So glad to hear RS's The Kingdom read as a prayer here. It's one of my favourites and will be read at my funeral. Though later when you were discussing the violence of the text I did think of another poem by Thomas, 'You Show Me Two Faces', another important one to me. What strikes me so about the painting is the way the whole thing - even before examining any details - captures the ecstatic terror and severity of Revelation. This severity is deeply off-putting to me in the text - I mean, a wrathful lamb? - and so the painting is (for me) difficult to really see. I am fearful of this vision of the divine, even as I am entranced by the composition, the patterning and details. And yes, green dust - that is hope to me.
Michael, I am always very grateful for you honest responses to my work. It’s not the first time that I feel particularly fortunate to have someone like- no- you precisely- looking at my art and responding to it. As an artist yourself, I imagine you may understand what I mean. I have a hard time with this painting too- I probably said so in the episode. I’m afraid also. It seems clear that that’s part of the message- to be afraid. Which seems more than a little at odds with the one who also inspired/authored “perfect love drives out fear”. Well there is a lot to talk about, that’s for sure, and I often wish you and I could- face to face.
Thank you so much for listing and supporting the podcast with your attention and comments, Michael.
Yes, the dilemma that RS Thomas elucidates in You Show Me Two Faces is a constant for me. Some make easy distinctions between the OT and NT God, one nasty, the other nice, but this doesn't work at all. The blazing severity and mercy is all there, all the way through, and somehow utterly convincingly held together in the person of Christ himself. That wrathful lamb. Few artists can go where you have gone and get it right, and I think you do. How anyone can live with the result I have no idea! And yes it would be good to speak face to face sometime, maybe we could arrange that. One of us would be losing sleep but it would be worth it!
I’m afraid you guys might think I’m a little overly enthusiastic and crazy, but all of your work and this podcast is truly so meaningful to me. The intro to this episode had me in tears… being a stay at home mom and homeschooling is very fulfilling and creative, but I have a constant battle with my art—mainly feeling like I am always behind due to a lack of time to commit to it. It’s been very discouraging, but the idea of creating into eternity was what I needed to hear in this season. Thank you all…
Learning so much from the conversations on Jack’s work.
Hi Kim, it would be bad form to think you crazy for responding so meaningfully to our work. In fact your willingness to engage with it deeply is profoundly life giving. So thank you very much for that. I have been a stay-at-home/ work-at-home dad for 18 years- and also homeschooling- so I feel that tension you describe acutely. This is a challenging space to dialogue about it in- but I expect we could share a lot between us. God bless you as you go on !
There's a glory to the asymmetrical balance & echoing... of line-types & forms, coloration & orbs... stunning... the owl caused me to weep & somehow is St Anthony (in me)
So glad to hear RS's The Kingdom read as a prayer here. It's one of my favourites and will be read at my funeral. Though later when you were discussing the violence of the text I did think of another poem by Thomas, 'You Show Me Two Faces', another important one to me. What strikes me so about the painting is the way the whole thing - even before examining any details - captures the ecstatic terror and severity of Revelation. This severity is deeply off-putting to me in the text - I mean, a wrathful lamb? - and so the painting is (for me) difficult to really see. I am fearful of this vision of the divine, even as I am entranced by the composition, the patterning and details. And yes, green dust - that is hope to me.
Michael, I am always very grateful for you honest responses to my work. It’s not the first time that I feel particularly fortunate to have someone like- no- you precisely- looking at my art and responding to it. As an artist yourself, I imagine you may understand what I mean. I have a hard time with this painting too- I probably said so in the episode. I’m afraid also. It seems clear that that’s part of the message- to be afraid. Which seems more than a little at odds with the one who also inspired/authored “perfect love drives out fear”. Well there is a lot to talk about, that’s for sure, and I often wish you and I could- face to face.
Thank you so much for listing and supporting the podcast with your attention and comments, Michael.
Yes, the dilemma that RS Thomas elucidates in You Show Me Two Faces is a constant for me. Some make easy distinctions between the OT and NT God, one nasty, the other nice, but this doesn't work at all. The blazing severity and mercy is all there, all the way through, and somehow utterly convincingly held together in the person of Christ himself. That wrathful lamb. Few artists can go where you have gone and get it right, and I think you do. How anyone can live with the result I have no idea! And yes it would be good to speak face to face sometime, maybe we could arrange that. One of us would be losing sleep but it would be worth it!
I’m afraid you guys might think I’m a little overly enthusiastic and crazy, but all of your work and this podcast is truly so meaningful to me. The intro to this episode had me in tears… being a stay at home mom and homeschooling is very fulfilling and creative, but I have a constant battle with my art—mainly feeling like I am always behind due to a lack of time to commit to it. It’s been very discouraging, but the idea of creating into eternity was what I needed to hear in this season. Thank you all…
Learning so much from the conversations on Jack’s work.
Kim, I had that same thought several years ago when I saw Jack’s Hieronymus Bosch painting.
Hi Kim, it would be bad form to think you crazy for responding so meaningfully to our work. In fact your willingness to engage with it deeply is profoundly life giving. So thank you very much for that. I have been a stay-at-home/ work-at-home dad for 18 years- and also homeschooling- so I feel that tension you describe acutely. This is a challenging space to dialogue about it in- but I expect we could share a lot between us. God bless you as you go on !
Thank you for the encouragement, Jack!
There's a glory to the asymmetrical balance & echoing... of line-types & forms, coloration & orbs... stunning... the owl caused me to weep & somehow is St Anthony (in me)
The consistent ribbons...serpentine presences...?
May we learn the speech without words friends 🙏🏼♥️
it is a good and worthy quest. one of long labor and long unattainable