Week Three: August 25,27, 28

Monday, 25th

What is Surrealism? 
-Surrealism is a style in which fantastical visual imagery from the subconscious mind is used with no intention of making the work logically comprehensible. -artcyclopedia

 -A 20th-century art form in which an artist or writer combines unrelated images or events in a very strange and dreamlike way. -webster dictionary

-Though the movement was officially started in 1924 by poets, the visual artists who came later made Surrealism known to the world.

Was the Surrealism movement considered somewhat anti-Christian? 
Yes, Definitely! This is unfortunate as it could have been very beneficial to Christians.

Were there any Christian Surrealists? Yes!

• The poet Pierre Reverdy was a Christian. Though Pierre was not technically part of the Surrealist movement, he influenced André Breton, who wrote the Surrealist Manifesto, as well as other surrealists.
• The painter Salvador Dali became a Christian later in life and contributed a number of profound pieces of surreal Christian Art. His works highlight why surrealism is important for the Christian Church.
• The psychologist Carl Jung considered himself a Christian, and incorporated surreal techniques in his practice with patients.

Salvador Dali- The Persistence of Memory, is a painting that most people are familiar with.

Surrealism is a surprising aspect of Christianity.

In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back.
The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.
Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), Rev 4:6-9

I could probably pick more, but this will do. These show a positive side to surrealism that I don’t think is touched upon, namely:

Surrealism and dream logic is how finite humanity often processes spiritual reality.

The seraphim’s wings in the first verse are described in a way that is surreal. Six wings, two to fly, and four to shield themselves from the glory of God (averting their eyes, and shielding their feet from touching holy ground.) In this case, as in the other verse and in similar passages, a mortal man is witnessing this.
What  I believe is that in order for Isaiah and John to process the visions, they had to render it in dream logic. I think maybe because since the spiritual is a higher order than the physical, we as human beings simply can’t fully comprehend God and spiritual experience:

The LORD replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”
Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”
The LORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.
But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.”

Exodus chapter 33. God goes on to only allow Moses to see Him from behind, literally stuffing him into a rock’s crevice and covering him until He passed by. In other words, direct experience of Him we can’t handle, and it’s transformed into a form we can. I think sometimes even the lesser spiritual realities and visions are similar, and we can only handle it by reducing it into surreal modes of thought. Somehow in the same way dreams can transmit meaning despite the lack of things like continuity, logic, or sense, spiritual things can be understood too. (A Christian Defense of Surrealism)

Juxstaposition- Placing two or more objects next to one another

In Class Project:
Create a value scale. Sketch ideas for drawing- An animate object (something living) and inanimate object (something man made). We will print your images for you to use as references in class or you can do the printing at home.
Journaling Bible: Cover expectations for first pages.

Wednesday, 26th

In Class Project: Start out with a value scale mini lesson. 2 worksheets. Surreal Graphite Drawing- Draw an inanimate object combined with an animate object. Use a wide range of value. Lights and Darks. Draw as realistic you can. Learn shading techniques.

Thursday, 27th

In Class Project: Continue drawing

Journaling Bible: Jonah 4:2, Highlight scripture, Use color, Use the spread- Fill both pages. Remember don't cover scripture with solid color, you want to see the scripture through the illustration. IDEA: Whale would be a good choice or ocean, text is ok for this assignment too.