By Will Montei In the TV adaptation of Dan Simmons’ novel “The Terror,” there’s a scene of two doctors examining a dead body. Looking at the brain matter exposed on the table, one doctor remarks, “It’s a pudding, basically.” The other doctor responds, “I would have said ‘cathedral.’” Despite both doctors viewing the same dead… Continue Reading
Tiny Home Life
By Heather Hornbeak Tiny Home life didn’t begin for us overnight. We don’t have the experience like many others of being dissatisfied with our jobs or seeking this lifestyle out of passion for the environment. My husband Jesse and I have watched countless videos about tiny home owners, bus conversions, and van dwellers. At first it seemed to… Continue Reading
Artist Residencies
Editor’s Note: As we segue from reflections on CIVA’s biennial conference toward thoughts of House & Home, the theme of the upcoming SEEN Journal, we’re kicking off with a post inspired by a conversation between artists Leslie Iwai and Allison Luce on the topic of Artist Residencies – an artist’s version of home away from… Continue Reading
Get to Know Joe
Editor’s note: At CIVA’s biennial conference this past June, Joe Cory was elected to his new role as Board Chair. Please read all about him here! CIVA: Tell us a little about yourself. Joe: I am a painter and Professor of Art at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, I hold… Continue Reading
How ARE WE THERE YET Influenced Me
By Alex Haunty My name is Alex Haunty, and I’m an artist. I have been asked to reflect on how the ARE WE THERE YET conference influenced me. The conference has made me think more deeply about the role that my faith plays in the creation of my art. Just what does this mean? How do… Continue Reading
Still Moving
By Laura Tabbut During the months leading up to CIVA’s biennial conference, I thought a lot about Homer’s Odyssey. I was on a journey of my own that felt a bit circuitous and prolonged. Odysseus’ journey home takes him ten years – the exact interim that I spent between my undergrad years and teaching in… Continue Reading
Welcoming the Other
By Christen Mattix During the recent CIVA conference, I resonated with the theme of welcoming the “other” which kept emerging in the presentations of my fellow artists and community activists. One spoke of welcoming the other, for example, by “porching”—a practice of sitting on the porch every week at a designated time and inviting people of… Continue Reading
Mary Driving Jesus to Mother’s Day Out
Editor’s note: Leading up to CIVA’s biennial conference, Lawan remembered this piece by her friend Robert Feuge that we thought could be beautifully showcased as a bumper sticker and made available to conference attendees. Good news: additional stickers are available to purchase in the CIVA Store – go check them out! By Robert Feuge The title of this… Continue Reading
Lesson Plans
By Justin Sorensen It’s been a couple of months since we got back from CIVA’s biennial conference in the Twin Cities. Since returning home, I’ve found myself reflecting a lot on the state of higher education. This is not uncommon, as I am constantly thinking about my role as an educator and what it looks like… Continue Reading
Now Announcing Member Podcasts!
Announcing yet another way for CIVA members and friends to connect and continue conversations about art + faith: the Member Podcast, launched on the CIVA website this week. An additional perk of membership, this will serve as an excellent venue for members to get the word out about their podcasts which will no doubt be of interest to others. We invite… Continue Reading