Kelowna, BC 11/1/2007 5:00:00 AM
An Understanding of What Art Can Be
Found In New Book The Spirituality of Art
What is art? This is a question so indefinable and so subjective – one of those questions that appears to be unanswerable. As Picasso was purported to say, “If I could have told you what it means, I wouldn’t have needed to paint it.” In The Spirituality of Art, authors and artists, Lois Huey-Heck and Jim Kalnin, believe that art has the potential to transform us. “When we take the time to really see a piece of art – we are affected in some way. Something will happen to us when we see an image; even if we cannot articulate what that something is, we will be affected. Just because we can’t put into words what we saw or felt does not mean that nothing happened to us.”
Centuries ago we shared a common visual language. The meaning of symbols, colors and patterns was understood by our largely pre-literate population and much of the art was religious and spiritual. Back then we knew how to “read” the language of the visual. Over time the written word replaced visuals as the primary communicator. In the transition we lost familiarity, and then comfort, with the rich world of images. Consequently many of us have an uneasy relationship with art – especially “new” art. We like some of it but a lot of it seems confusing, fantastical, or even downright ugly. Why would someone want to paint atrocities, or make pictures that are so chaotic? Why would someone else sculpt beauty or paint challenge?
The Spirituality of Art is an invitation to engage these and similar questions. Through stories, images, and prose, it’s a guide to deeper enjoyment and appreciation of visual art, the spiritual journey, and the connections between the two. This is also a celebration of the richness of art in forms as diverse as cave art, traditional painting, photography, print-making and found-object installation.
Visual images are potent. When there is a disparity between what we see and what we hear, it is said that we will trust our eyes. It’s natural then that we want to express our deepest values and experiences – our spirituality itself – through art..
Lois’s day job is in publishing (Wood Lake Books/Northstone) which also connects her to matters of spirituality and the practical concerns of putting values/beliefs into action. She is also a Spiritual Director in-training. Jim Kalnin teaches in the Fine Arts Department at UBC Okanagan (formerly Okanagan University College) and continues to be a prolific artist working with conventional art materials in unconventional ways and with a limitless range of natural and found materials. His art is shown regularly in local, regional and touring exhibitions. Jim and Lois live and make art in an old country church in Oyama, British Columbia in the Okanagan Valley.
The Spirituality of Art
LOIS HUEY-HECK AND JIM KALNIN
Published by Northstone
An imprint of Wood Lake Publishing
For author interviews
Contact: Darcy Drobena, Publicist
Phone: 1.800.299.2926 ext. 221
Email: darcyd@woodlake.com
