Christian Educators' Journal

Top ten art and faith events

by Jennifer M. Parker

On this list are some of the loveliest, most meaningful Christian arts gatherings I've been privileged to enjoy in the past, along with a few exciting events of which I have only read about and dreamed of attending. Certainly, if I were not bound by constraints of time, budget, work and family obligations, I would put every one of these, my top ten "must-do" events for the coming year or so, on my travel calendar. I think believers who enjoy seeing faith expressed in the arts would be blessed by participation in any of these special experiences.

Top 10 Upcoming Christian Arts & Faith Events Around the U.S.

1. "The S Word: The State of Spirituality in Contemporary Art"  (Los Angeles, California), Judson Studios exhibit held January 22-March 31, 2007.
2. "Deliver Us," Ballet Magnificat Alpha Company, Civic Center Opera House, Dothan, Alabama, February 1, 2007; or Ballet Magnificat's Omega Company, in "Hiding Place," (Jacksonville, Florida), May 6, 2007; for alternate tour dates.
3. The Festival of Faith and Music (Grand Rapids, Michigan), March 30-31, 2007.
4. Conference, "The Silmarillion: Themes, Narratives, Comparative Studies" (Brooklyn, New York), April 20-22, 2007.
5. Christians in the Visual Arts Conference (Grantham, Pennsylvania), "Transforming Spaces: Virtu(e) and the Virtual," June 14-17, 2007.
6. The Cornerstone Festival 2007 (Christian rock concert festival held in Bushnell, Illinois), June 25-30, 2007.
7. The Glen Workshop 2007 (Santa Fe, New Mexico), "God of the Desert," July 29 – August 5, 2007.
8. Ad Lib Christian Arts Retreat 2007 (Colorado Springs, Colorado), September 20-23, 2007.
9. City of the Angels Film Festival/Reel Spirituality Conference 2007  (Los Angeles, California)  late October, exact dates to be announced.
10. Festival of Faith & Writing 2008  (Grand Rapids, Michigan), April 17-19, 2008.