The Search for the Spiritual Through Art
Discover the relationship between spirituality and art in this enlightening series focusing on artistic expressions of faith in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. The series is presented by the Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati Art Museum, Skirball Museum at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, the Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati, and the Edward B. Brueggeman Center for Dialogue at Xavier University.
The Artistic Expressions of Faith lecture series originated in 1995 with the goal of enhancing interfaith relations by examining the connections between spirituality and art. Six previous series, offered every other year, have explored how religious beliefs and traditions are manifested through devotional art, architectural motifs, ceremonial objects, sacred spaces, and illuminated manuscripts.
This 2010 series explores ways in which the sacred finds expression in the symbolism of Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Hindu works of art. The series features experts discussing what is unique about each tradition as well as what the traditions have in common. The series offers the opportunity to view profound artistic expression at some of the regions most important museums and places of worship. Registration information is below program descriptions.
Wednesday, April 7
Artistic Expression in World Religions, Wilson Yates, president emeritus and professor emeritus of religion, society and the arts, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis
Examine the intersections among art, worship and spirituality around the world.
Cincinnati Art Museum, Fath Auditorium, 953 Eden Park Drive.
6 p.m. Tour of collection
7 p.m. Presentation
8:15 p.m. Reception
Wednesday, April 14
The Jewish Bible in Christian Renaissance Art: Why It's There and What It Means, Michael Cook, Sol and Arlene Bronstein Professor of Judeo-Christian Studies, professor of intertestemental and early Christian literature, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati.
Discover the Jewish symbols that abound in depictions of important Christian themes in Renaissance art.
Skirball Museum, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 3101 Clifton Avenue
6 p.m. Tour of collection
7 p.m. Presentation
Wednesday, April 21
Hindu Deities and Their Artistic Expression, Stephen Knapp, researcher, author, and lecturer, Detroit.
Explore the significance and characteristics of deities as well as the historical and scriptural basis for deity worship.
Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati, 4920 Klatte Road, Cincinnati
7 p.m. Presentation
8 p.m. Tour of Temple
Wednesday, April 28
Writing God's Word: The Qu'ran and Art, Sheila S. Blair, Norma Jean Calderwood University Professor of Islamic and Asian Art, Boston College, and Hamad bin Khalifa Chair of Islamic Art, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Gain an understanding of the role played by calligraphy in the artistic expression of scripture in the Islamic world.
Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, 8092 Plantation Drive, West Chester
7 p.m. Presentation
8 p.m. Tour of Mosque
Admission
General public: $16 each lecture, $50 for four-part series
Members of the Cincinnati Art Museum, Taft Museum of Art, Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, Hindu Temple of Greater Cincinnati, and Skirball Museum: $8 each lecture, $25 for four-part series
Students: Free with school ID
Seniors: $10 each lecture, $30 for four-part series
Reservations Required. Call (513) 721-ARTS or go to www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org
Directions
Call (513) 721-ARTS or go to www.cincinnatitemple.com for the Hindu Temple and www.islamiccentercincinnati.org for the Islamic Center.
