Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices

The Welcome Wagon--Vito Aiuto, a Brooklyn-based Presbyterian minister, and his wife Monique-- released a new album yesterday, through Sufjan's Asthmatic Kitty Records.

Vito explains:

“This album has a somewhat liturgical structure, ordered loosely like a worship service. It begins with the existential and cosmic dread of ‘I’m Not Fine,’ immediately followed by ‘My God, My God, Parts 1 & 2,’ a prayer that rails against God’s seeming absence from this world and our lives. The words are adapted from the prayer of Jesus while he hung on the cross.  

“It continues with the assurance of redemption (‘I Know That My Redeemer Lives’), which then extends to friendship with God and with one another (‘Rice & Beans,’ ‘High’).” 

Listen to the new album and read more about it here.

My Dog, My House, Our Newcastle Launch

Photo by Richard Fish

We are delighted to be able to invite you to the launch of My Dog, My House, Our Newcastle exhibition on Saturday 23^rd June 2012.

Following photography workshops at THB in March led by Richard Fish and Louise Todd, Newcastle-based photographers and Graduate Studio Northumbria artists, children were given disposable cameras and asked to document their lives, finding beauty in the ordinary and everyday. The exhibition will feature photographs taken by Year 3/4 students from St Catherine’s Primary, Sandyford and Christchurch School Shieldfield, alongside the work of the artists.

 

The launch will begin with a garden party from 4pm which will also feature musical and dramatic performances by the students as well as home-made lemonade, strawberries & cream and garden games. Rumour has it that the circus will be there too!

From 6.30pm there will be a wine reception...and the garden games will continue.

My Dog, My House, Our Newcastle is part Outside/In--a programme of exhibitions inspired by London 2012, involving young people and adults from different parts of Newcastle, showcasing their histories, cultures and communities.

A few photos after the jump:

Call For Papers: Arts & Christianity Ireland

Risking Mystery: Contemporary Arts and Sacred Worship

Arts & Christianity Ireland seek abstracts for their upcoming one-day conference, Risking Mystery: Contemporary Arts and Sacred Worship to be held 20 October 2012 at Avila Carmelite Retreat Centre, Dublin. The fourth in a series of conferences focusing on contemporary arts and Christianity, we are interested in submissions from across all artistic disciplines as well as relevant theological papers. The conference, while primarily aimed at contemporary artists, seeks to speak also to pastoral leaders, theologians and members of the public interested in the intersection of faith and contemporary arts. In conjunction with the conference, there will be an exhibition and a recital/performance.

Possible questions to consider:

How do we speak of mystery in relation to contemporary arts? How is sacred mystery revealed/explored/expressed in contemporary art? Is there an intersection between worship and contemporary arts in mystery? Do contemporary arts have a role in unveiling sacred mystery in places of worship?

Submissions:

Abstracts of no more than two pages double-spaced for 35-40 minute presentations (followed by panel discussion) should be submitted along with cover letter and C.V. to Committee Secretary Donna Mae Linton (dmlinton@hotmail.com) The deadline for proposals is 22 June 2012.

Arts & Christianity Ireland is a burgeoning organisation whose mission includes nourishing artists who create works inspired by Christian themes; promoting these works in the public domain; and fostering dialogue with Churches on the role these contemporary artworks can play in the faith lives of their members. 

PlayToon & PlayOut - Outside/IN

Sebastian Messer of Northumbria's School of the Built & Natural Environment installs the exhibition. Image Courtesy PlayToon.

This week marks the official launch of Outside/IN. The PlayToon exhibition is installed in the Sanctuary and preparations for this weekend are going forward. The official launch of the project will be this Friday at 6pm and the PlayOut event will run from 4pm - Late on Saturday.

PlayOut will be hosted by Urban Games. There will be a half pipe in our back garden for skateboarders and BMX, Parkour by North East Parkour, street dancing, DJs and more.

The exhibition features photography, video, words and more mysterious objects from Tyneside skate, BMX and PK scenes: work from Bish, Peter Greaves, Ben Larthe, Jacob Garthwaite, Liam Whitfield, Adam Thirtle, Sam Hutchinson, Daniel Dale, Johnny Haynes and many others. All welcome, free event.

The modern Olympic games as we know it, provides a platform for not only excellence in international sport, but also for social and cultural regeneration. Outside/IN is inspired by the Olympics and Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration, and inclusivity, Outside/IN Project provides a space for the community of Newcastle to share their lives, histories, and cultures.  

'Our Newcastle' + Richard Fish

Richard Fish, Photographer. from Richard Hirst on Vimeo.

Preparations for 'Our Newcastle,' THB's photography project with local photographers, Richard Fish and Louise Todd, and students from Christchurch Shieldfield and St. Catherine's Primarys, are coming along nicely. Cameras have been collected from both schools and are getting ready to be sent off!

Enjoy this short film Fish by local filmmaker, Richard Hirst.

Cosmos Dance Workshop - This Saturday

Come down the Holy Biscuit this Saturday for the Cosmos Dance Workshop, led by Fr. Dominic White and hosted by THB. The workshop will be an introduction to the Cosmos Dance, an innovative project that seeks to reconnect the arts, spirituality, and the environment.

10.30 - 2.00 pm

Film, presentation, dance improv class, and discussion over a soup lunch! £5 / £3 for students and unwaged.

Learn more about Cosmos:
http://www.cosmosdance.com/

And listen to Dominic's presentation from Recreation 2012:
Sacred Dance: Can Spirituality Be Fun? (Updated--25 April 2012)

Recreation: Writing Workshop Links

For those who participated in Fiona Veitch Smith's writing workshop, here are some links to online resources she recommends:

Free online Christian Writing course:

http://christian-writing-course.thecraftywriter.com 

Other free courses:

http://non-fiction-writing-course.thecraftywriter.com/

http://creative-writing-course.thecraftywriter.com/

Other free resources on the business and craft of writing:

http://www.thecraftywriter.com