While perusing the annals over at blogs4God, I came across MeanDean's latest cache.

In it was a reference and link to a blog that led me to: Kentucky Clay Rambler that featured this post:

On Gideon Strauss' recommendation, I purchased Rainbows For the Fallen World: Aesthetic Life and Artistic Task by Calvin Seerveld. It arrived last night. Though I am in the middle of several other books, I could not help myself, and read the preface and introduction.

From the preface:

The answer for Bible believing Christians is to remember the rainbows God made for the fallen world. Because paintings and novels and music are somewhat like rainbows. God did not have to make rainbows. He could have just said it black on white, "I will keep covenant with the earth," just as he wrote in stone the Ten Words. And why did Christ teach men and women in parables? Couldn't he have been more straightforward, so there wouldn't be any misunderstandings?

But it pleased Christ to tell the story of the good Samaritan, and it pleased God to make rainbows in the sky. And it has pleased the Holy Spirit to give certain people gifts of drawing, imagining and making melody. And no Christian had better condemn rainbows, parables or gifts of the Holy Spirit as off limits. In fact- and that is the thrust of this book-God's people are called to find out what art is like, why the Lord put this talent in our creaturely laps and how is art to keep its holy rainbow character rather than become a mirage.

That sure whet my appetite!

Wow. As a classically trained artist, I cringe to think that books like this are actaully being sold and read.

A friend of mine once said that he believed that the image of God was a rational mind. I agree with this in part, but would like to augment that with saying that artistic ability is the direct result of our reflecting the Creator. To share the image of God is to share in part His nature and character. And first and foremost God is an artist. The creation story is filled with artistic overtones. Any painter worth his or her salt, when asked "what is the subject of any painting?" would reply witout hesitation, "Light."

And what was the first thing brought into being in genesis after the actual Heavens and Earth?

Genesis 1:2-4, The Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

Art is certianly in no way like rainbows. God did not give a fallen world rainbows. God gave a fallen world beauty. You cannot open your eyes without being assaulted by the majesty and beauty of the art that God has wrought. To be alive is to partcipate in the essence of art, movement is a beauty beyond comparison. The laugh of a child is sweeter music than any ever performed by frail hands. Art is certainly not like rainbows. More art is like a rushing torrent, sweeping into you and filling places that were dry before, illuminating places dark before and forcing realizations that were not thought before.

To focus on one small part of the art that is creation, is to disdain and profane the majesty that is the portrait of existence.

Art is certainly not like a rainbow.