Conference focuses on Christianity and art

Author: Nicole Lam

Historically, many of us would associate religious art with the Middle Ages and the Age of Enlightenment. Recently, however, a new style of religious art is becoming more popular in our 21st century culture. In the Sixth Annual Vermont Conference on Christianity and the Arts on Saturday, April 26, five artists, one of them a vocalist who later performed at the College, came to speak at the United Methodist Church of Middlebury to share the major inspirations behind their work along with the impact that their art has had on the world.

The first speaker was Sandra Bowden, a painter who has had much of her artwork displayed in numerous museums such as the Vatican Museum of Contemporary Religious Art, the Museum of Biblical Art in New York City and the Haifa Museum. As a passionate collector, Bowden presented many famous innovative contemporary religious artworks at the conference that she has found inspiring when creating her work. Many of the paintings were subtle in conveying spiritual meaning, but after intensively studying these works, Bowden said she has been able to see the deeper meaning beneath the colorful oil paints.

"It is important for artists in the 21st century to communicate to the people in the post-literature era with visual art," " said Bowden.

The next speaker, Elizabeth Ehmann, was also a painter and grew up in Vermont, though she later moved to New York City to pursue her career. Upon returning to her hometown for this conference, Ehmann had been excited to show off the new paintings she created. Some were portraits with colorful backgrounds, while others were rich, detailed, spirited paintings of natural landscapes with high mountains, green trees and sparkling blue rivers.

"From choosing the subject to work with to what I see in the subject, my spirituality has impacted much of my art," said Ehmann. "I am able to see the inner beauty in the people that I collaborate with and that is reflected in my portraitures and paintings."

After indulging in the long table loaded with assorted bagels, pastries and fruit, the audience was treated to two songs by the award-winning singer Jason Harrod, who performed at the College the next day on Sunday, April 27 in Gifford Hall. His deep tenor voice rang out loud and strong in the sanctuary as he sang "For Your Time" and "Ferry Man." Many of his lyrics focused on nature - "dust in the breeze, asphalt winding through the pines" and "orioles and fishbone fern."

Matthew Dickerson, an author who spoke at the conference, also shared this careful mediation on nature. As the author of several books and the director of the New England Young Writers' Conference at Middlebury College, Dickerson talked about the relationship between art and nature. He lectured on how "senses are important for artists because they help painters, singers and writers communicate with the physical world." In quoting famous authors like C.S. Lewis and Wendell Berry, Dickerson related how these writers all "took the time to observe nature," concluding that "these writers are the leading ecologists of our time."

"Their spirituality allowed these writers to recognize the beauty in nature," continued Dickerson. "These writers are inspiring environmentalists. These writers demonstrate how there is a reality to the universe, that it exists in its own laws, its own purposes and we as humans should conform to these laws and purposes."

Finally, the day concluded with Isabelle Depelteau, a woman who has created her own television production company and has written, directed and produced over 20 documentaries for broadcasters such as The Discovery Channel, PBS and CBC. She presented one of her documentaries that followed the life of a dancer who, after an accident that left her paralyzed below the waist, continued dancing and accomplished her dream of becoming a professional dancer.

"I think her story is very moving because there is much we can learn from her," said Depelteau. "All of us have wheelchairs in our lives, obstacles that we have to overcome. Her life is an inspiration and voice to our society. She conveys a message of hope to those who want to fulfill their gifts as dancers, singers, painters or writers."

The wooden benches in the church along with the sunlight seeping through the stained glass windows onto colorful gallery paintings and the lulling sounds of the guitar playing created a serene atmosphere in which each artist - unique in his or her talent­ - was able to share his or her stories and motivations. Though each was different from the others, every artist who spoke at the conference managed to strongly convey their love for life and the world around them.