Visual Music:
Calligraphy & Sacred Texts
“Form,” wrote Jewish-American artist Ben Shahn, “is the very shape of content.” Shahn’s statement serves as the guiding principle for this exhibit.
Each of these fifteen pieces, all by living artists, is a calligraphic interpretation of a text sacred to Jews, Christians, or both. Each artist has pondered their chosen text, explored it inside and outside, and provided their own rendition of it—their own ‘translation’ into visual form.
Whether you are an observant Jew, a follower of Christ, or a calligrapher fascinated by words and letters, I hope this exhibit brings you joy and insight. May it form you.
— Jonathan Homrighausen, curator
Homrighausen gives us a tremendous amount to thoughtfully consider in this beautiful, latitudinarian assembly of different calligraphic styles and faith traditions. He reminds us that the finest calligraphy may still have revelations in store for us if we can remain attuned to its precious ‘visual music’ amidst a cacophony of digital stimuli.
— Aaron Rosen, Professor of Religion & Visual Culture and Director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary
Poetry of the Hebrew Bible
Georgia Angelopoulos, Set Me As a Seal Upon Your Heart, 2013
Ann Hechle, Be Still Then and Know that I Am God: An Exploration of Psalm 46, 1988
Sophie Verbeek, Many Waters Cannot Quench Love, 2006
Avraham Borshevsky, Psalm 92, 2008
Michel d’Anastasio, If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem, 2020
Christian Liturgy and Poetry
Sheila Waters, The Grandeur of God, 2001
Diane von Arx, Windhover, 2002
Martin Wenham, Magnificat, 2008
Susan Hufton, And Tie my Life within this Band, 2017
Peter Halliday, The Administration of the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion, 1976
Creativity and Creation
Manny Ling, ‘In the beginning was the word’ (John 1:1), 2018
Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan, If I Am Only for Myself, 2020
Gemma Black, JOHN : ONE : ONE, 2021
Izzy Pludwinski, Cursive Aleph-bet, 1995
Connie Chen, Qi, 2017
Dive into calligraphy, music, & poetry
-
Poetic Form and Calligraphic Form
Devon Abts
-
Christian Liturgy and the Music of the Page
Lucinda Mosher
-
Biblical Poetry and the Art of Repetition
Jonathan Homrighausen
