Announcements, Conferences, Exhibitions

October 2008

Chagall's Bible: Mystical Storytelling
7 October 2008-January 2009, Museum of Biblical Art, 1865 Broadway, at 61st Street, New York NY 10023

The Museum of Biblical Art presents an exhibition highlighting the work of Jewish artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985).  Featuring more than one hundred etchings and twelve original twenty-color lithographs from the Chagall estate presented together for the first time in the United States, this exhibition explores Chagall's deep and abiding interest in the Bible.  In addition to presenting fifty-five hand-colored etchings of the Hebrew Bible and the original lithograph designs for the "Jerusalem Windows," the exhibition also examines Chagall's frequent, and controversial, use of Christian iconography.  A centerpiece of the exhibit is Chagall's Quai de Tournelle (1962), an oil-on-canvas which interprets the Crucifixion from the perspective of Russian Jewish exile.  In conjunction with the exhibit, MOBIA will also be sponsoring a series of lectures, musical performances, and family workshops.  The museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and on Thursday from 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.  The recommended admission fee is $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for students and senior citizens (with ID).

Inquiries: Debbie Bujosa, +1 (212) 408-1436.
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The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan
October 2008-5 January 2009, Rubin Museum of Art

The Rubin Museum of Art proudly presents the first major exhibition of Bhutanese sacred art in the continental United States.  Many of the artworks contained in this exhibition have never been displayed outside of Bhutan, a small country situated between India and China.  Organized by the Honolulu Academy of Arts in conjunction with the Royal Government of Bhutan’s Department of Culture and the nation’s Central Monastic Authority, The Dragon’s Gift features eighty-seven works of art, which include a variety of paintings and images, bronze and wooden sculptures, and ritual objects spanning the eighth to twentieth centuries.  The exhibition is designed to introduce the visitor to the intricate symbolism of Tantric Buddhism, the official religion of Bhutan.  Another prominent feature of the exhibition is its documentation of the ritual dance forms of Bhutan (cham).  A database of over three hundred hours of video footage of cham will be available to the public during the exhibition, and the RMA will also sponsor free performances of the sacred cham dances throughout New York City.  The Museum is open Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Inquires: Anne Edgar, Tel. +1 (646) 336-7230, anne@anneedgar.com; or Anne-Marie Nolin, Tel. +1 (212) 620-5000, amnolin@rmanyc.org.
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NOVEMBER 2008

Society for the Arts in Religious and Theological Studies Annual Meetings
1-3 November 2008, Chicago IL (American Academy of Religion)
21-25 November 2008, Boston MA (Society for Biblical Literature)

This year, the Society for the Arts in Religious and Theological Studies will hold two meetings in conjunction with its affiliate organizations, the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature.  The first meeting in Chicago (in connection with the AAR) will begin with a reception on Friday, October 31.  This reception will include a recognition of the late John Dillenberger and his many contributions to the field and a presentation by Judith Dupré on the topic of ethics and architecture.  On Saturday morning, the Society will sponsor a tour of new Chicago architecture.  To register for this tour, please contact President Robin Jensen at the address below.  The second meeting in Boston (in connection with the SBL) will begin on Friday, November 21 with a concert featuring the music of Calvin Hampton at the Old South Church in Boston.  A reception will follow, during which new members will be welcomed.  On Saturday morning, there will be a presentation by Don Saliers that explores the intersections of theology, spirituality, and music, followed by a panel discussion and response led by local composers and hymn writers.

Chicago Tour Registration: robin.jensen@vanderbilt.edu
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DECEMBER 2008

Grace and Grand Laughter: The Christian Vision of Marilynne Robinson
December 2008, Conference on Christianity and Literature, MLA Convention.

Inquiries: Scott LaMascus scott.lamascus@oc.edu
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OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Christina Saj Exhibit: "Six Days of Creation"
Seminary Chapel, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, 17 Seminary Place, New Brunswick NJ 08901

Featuring the work of contemporary Christian artist Christina Saj, the exhibit "Six Days of Creation" will run until May 30, 2008.  The chapel is open to visitors Monday thru Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

 
Cologne Cathedral Window by Gerhard Richter
Cologne Cathedral has a new stained-glass southern window, "Symphony of Light," designed by Gerhard Richter, one of Germany's most important living artists.  11,500 squares of glass in 72 colors fill the 20-meter-high window.  The southern window has consisted of simple unadorned glass since the original stained-glass window was destroyed during World War II.
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Envision Church
An online resource sponsored by the Georgetown Center for Liturgy, Envision Church draws primarily on the Catholic tradition as it seeks to "generate a community of people whose interests, talents, creativity, and collaborative spirit will bring about a deeper and richer worship life for the Church."  To this end, Envision Church features articles that examine the use of art in the liturgical tradition, images from an array of worship spaces across six continents, a database of religious art events and announcements, and a library of glossaries, bibliographies, and church documents.
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Directory of Studies in the Visual Culture of Religion
This online directory, founded in 2005 by the Centre for Studies in the Visual Culture of Religion at the School of Art, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, aims “to define (for the first time) the emergent discipline of the visual culture of religion” by charting the research and activities of a wide range of scholars in the field of the visual culture of religion and related disciplines.  The Directory invites scholars to submit profiles detailing research interests, institutional affiliations, teaching experience, and publications.  In the near future, the resulting database will be accessible to all registered users with the goal of fostering both collaborative projects and a sense of collegiality.

Inquiries:  Contact the Directory Administrator at csvcr@aber.ac.uk.
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Golden States of Grace: Prayers of the Disinherited
Photographer and writer Rick Nahmias has produced a new body of work entitled "Golden States of Grace: Prayers of the Disinherited" which has recently premiered in southern California and will soon be touring as a traveling exhibit. The work examines marginalized communities at prayer through a blend of black and white photography, text, and audio.
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The Peter Milward, S.J. Shakespeare Collection
The Burns Rare Book Library at Boston College currently houses the Peter Milward, S.J. Shakespeare Collection of Milward Criticism--a complete collection of Milward's books, articles, and chapters on Shakespeare totaling some two hundred items. The library is soon to receive the entire collection of Milward's critical output, currently at the Renaissance Center, Sophia University, Japan. This collection consists of over 350 books (including many in Japanese) authored by Milward, plus more than a thousand articles and other material, including manuscripts and correspondence. The Milward Collection will be part of the Burns Library collection of twentieth-century Catholic and Jesuit material.

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