Thought for the Day

Science takes things apart to see how they work.

Religion puts things together to see what they mean.

~ Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

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Requoted in Jonathan Sacks, "The Beautiful Institution", Plough, November 8, 2020; from Jonathan Sacks, The Great Partnership: God, Science and the Search for Meaning (Schocken, 2011)

Jonathan Sacks (1948-2020), Philosopher, Theologian, Author; Chief Rabbi, United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, 1991-2013

Thought for the Day

Creativity flourishes not in certainty but in questions. Growth

 germinates not in tent dwelling but in upheaval. Yet the seduction

is always security rather than venturing, instant knowing 

rather than deliberate waiting.

~ Sue Monk Kidd

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Quoted from Sue Monk Kidd, When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions (Harper, 1990), page 25

Sue Monk Kidd, Author

Thought for the Day

There is no art if we are unwilling to wait for paint to dry.

~ Makoto Fujimura

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Quoted from Foreword by N.T. Wright in Makoto Fujimura, Art + Faith: A Theology of Making (Yale University Press, 2020), pages viii-ix

Makoto Fujimura, Painter; Writer; Founder International Arts Movement; Co-Founder, Kintsugi Academy

 

Trinity Forum, Online Conversation with Makoto Fujimura, January 29, 2021

New Artist Watch Feature at Escape Into Life

 

Frantisek Strouhal, Ascension, 2020

Oil Printing/Mixed Media Work on Paper

20" x 24"

 

© Frantisek Strouhal

 

PLEASE DO NOT COPY IMAGE

 

It gives me much delight to present the exquisite work of Frantisek Strouhal of Canada in today's Artist Watch column at the international arts magazine Escape Into Life.

 

Born in the Czech Republic, Frantisek currently resides in Western Canada. Admired around the world for his flawless use of a traditional 19th Century technique* combined with a uniquely contemporary yet timeless artistic vision, Frantisek has exhibited widely and received numerous awards, including Signature Member Status by the Federation of Canadian Artists' Board of Governors. 

Today's new Artist Watch column showcases images of eight of Frantisek's artworks and includes his Artist Statement and a brief profile. 

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* See Introduction to Oil and Bromoil Printing at Alternative Photography

Thought for the Day

 May you love yourself as you are loved.

~William Pitt Root

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Quoted from William Pitt Root, "Song of Benediction", Strike the Dark Air for Music: Poems (Atheneum, 1973)

 

William Pitt Root, Poet and Editor; First Poet Laureate of Tucson (1997-2002); Teacher

Thought for the Day

Every act of love is a risk of the self.

~ Eugene Peterson

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Quoted from Eugene Peterson, Where Your Treasure Is: Psalms That Summon You from Self to Community (Eerdmans, 1993), page 174

Eugene Peterson (1932-2018), Pastor Scholar, Author, Poet

Thought for the Day

We must speak honestly—but also wisely.

~ Ellen Davis

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Quoted in W. David O. Taylor, Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life (Nelson Books, 2020), page 1 Epigraph, from Ellen F. Davis, Getting Involved with God: Rediscovering the Old Testament (Westminster John Knox, 2014), page xi

Ellen Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology, Duke Divinity School (See pdf of Davis's CV.)

Thought for the Day

The full embrace of all humanity lifts the standards

of any human endeavor. 

 

A world without caste would set everyone free.

~ Isabel Wilkerson

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Quoted from Isabel Wilkerson, "Epilogue", Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents (Random House, 2020), pages 385, 388

Isabel Wilkerson, Writer and Author; University Teacher and Lecturer; Winner, Pulitzer Prize, National Humanities Medal, National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction

Isabel Wilkerson on FaceBook

Isabel Wilkerson on Twitter

New Artist Watch Feature at Escape Into Life

 

The Resting Huntress, bclay, mason stains, glaze, c.10

10.5" x 11" x 9"

© Nancy Pirri

PLEASE DO NOT COPY IMAGE

First featured at Escape Into Life in 2011, Nancy Pirri has provided us an opportunity to feature images of some of her latest work, which appear in today's new Artist Watch column.

Nancy discovered her passion, working with clay, in 1996, although she has "dabbled" in every art form, she says. Her work focuses on the universal "Every Woman" and her "struggle to find emotional balance." Nancy most recently was showcased in SOFA EXPO 2019 (now known as Intersect Chicago), where she exhibited her commissioned piece "My Choice" in a special show titled "Women's Rights Anniversaries". Brooklyn-born, Nancy maintains a studio in Chicago, where she also resides.

Nancy has provided a number of images for today's Artist Watch, including close-ups showing the texture, expression, attitude, or gestures of her clay figures. In addition to photos, today's feature includes an updated profile and Artist Statement.

Thought for the Day

The gift the artist offers to share with us is the mindful and

prayerful act of seeing, for, in order to make material from their

 thought and ideas, they have to spend time noticing, looking

 intently and making careful observation of the minutiae of things;

 the negative spaces between objects, the expression and emotion

 of faces, the effect of light and shadow, shades of colour, 

the variety of texture, shape and form. This act of seeing slows us

 down and invites us to pay attention to the moment, to be still, 

not to rush and only take a quick glance but instead to come

into relationship with the world around it. This is a form of prayer

where we become detached from our own limited perspective and

make way for a wider[,] more compassionate understanding

of ourselves, others and the world we inhabit.

 ~ Lesley Sutton

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Quoted from Lesley Sutton, Be Still Project Booklet, PassionArt, in Jonathan Evens, "Seeing is Receiving: The art of  contemplation (1)", December 24, 2020

Lesley Sutton, Director, PassionArt; Curator; Fibre Artist

PassionArt

Be Still Project