Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA)

Mystery of the Majesty through art?

Acclaimed artist Makoto Fujimura kicks off 2010 PCPC Arts Festival

By Lawan Glasscock

Published August 1, 2010 in Witness

Frances Schaeffer wrote in his Art and the Bible, “For a Christian, redeemed by the work of Christ and living within the norms of scripture and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the lordship of Christ should include an interest in the arts. A Christian should use these arts to the glory of God... as things of beauty to the praise of God. An art work can be a doxology in itself.”

International artist Makoto Fujimura pointed to this idea during his presentation to almost 300 guests at PCPC on April 22. It was a stimulating beginning to the Arts Festival season that will culminate in an exhibition of juried pieces on November 13-21, expressing three rousing gospel themes of the Manger, the Magi, and the Majesty.

Makoto Fujimura is recognized worldwide also as a cultural influencer by both faith-based and secular media. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts (2003-2009), Fujimura has contributed internationally as an advocate for the arts, advising governmental policies. His work is exhibited at galleries around the world. Fujimura often traverses the deeper divide between the art world and the church. As an artist and a Christian rather than a Christian artist, Fujimura easily speaks to believers and non-believers. In his book, Refractions: a journey of faith, art and culture, Fujimura notes that “All gifts of creativity, like the Magi’s stars, point straight to a stable in Bethlehem.” For the evening at PCPC, Fujimura expanded on this concept, focusing purposely on the “Mystery of the Majesty” using various works of art.

What is a Christian artist?
Fujimura pointed out that one is first a Christian, and then an artist as well. However, using the term Christian as an adjective to the noun artist somehow dilutes the priority of what we are called to do. He stated that one can be a Christian and an artist simultaneously, and that this more gratifying position allows for us to transgress into other parts of society with a purpose of transforming individuals through Christ.
Fujimura is currently working with Crossway Publishing to comprise illuminated manuscripts for the four Gospels, a project commemorating the 400-year anniversary of The King James Bible. “It is an unprecedented marriage of a modern, usually secular art form with ancient scripture,” Fujimura says. The aim is to depict “the greater reality that the Bible speaks of... for the pure sake of integrating faith and art in our current pluralistic, multicultural world.”
In the end, Frances Schaeffer said it best, “A Christian life itself should be our greatest work of art.”