Jamaica's National Gallery to Explore Religion and Spirituality

JAMAICA GLEANER

Osmond Watson's 1984 piece 'Jah Lives'

JAMAICA---The National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ) will be presenting the Explorations II: Religion and Spirituality exhibition on Sunday, December 22. The exhibition is the second in the NGJ's new Explorations series, which was launched earlier this year with the Natural Histories exhibition. The series explores major themes in Jamaican art, and in the National Art Collection, and aims to allow visitors the opportunity to engage in new, more exploratory ways, the artistic and cultural history of Jamaica. [link]

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Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Bermuda Opens With New Paintings

BERNEWS

BERMUDA---On Friday night, Bermuda’s Ethiopian Orthodox Church opened their doors as locals were invited to learn about their traditions and view their intricately painted church icons created by an Ethiopian Monk Priest. The Debra Ganet Immanuel Cathedral in St George’s features an interior full of painted icons by Abba Gebre Hiwot Wolde Samuel, who was born in a small village in Ethiopia, and ordained as a Monk Priest when he was 18 years old. [link]

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A Black Director's Own Christmas Miracle" "Black Nativity" Opens Today

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Felicia R. Lee

Kasi Lemmons, pictured at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Harlem,
wrote some of the lyrics for the movie “Black Nativity.”

HOLLYWOOD---“Black Nativity,” an unapologetically feel-good musical about a family’s Christmas miracle, is a stark stylistic departure from Kasi Lemmons’s signature film as a director, the brooding 1997 indie hit “Eve’s Bayou.” But Ms. Lemmons said that “in a weird way” the two films are not dissimilar: Both examine complicated families and belief in things unseen through a child’s perspective. Black Nativity,” which opens Wednesday. [link]

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Where St. Nicholas Has His Black Pete(s), Charges of Racism Follow

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By John Tagliabue

St. Nicholas in Amsterdam on Sunday with his Black Petes, whom critics denounce as racist caricatures. 

AMSTERDAM---St. Nicholas entered Amsterdam twice this weekend. On Sunday morning, astride a tall white horse and clad in the red-and-gold cloak and miter of a bishop, to the cheers of tens of thousands of children and their parents, he paraded into the center of town accompanied by his faithful servant, Black Peter. Another St. Nicholas arrived on Saturday afternoon. He sat quietly on a makeshift stage in a tiny square near the Stock Exchange, dreadlocks flowing from under his gold-and-red miter, but without Black Pete. For if Black Peter is a white Netherlander in blackface, this St. Nicholas was a member of the country’s small black minority, and he was presiding at a demonstration by several hundred people, black and white, denouncing Black Pete as racist. [link]

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Exhibit Transforms Haiti’s Cultural, Religious Remnants into Art

CENTRE DAILY TIMES
By Jason Klose

From a collection of sequin-adorned Vodou flags, above,
and works made from metal oil drums, cover, in the exhibit 

PENNSYLVANI---An exhibit featuring sequined flags and steel sculptures from the Republic of Haiti has set up temporary residence at the Windows on the World Gallery at the Bellefonte Art Museum. The exhibit, “All That Gleams and Glistens: Sequin and Metal Art from Haiti," reflects a complex history of the island nation including African, French, Catholic and tribal traditions. The exhibit features works by 20 to 25 Haitian artists and includes metal-cut pieces and ceremonial flags and fabrics adorned with sequins and eye-catching colors and designs. [link]

Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County: “All That Gleams and Glistens: Sequin and Metal Art from Haiti" (End Nov. 30); 133 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte, PA; 814-355-4280; bellefontemuseum.org

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Scenes of Adultery & Racism Set Visually to Music

THE ROOT
By Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

The Story of the Adulterous Moor, from Las Cantigas de Santa Maria, 13th century. Cantiga CLXXXV. Escorial, Real Monasterio.

SPAIN---Among the most revealing insights into the devotional culture of medieval Spain are the cantigas, a type of monophonic music. A large corpus of this distinctive song form was composed during the 13th century at the court of Alfonso X, called the Wise, ruler of the Spanish kingdom of Castile. A visual dimension is added to these works in the form of illustrated narrative pages facing the text of the song. The stories are, as in this example, usually divided into six scenes, each headed by a short descriptive text based on the lyrics of the songs. The event illustrated here relates the predicament of a woman falsely accused of adultery by her mother-in-law. The unwilling agent of the fraud is the mouro, or Moor, a servant of the mother-in-law. [link]

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Movie Review: ‘12 Years a Slave’ Holds Nothing Back in Show of Suffering

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Manohla Dargis

HOLLYWOOD---“12 Years a Slave” isn’t the first movie about slavery in the United States — but it may be the one that finally makes it impossible for American cinema to continue to sell the ugly lies it’s been hawking for more than a century. Written by John Ridley and directed by Steve McQueen, it tells the true story of Solomon Northup, an African-American freeman who, in 1841, was snatched off the streets of Washington, and sold. It’s at once a familiar, utterly strange and deeply American story in which the period trappings long beloved by Hollywood — the paternalistic gentry with their pretty plantations, their genteel manners and all the fiddle-dee-dee rest — are the backdrop for an outrage. [link]

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Artist Trevor Nickolls Wins Australia's Blake Prize for Religious Art with "Metamorphosis"

THE HERALD SUN
By Louise Nun

Late South Australian artist Trevor Nickolls in 2012 with his painting "Metamorphosis", which has won the 2013 Blake Prize for religious art. Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIA---A NEW indigenous art prize established in the memory of late South Australian artist Trevor Nickolls has been given a $25,000 boost after the painter was awarded the Blake Prize, the first ever to be awarded posthumously. Nickolls, who died last year aged 63, won top honours in the national prize for religious art for his painting Metamorphosis, which depicts an Aboriginal man transformed into a butterfly, surrounded by peace doves. Metamorphosis, which melds the Western and Indigenous iconography Nickolls was known for, was commissioned for the 2012 Adelaide Festival exhibition Deadly: In-Between Heaven and Hell, held at Tandanya. [link]

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Religious Art Tours Expand to African American Churches

STAR NEWS
By Ben Steelman

St. Stephen church, Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church and First Missionary Baptist Church are on the Religious Art Walking Tour Oct. 12 and 19. Photos by Amanda Greene, Wilmington Faith and Values

NORTH CAROLINA---Wilmington's Religious Art Walking Tours are expanding their focus to include historic African-American churches. The first two-hour session begins 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Stephen A.M.E. Church, 501 Red Cross St. A second tour will be at 9 a.m. Oct. 19 at the same location. Five churches are on the program: St. Stephen, First Missionary Baptist Church, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church and St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church. Each of the five congregations formed shortly after the Civil War, said tour guide Amanda Greene, editor for the religious news website Wilmington Faith & Values, which conducts the event.[link]

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Black Philanthropy in America, is as Old as Slavery

ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING EXECUTIVES
By Spencer I. Scott

PHILANTHROPY---The desire of people to give of their time, energy and meager resources in service of others constitutes philanthropic acts. Free blacks who organized the Underground Railroad and took part in the abolitionist movement were engaged in acts of philanthropy. Philanthropy is still prevalent in the black community. The same premise is true in the black constituency as is with fund raising in general that the majority of the donors are blue-collar workers. The professional or upper class tend to support at much higher dollar values but the number of gifts are dramatically less. The need for black donors to feel that their donations are benefiting the black community in some way is very real. Appeals centered on the church, family, social reform, self-help, economic development, community development, education and similar causes generate the most support from black donors. The desire to "give a hand up, not a hand out" seems to be the cornerstone of black giving. [link]

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"Women Call for Peace: Global Vistas" Opens at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

ARTDAILY

Marcia Annenberg's "Little Red" memorializes Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow,
stoned to death at age 13 by the Shabab for the crime of rape.

NEW YORK---While women are rarely the perpetrators of war, they nonetheless suffer its devastating effects—the loss of their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and homes. The fifty-three works in the exhibition—paintings, sculptures and prints—offer stunningly beautiful but powerful statements of the artists’ commitment to peace on all fronts—personal, political, domestic, and international. Artists in the exhibition are Emma Amos, Marcia Annenberg, Siona Benjamin, Chakaia Booker, Nanette Carter, Judy Chicago, Linda Freeman, Susanne Kessler, Leila Kubba, Grace Matthews, Renee Magnanti, Irene Hardwicke Olivieri, Faith Ringgold, Aminah Robinson, Flo Oy Wong, and Helen Zughaib. The Anya and Andrew Shiva Gallery: "Women's Call for Peace" at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; 524 West 59th. Street New York, NY; (212)237.8000; johnjay.jjay.cuny.edu [link]

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RELIGIOUS ART | NEWS OF WEEK

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS 
By TAHLIB

Jerry is white but chose a pastor who is a black. Angela is an Evangelical, but stood alone to defend the Hindu girl being bullied at her school. Tom is straight but painted Jesus waving a Gay rainbow flag, and then delivered it to his Catholic priest. Not every American thrives on divisiveness and competition. Instead many of us choose community-building. Frankly, I hate the win/lose outcomes of competitions, but I'm inspired by prizes, events, and occasions that celebrate risk-takers who bridge divides. The ArtPrize, Burning Man, Fringe Festivals, and our own A&O Prize are such celebrations; and that makes the Race Prize from the Spirit & Place Festival (above) our  NEWS OF WEEK.

In other religious art news from across the USA, and around the world:

1. A&O Invitational: Participate in "First & Last: Religious Risks" in November [Ends Oct. 1, 2013]
2. Hoosier Students: Register a High School student to win a college scholarship. [Ends Oct. 5, 2013]
3. American Clergy: Nominate a strong advocate for artistic freedom. [Ends Oct. 15, 2013]
4. American Museum: Nominate an exhibit that inspired religious dialogue. [Ends Oct. 15, 2013]
5. American Artwork: Nominate most impactful contemporary artwork of 2013. [Ends Oct. 15, 2013]

It's more than Art. It's Religion. We are believers (and skeptics too), united in the search for human meaning through art from the religious imagination. We believe in the artists and craftsman who dare to explore religious themes through their creativity. When you believe, you join other believers. Some of us join the A&O Project as dues-paying members; others support the A&O Prize - Youth Scholarships as donors; most subscribe to this "free" weekly newsletter (or follow on: Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or Soundcloud). Join us. 

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$20,000 Prize to Improve Race Relations in Indianapolis

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest Disney-Britton

INDIANA---During a year of risk-taking philanthropic ideas in Indianapolis, the Spirit & Place Festival has now announced a $20,000 award for a daring idea that reshapes notions of race in Central Indiana, and the public will get to vote for the best ideas. The innovation began this Winter with the power2give from the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and was followed this Summer by the 5x5 program of the CICF. Individuals and organizations from any sector and discipline—artists and cultural organizations, faith leaders and congregations, scholars and educational organizations, social entrepreneurs and civic organizations—are invited to submit original projects by October 1. Details and submission info at www.spiritandplace.org.

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