QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever found yourself drawn to a particular work of art? What was it that drew you to the piece?
2. Why is art such an important way for Christians to share the Gospel stories?
3. Why is beauty so important to designers of Christian churches and chapels?
4. When have you found yourself moved by a particularly beautiful piece of art or architecture?
5. How might art and beauty help us connect to God through prayer?
ACTIVITIES
Researching Biblical art and sculpture: Choose a piece of Biblical art or sculpture, either one mentioned in the article or one of many other famous historical pieces. Research:
- Who was the artist or sculptor?
- What was the context of their work? (Where were they? What was happening at the time? Who commissioned the piece? What political or cultural issues were they navigating? What broader artistic movement were they part of? (e.g. Renaissance))
- How was the work received? (Was it deemed acceptable? Did it generate controversy? Did it receive any honours?)
- How has the work’s reception changed over time? (How do people see it today?)
Write or record a report about the piece.
Exploring Biblical art and sculpture: Choose a piece of Biblical art or sculpture, either one mentioned in the article or one of many other famous historical pieces. Explore:
- What is the scene from the Bible that the artist or sculptor is trying to explore?
- What techniques does the artist use to depict the scene? Why would they make that choice?
- What features stand out to you from the scene? Why do you think the artist chose to emphasise those features?
- Are there any figures in the scene that seem odd or out of place? Why might they have been placed there?
- Finally, can you find other works depicting the same scene? How is the piece you’ve selected similar and different to those scenes? Depending on when they were created, how might those depictions have influenced/or been influenced by, the work you’re exploring?
Write or record a report about the piece.
Immersing in Biblical art and sculpture: Choose a piece of Biblical art or sculpture, either one mentioned in the article or one of many other famous historical pieces. Imagine:
- Read the Biblical passage that the piece is depicting?
- Imagine yourself in that scene, drawing on the piece in order to provide colour and flesh to the scene?
- What other images, sounds, or feelings emerge for you as you imagine the scene?
- What ideas or meanings emerge for you as you contemplate the scene and what God is communicating to us through it?
Write or record a reflection or imaginative piece on the scene, or create your own piece of art based on the scene, sharing your insights.
Praying with Biblical art and sculpture: Choose a piece of Biblical art or sculpture, either one mentioned in the article or one of many other famous historical pieces. Find a quiet space, and spend some time reflecting on the scene and the Biblical passage that it depicts.
- What does the scene communicate to you?
- How does that message relate to your own life and experiences?
- What other thoughts emerge for you as you spend time in reflection?
YOUNGER STUDENTS
Exploring Biblical art: Bring in a piece of Biblical art to show the students. Share the story that’s being depicted, and ask the students to find the elements in the painting that depict various parts of the story. Ask the students to produce their own piece of artwork based on that story.
Our own Biblical art: Choose a Gospel scene, or a selection of scenes, to read to the students. Share the story of that scene, with as much colour and imagery as you can. As you share the story, ask the students to imagine themselves in the scene. When you’re finished, ask them to share what else they noticed as they listened to the story (e.g. What was Jesus wearing?). Then invite the students to produce their own piece of Biblical art based on the scene.