The other night on EWTN, Fr. Benedict Groeschel proudly proclaimed that he had never stepped foot in the MoMA, because he couldn't stand looking at all of the ugliness and disorderliness of "modern art". Apparently while he was doing his doctorate in psychology he took some courses in art history and art criticism. I couldn't disagree more with what he said. There is definite order in modern art - it might just not be readily apparent with some artists. Certainly the early work of people like Frank Stella, Leger, and many others, is very rigid and ordered. There is even order in Jackson Pollock paintings as Francis Schaffer showed in How Shall We Then Live. And besides that MoMA has many other paintings in it that are done in a more traditional style that he would probably enjoy. For example, I believe now there is a show of Lucian Freud prints and Seurat drawings. So I don't know what father was talking about in that interview. It really makes no sense to me.
My wife and I just returned from vacation. While away, we got to visit the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, which had recently undergone a huge renovation. The last time I was there was to see the famous "Timla Relic" a few years ago. Unlike some horrific church renovations that have gone on in recent years that were supposedly meant to "update" the church, this restoration was meant to "return" the interior of the building to its original Federal-period design. And I must say that it a very tasteful renovation. They did a really good job. It looks almost like an old early Episcopal church - white washed interior, minimal designs, etc. The interior is now very bright because they removed the stained glass (dark blue Willet windows), and uncovered the original skylights in the dome. They kept all of the good stuff (the high altar, altar rails, etc.), and brought some cool old stuff back (e.g. the nation's first RC epi...
Comments
-j
While I agree with you that Fr. Groeschel is "off base" about much of Modern Art, I wonder about your comment "It also seems to be an attitude that comes from an overly conservative mind." Last time I checked, the APA (and the REC) are both CONSERVATIVE ANGLICAN bodies. Now often the RC church is conservative of bad things but being "Conservative" is what we (as REC/APA folks) are!
Chip in Annandale, VA
From my experience there seems to be a correlation between many conservative Christians and a disdain for certain types of modern and postmodern art. I think it is because conservatives are naturally less open to new concepts and ideas. While I consider myself conservative in most ways, I guess I am less conservative in the area of art (though my art is actually quite traditional as far as contemporary art goes). So, there are many different grades of conservatism and liberalism I guess.
Gordon+