art, beauty, and mystery

by no means am i an art expert. but i know what i like. i do enjoy meandering through art exhibits by myself. i do not like tours and when i am with a friend or others at museums, i worry that they are not seeing the things that they want.

i prefer wandering at my own pace when it comes to viewing art.

this piece from kazuo shiraga called “golden wings brushing the clouds incarnated from earthly wide star” has always captivated me.

i saw it at the art museum in chicago and was completely stunned. as i stood gazing in front of it, i got very emotional and started tearing up and lightly crying. i was embarrassed as i did not want others to see me. thankfully no one was close enough to see me.

every time i see it in my photos, my heart dips. why?

might the title from the artist give me a clue? might there be something lost in the translation of “golden wings brushing the clouds incarnated from earthly wide star”?

what do “golden wings brushing the clouds” mean to me?

might it be a particular aspect of incarnation that resonates in my soul?

is the “earthly wide star” a key to understanding?

i am happy not knowing the full meaning and just feeling the painting.

the older i get, the more i believe in the need, power and importance of art in all its forms. good art taps into the mysteries of the universe that cannot be explained with words. good religion provides space and opportunities for art in the world.

sacred art is true and beautiful when its formcorresponds to its particular vocation: evoking and glorifying, in faith and adoration, the transcendent mystery of God—the surpassing invisible beauty of truth and love visible in Christ, who “reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature,” in whom “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” This spiritual beauty of God is reflected in the most holy Virgin Mother of God, the angels, and saints. Genuine sacred art draws man to adoration, to prayer, and to the love of God, Creator and Savior, the Holy One and Sanctifier.

the Spirit moves us in our encounters in various creations- paintings, sculptures, music, poetry, performance, architecture, etc- to go beyond ourselves and experience beauty. when we experience beauty, God’s grace touches us. beauty through art then becomes part of us.

beauty is another way God’s love for us breaks through to us.

art changes us and the Spirit forms us into a new creation.