As much as it is important for an artist to be educated, it is also important for the audience to be kept current in the vocabulary of the times, which includes an understanding of the past. This vocabulary goes deep into the humanities and includes all areas of life. The important thing to remember is that LIFE is DYNAMIC and is not still. Like any relationship, those relating to one another stand a better chance of survival together if they grow together and grow continually. Between artist, artwork, and participant, there is dialog, either verbal or otherwise.

Like any dialog, communion among participants increases with mutual understanding of the language spoken and the subjects conferred. Part of this life dynamic is self reflection, while another part is intimate community.

Beyond the vast but limited conveyance of words, there is mystery, often entered into through the voice of Fine Art. This is a contemplative and expressive language. Such art is often a communication of our place in our world, in our current time, or a reflection of a time in our universal life. As such a communication, one must honestly be in the dynamic of the time – for the power in the truth of a thing is lost in familiarity. Fresh viewpoint begins here in the exchange of ideas born on the wings of brave dialog.

This dialog between artist and viewer - which is present in the vocabulary of the visual fine arts - can be an exciting dialog of discovery, capable of significant enrichment, reflecting our selves and our lives in this world. As far as relationships go, the growth of Fine Art theory has fast outpaced the growth of the general audience. And this is a problem for our culture.

Learning is an active part of stimulating growth and awareness, through understanding, and the instilling of curiosity – after all, answers only come by way of questions and interest -interest comes by way of perceived value – and in the case of visual art, intimate value is learned through education. Passive, active - based in study or experience - education is a crucial element to maturation.

Within the family of Christ, there is a current desire found in both the Protestant and Catholic traditions, to regain visual art as a means to Spiritual contemplation and resonance in worship – it is here that EDUCATION is paramount to the Christian community – it is paramount for both artist and viewer to develop mature appreciation.

It is among the Christian population that a great schism has manifested between art and audience. Many in this population have lost the ability to see beyond what they like, or have never been taught the language of the visual arts, or refuse to engage in open conversation outside of biblical narratives.

To speak to one another at a level of transcendence and meaning, to see with fresh eyes and wonder, we Christians as a whole, would do well to learn the vocabulary of our time, and the language of art in particular. For the visual arts to achieve a contemporary voice and regain a prominent place in church worship – for this reclamation of the arts by all denominations and traditions to be satisfied at a level of relevance to our deepest human experience - it is essential, that the value of the visual arts be recognized, understood, encouraged, and approached with open arms.

It is upon this premise of art education and dialog that the Foundation for the Biblical Arts chooses to contribute. A curriculum based upon the dynamics of the arts, and their importance to the worship of, and relation to, the Divine Mystery - the liberty of humane honesty - to seeing ourselves in the world we make. This is a beautiful crossroad to divine consideration and conscious stimulus for genuine community.

A Suggested Curriculum

1. History of Painting & Sculpture in Religious Worship.
This synoptic presentation is an informative cross cultural and academic examination of the ways various cultures, East, West, North and South, have implemented the visual arts into spiritual / religious practice, from shamanism through worship, education of the illiterate, to inspired decorum for the heightened sense of spirit for worship and tribute to God. An interesting side note will be brief glances at the correlation to music as an emotional language and stimulus of the times and with respect to socio-philosophical point of view of the various host cultures.

2. History of Art In the Church
This presentation zeros in on the historical development of Christian art. Except for a brief revue of pre-Catholic art, the main focus will be upon the art of the Catholic Church through the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque art periods of Western Culture. Also discussed will be relation to World ideas as they developed concurrently and the effects that had on Religious art of the time in and out of the Catholic church.

3. Departure From Art as a Means of Worship In Christianity
This presentation traces and expounds upon the reasons of departure for Church supported visual inspiration. Beginning with the Reformation and the establishment of Protestant tradition, this examination traces the causes for the departure of visual art as a form of worship and concludes with a look at how the Catholic church lost its once preeminent position as Patron of the Arts.

4. The Return: Art As a Means of Worship To The Church Body
There is a movement developing and a call for the return of the visual arts as a form of worship to the Protestant based churches and for the Catholic Church to regain its position as Patron to living artists expressing in contemporary language, Liturgical theme (especially as it relates to “Death and Resurrection”). Also, in this brief presentation, will be an examination of the difference between the practicality of worship through music with its direct understood application in current church service and the mystery of painting, in metaphor and symbol – the use of emotional means to worship and the ideas of intellectual contemplative space.

5. A Survey Of Influential Art Theory Through History
A deeper examination to the theories that have shaped art through time, including elaborations of previous theory touched upon in the other presentations, and including the theories shaping secular art of our Post Modern Era. This presentation hopes to shed light on and unveil the mystery of the art of our times so commonly rejected for lack of understanding. In conclusion, it is hoped that, a form of art appreciation will be gained, as some of the mystery and misunderstanding of the vast visual medium of communicative expression is revealed.

6. What Makes a Work of Art Effective For Revealing Truth?
This is critical to understanding the difference between “Benign” art and “Dangerous” art. How art as sentimental motivator moved into the area of music and out of the area of the contemplative. Using the illustration of parable, this final presentation looks at why it is “Dangerous” art that needs to be encouraged in the Church – why truth needs to be expressed in ways beyond sentiment, illustration, sarcasm, satire, or absurdity. Also, this is an appeal to cultural education – and why that is dangerous.

In order to support this curriculum and classes like the subjects described, the Foundation for the Biblical Arts is currently holding interviews for speakers / lecturers. We are actively inviting particular scholars established in their course of study. We are also giving an open invitation to those knowledgeable in these subjects. If you have knowledge in these topics and desire to contribute what you know, apply to :

Jeff LeFever
c/o FAP Education / Lecturer
441 Anita
Laguna Beach. CA 92651

Please include the following:

1. Name / address / phone / e-mail / web

2. Bio / Bibliography (if you have one)

3. Area of Interest or scholarship

4. An outline of what you might contribute and how you would like to present your information.

5. Your fee and requirements.

We will keep your file on record. When we launch the education program, we will begin contacting our applicants for the particular lectures being offerred. If you are chosen to lecture, we will call you to discuss arrangements.

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For further information, send your inquiry to

Jeff LeFever: lefever@biblicalarts.net