Upcoming Book of Australian Aboriginal Christian Art

Painting of the three crosses by Anangu artist Yvonne-Edwards.

Dating from September 2012, this article profiles the author/compiler of an upcoming book on Australian Aboriginal Christian art, Christobel Mattingley.

The article states, "Together with Bible Society Australia’s Remote and Indigenous Ministry team, Mattingley is working on compiling a book of Aboriginal art with biblical subject matter. Artists are invited to submit works which depict a Bible story which has meaning for them. Altogether, the book will include about 100 images."

Mattingley goes on to say that "Pictures speak to everyone. I’m hoping that this book will speak to everyone, and contribute towards the long slow process of reconciliation. I believe that reconciliation can’t be imposed from above. It has to start in the hearts of each individual person. This book may light the spark that leads to a true spirit of reconciliation."

There is no indication as to when the book will be published.  Mattingley writes on her blog that "it takes time to try to spread the word about the project, so if you know any Aboriginal artists, please tell them about it and ask them to get in touch with me or Louise Sherman at the Bible Society."

If you would like more information about the project or to submit an artwork, email eternity@biblesociety.org.au.

To read an article about the recent National Reconciliation Week in Australia written by Christian blogger Josh Dowton, click here.

Contextualized Mongolian Banner Update

In 2011 I posted about a worship celebration in Mongolia that commemorated 20 years of the Gospel in Mongolia.  The organizers of the event made nine contextualized banners that used two different Mongolian alphabets and cultural symbols.  One of the banners was based on a bowl painting of mine called Risen Lord of Heaven and Earth. The banner itself was called "Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life" and was based on John 14:6.

Global Christian Worship - A Sinful Woman Washes Jesus’ Feet: Chinese, Japanese, Mayan, Cameroonian art

The latest post over at Paul Neeley's Global Christian Worship blog is "A Sinful Woman Washes Jesus’ Feet: Chinese, Japanese, Mayan, Cameroonian Art," which includes four nonwestern images inspired by this Sunday's Gospel reading in the Lectionary, Luke 7:36-8:3.  The artwork depicted is by Chinese artist He Qi, the Jesus Mafa artist, Sadao Watanabe of Japan, and the last by yours truly.  Check them out!

Searching for a Practical Theology of Contextualization

I've been spending a lot of the last month or so working on my shade garden, hence the lack of posts here on Indigenous Jesus.  However one thing that I've been thinking about in the back of my mind for some time is the subject of a theology of contextualization. I have a few books on contextualization (see below), but was wondering if there is a standout book that both discusses the theological background of the subject along with practical missiological examples, especially if they relate at all to the arts. I know that a lot has been written on contextualization, which makes it a bit difficult to narrow down to just one or two books.

I do think, however, that a theological foundation is essential to engaging in the practice of contextualization in ministry. And until or unless I take some theology classes on the subject, I'd like some thought-provoking reading that might help pull together all of the various strands– history, theology, examples– and give a practical, working theology of contextualization.

The books that I own are:
Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission by Dean Flemming
Contextualization: A Theology of Gospel and Culture by Bruce J. Nicholls
Contextualization: Meanings, Methods, and Models by David J. Hesselgrave and Edward Rommen

The most recent new title I've seen is Contextualization in World Missions: Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models by A. Scott Moreau, who teaches in the Missions and Intercultural Studies Department at Wheaton College. It looks very thorough and may be what I'm looking for.  Has anyone read it?

Other books on contextualization that I'm aware of are:
Christianity In Culture: A Study In Dynamic Biblical Theologizing In Cross-cultural Perspective by Charles H. and Marguerite G. Kraft
Contextualization and Syncretism: Navigating Cultural Currents by Gailyn Van Rheenen
Models of Contextual Theology (Faith and Cultures Series) by Stephen B. Bevans

Any other suggestions or insights? Thanks!

Pentecost Shadow Puppet Play

Here's a post from Global Christian Worship featuring a contemporary shadow puppet play by Dan Stevers that tells the story of Pentecost.  The video comes at the end, preceded by some background information about the cultural history of shadow puppetry in Asia.  For more information about traditional Indonesian Christian Shadow Puppetry, click here and here.

Art as Culture: Chapter 4 Review

Continuing with my chapter-by-chapter review of Evelyn Payne Hatcher's Art as Culture: An Introduction to the Anthropology of Art, I've arrived at chapter four.  Titled "Who?  The Psychological Perspective," it attempts to explain a psychological view of cultural art forms under four headings: perception, creativity, personality and the psychological functions of art.  Hatcher writes, "The anthropological questions relating to these concepts have to do with the ways in which perception, creativity, personality and functions are similar in different cultural contexts, and the ways in which they are specific to each cultural setting" (85).

Ascension Sunday

Christ in Ascension by Father John Giuliani