Icons and I

Recently I have been exploring the concept of icons. Its been both deeply challenging and deeply rewarding.

What continually amazes me is the tie between the fleshed reality that we live and the eternal that which we strive for.

I feel, at the crux of it all, is the incarnation. That of a true God becoming true man.
Can we deny Christ’s divinity? Of course not.
Can we deny Christ’s humanity? Of course not, also.

The icon recognizes both.

Radiating light from behind the image, casting no shadow, the icon has a somewhat mystical quality. At the same time it has a concrete, real image of a human being. What is the focus? I believe part of the answer lies in the tension between the two.

Often refered to as, “windows to the spiritual presence beyond”, icons recognize the place of the gritty, fallen reality that we live in and help us, for a time, focus on that which is to come.

I acknowledge its dangers and pitfalls.  I recognize the distortions and corrections made over the years.  But I share with you some wise words of John of Damascus:

Since the invisible One became visible by taking on flesh, you can fashion the image of him who you saw…I do not worship matter; I worship the Creator of matter who became matter for my sake, who willed to take his abode in matter, who worked out my salvation through matter.

As I continue to struggle with the concept of the incarnation, of my place in the grand Biblical narrative and how the incarnation speaks into my place therein, I feel that the tradition of icon painting has helped me become more aware of reality of both the Heavenly and Earthly aspects of Christ, and in turn, me.

In “Bearing Fresh Olive Leaves: Alternative Steps in Understanding Art” Dr. Calvin Seerveld lays out three theses about bringing redemptive artistry into contemporary culture. His final thesis speaks about growing together as a group of artists, patrons and all that lie therein, growing together to create a infrastructure that allows art in our Christian community to flourish (This comes from a previous understanding that yes, art has a valid and necessary place in our lives–especially in those of Christians).

Seerveld says:

Perhaps some Christian body, with resources and authority, can enlarge its long-term vision to give priority to such a ministry in the arts, giving support to a gifted artistic community with a united direction and a holy spirited vision of compassion for those caught in sin and by evil. That would be one way- just one way-  for God’s people to repent of our comfortableness and reach out to those who are perishing. For our times are indeed like those of Noah. It is true, there are thousands dying from famine. We ought to rescue their lives by changing our living standard. There are also ten thousands dying every Friday and Saturday night in European and American cinemas, and hardly anybody notices. Should we not also attend to them by resetting priorities for redemptive artistry in the modern world?

I am challenged.

The Holy Spirit and Inspiration

The following excerpt is from Pope John Paul II’s Letter to Artists on 4 April 1999 (Easter Sunday).

“Dear artists, you well know that there are many impulses which, either from within or from without, can inspire your talent. Every genuine inspiration, however, contains some tremor of that “breath” with which the Creator Spirit suffused the work of creation from the very beginning. Overseeing the mysterious laws governing the universe, the divine breath of the Creator Spirit reaches out to human genius and stirs its creative power. He touches it with a kind of inner illumination which brings together the sense of the good and the beautiful, and he awakens energies of mind and heart which enable it to conceive an idea and give it form in a work of art. It is right then to speak, even if only analogically, of “moments of grace”, because the human being is able to experience in some way the Absolute who is utterly beyond.”