Essay: The Question of Truth
The following is a guest post from Edward Van Vliet, our guide through an intensive afternoon of conversation on art, faith, calling and identity in July 2010 called “We Are Artists”. He has allowed us to share his “Questions of Calling”, in four parts here, in hopes that the conversation will continue. You can read more about Edward at the end of the essay.
The Full Series: Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four
While I have been presenting some questions that relate specifically to the artist, these questions also relate to each one of us. We all need to establish who we are, and what we have been created for. We need to determine that we will embrace being a co-worker with God in fulfilling His purposes. And we need to discover who we can serve with those gifts and talents, and thereby honour God as we walk out our calling. This calling is not our job – it is reflected in our passions, and the things that stir our hearts to joy, to compassion and to sorrow. That calling shapes and informs everything we do, but always in relationship to others, whether God or the various communities we interact with (family, schoolmates, co-workers).
Ultimately, I believe that the calling of the artist (as well as every christian) is to proclaim Truth. The artist must engage the world as it is, and declare or reveal that which could, or should, be. The whole of existence is ours to explore and look at. There are myriad stories to be discovered and told. It is our responsibility and joy to say, “ Look here! Look at this! What can we learn from this?”
I just want to declare Truth, and declare it well. Even better, I want to live it.
Questions to consider:
What is your purpose, whether as a disciple of Christ or as an artist?
Write a manifesto (mission/ vision statement, artist’s statement) explaining [your] art’s purpose.
Edward van Vliet is currently Director at a museum. He has worked previously as an Education Curator at a public art gallery and has been a workshop facilitator, instructor and lecturer on the arts and faith. You can follow his sporadic musings at http://etechne.blogspot.com or follow him at @etechne on twitter. He has been exhibiting his creative work for more than 15 years. His great passion is teaching, and his desire is two-fold: to challenge and encourage christian creatives to engage with culture by being salt and light, and to invite those creatives to exercise the prophetic imagination in local church culture. He is married to Lisa, and remains amazed at his luck. They have two beautiful boys – Aden and Samuel. They make his heart full.
The Full Series: Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four
