and toured with musician, Prince. She starred in television including her most well known role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As well as returning to acting, Robia coaches and helps people experience real life spiritual transformation through her ministry. Find out more on her website or find her on Facebook and Instagram.  Unplanned releases in theaters March 29th, 2019.  http://robiascott.com

Singer/Songwriter, Joy Ike, shares her story about the turning point in her adult life when she felt the urgency to pursue music and songwriting. Born of Nigerian descent, her childhood musical influences included gatherings in her home of other African immigrant families who would join in playing and singing diverse rhythms and songs together. She believes this contributed to her eclectic styles of gospel, r&b, jazz and pop that you hear throughout her music. She shares about overcoming her fears about her own creativity, defying categories and genres, and finding her true voice as a musician throughout the years. You can find her music on all digital platforms and find out more on her website about upcoming concerts. https://www.instagram.com/joyikemusic/ https://www.joyike.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/1a8rRSu8LCSLXynHYKDYVi?si=GkLfASK_TCSaZnd1TJhtWg

I'm joined by Alisha Siemens and Adam Goldstein, Minnesota founders of the global company, Shema. They started Shema to be an apparel brand and company that addresses and alleviates poverty and human trafficking. Hear their inspiring story behind the vision and calling they received to provide restoration and sustainable employment through sewing co-ops to women being rescued out of human trafficking. Alisha and Adam have been working for the last few years with clothing designers to come up with apparel items that are ethically sourced and are competitive in the fashion market today. They share with us the many obstacles they've faced, including not being able to take a salary for the past 3 years. In the midst of it all, they've seen miracles as well as they continue to say yes to this calling and mission.  Visit their website to learn more, donate and sign up for their newsletter. Follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on the new t-shirt and hoodie they are unveiling in their first ever pre-sale event

Renew the Arts is a nonprofit organization that is passionate about liberating creativity in Christian artists. President and CEO, Justus Stout, joins me to tell us about how Renew the Arts is influencing cultural transformation by enabling artists to create lasting art for the common good. Hear what fueled Justus to go from politics to instead dedicating his life to supporting and enabling artists after he lost his brother, a songwriter, to cancer. https://renewthearts.org https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/renew-the-arts-podcast/id1358917338?mt=2  

Songwriter/Musician, John Mark McMillan, talks about his first ever Christmas album, Smile in the Mystery. We talk about the story  behind the album title and also behind the songs. We also talk about how God surprised John Mark with a fresh perspective on the wonder of Christmas when he was writing the song, Baby Son.  Smile in the Mystery is full of nostalgia and timeless sounds but at the same time surprise melodies and song choices.  Find out more at  https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/smile-in-the-mystery/1441151264  

My guest, Tim Briggs, is a pastor in North Carolina who decided to gather other songwriters and musicians to help him record a collection of songs that he had on his heart. He felt his own limitations as a musician would hinder his dreams of bringing these songs to life but he and the artists worked together as a collective to create what has become the album, Folk Hymnal. I talk with Tim about what this process was like, how a communal project like this has shaped his faith, and how sometimes we need to be the biggest risk takers of all because our identity is secure in our relationship with Christ. You can find the music on all digital platforms including iTunes and Spotify https://fanlink.to/folkhymnal You can also find two lyric videos to the songs here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgxAcw9T4_Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GblIT7tTzY