Sacred Threshold ::

El Greco's Pieta :.

Into Great Silence :.

Here is a film trailer for a documentary on the lives of the Carthusian monks in the French Alps entitled Into Great Silence. Anyone know when it will be shown in Minnesota?

Wine Country :.

A couple of years ago we had the chance to visit the beauty and elegance of Napa Valley. It was a pleasurable trip, sipping wine, strolling through vineyards, and eating at fine restaurants. As we returned home last night with a multitude of sore muscles from moving boxes and furniture all day, Bob happened upon web information from a photographer we ran into on our trip. This reminder of a faraway place was a welcome respite in the midst of the flurry of the weekend past.

Want to see what I mean? Click here...

Red Dragon :.

"The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun"  c.1805
                                                                        ~~William Blake

With Church : :

    My favorite illumination from our visit to the St. John's Bible at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts last week is the image entitled Life-in-Community. Traditional in its design--a semi-circle of Upper Roomians--it is reinterpreted from other iconic images of the same genre.

    This illumination has no dove alighting, no tongues of fire above each head, but many people gathered, men and women, young and old, from every age, who chose to live life together as the Master had instructed (Act 2:42-47). The "church" encircles the Table with Christ as the head.  Instead of a strict interpretation of the text, the artist imagines for us the "REAL" of what happened in the birth of the Church.

    Weeks ago now, while talking to a friend, she reminded me of a past ministry experience we both shared, a "Camelot" of life lived together. Something that day pierced my soul and touched a deep wound of disappointment and sadness of its loss. Things change, seasons change, people change, it's a part of life. Letting go and receiving anew invites us into the paschal mystery of living and dying. But it is sometimes in the remembering, God re-members us, actively integrating and re-birthing the good parts of the old. I feel something was re-planted that day, a re-birth, a hope to experience anew the REAL of life-in-community.

    So I wait in another Upper Room not so far removed from the first one. I sense there are others of the ages waiting with me. They too are praying, groaning, for a people to be re-born to a new illumination of what is to be.

    Come Holy Spirit...

Orbit 1 : :

Beautiful images to gaze on at Orbit 1.

Doorway : :

Edges of light...
the door opens...
to come in...
or go out?

Photo by Andrea Simonato

Walking the Walker ::

 
The grand re-opening of the Walker Art Center was quite the spectacle where Hennepin meets Lyndale. A special preview party was held for members only, Saturday, the night before the rest of us were able to step foot in the new Walker.

The building itself is quite a sight indeed. The aluminum mesh membrane of, what a Star Tribune writer humorously coined "a rock 'em sock 'em robot head," refracts and reflects light in dynamic ways. Many new spaces were created to connect people to the outside. Linking the original “brown building” a balcony gives views to downtown Minneapolis, a hallway underneath provides a nicely bathed area with natural light. Throughout the hallways, small nooks were cut into the wall where you can further your experience through audio and monitors. Texture and use of different materials are trademarks of the Swiss architects, Herzog and De Mueron. This may be only their second project in the States, as of yet.

Oh by the way, if the building wasn’t enough to get out to the Walker, there is plenty of art in the galleries by the likes of Mark Rothko, Yves Klein, Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, Jasper Johns and so forth. A wide variety of mediums and styles will keep in you intrigued/entertained/confused/happy/sad and every emotion in between.

If you live in the metro area, scrape together a few dollars and find your way to the new Walker Art Center. And for those that live elsewhere, you might want to consider a stop in Minneapolis and experience the Walker yourself.

--Reviewed by Isaac, my son, the architecture student

Walker Opens ::

Next week the Walker Art Center opens or I should say "re-opens." We drove by it the other night and it is quite impressive.

My son the architecture student and his friends are driving down from Fargo next weekend for the opener. Quite a big deal if you are willing to drive three hours for an opening of a building.

I was never a big "Walker" fan preferring the MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Arts) with all its old masters. I spent many wonderful childhood days walking around around there looking at the period rooms and the great tapestries on the walls. The marbled stairway and the grandeur of the silent echos throughout the space, spoke to the deep places of my soul. It is still a favorite spot for soul revival.

The Walker was always a bit aloof and edgy for my taste. I have not visited there as often. The gardens are nice though.

After the hype is over, I will go over and take a look myself. I always have liked being in a well designed space.