arts mountain overview •
Art is a tongue. That means the purpose of Art is to communicate and intercede in places where natural words fail. "Real" art doesn't solve the mystery, it points to it. In the same vein, "true" art shouldn't cater to someone's faith - in other words, it shouldn't simply reinforce someone's belief - but should expand and challenge it.

It seems that Church Art has a long history of DOMINATING, but a short history that isn't real favorable. It seems that, instead of "politically correct", that church art has increasingly become "religiously correct"- watered down to the same chords, melodies, colors, steps, and techniques that won't offend, won't challenge tradition, and won't get you kicked out...

We, as today's church, seem to preoccupy ourselves with plugging cleanly into some cultural socket - hoping to catch the current of what excites people in the moment - but in doing that, we fail to communicate to generations.

Originality is a hallmark of the Kingdom, and lately, many of us Christian artists have missed the mark. We copied (and still copy?) the world, and when we get "convicted" about it, or whatever, we start to copy the church! (Which is even worse somehow?!?!) - but NO MORE!!!! This current and next wave of Christian Artists will boggle the natural and succeed in the supernatural!

Art is more than music in the air, more than color on a canvas. The spectrum of arts includes chefs, athletes, actors and more!

It kinda goes without saying that God created ALL forms of art - whether you approve of them or not - and that God chooses each to point to His Grand Mystery. Each chord, each melody, each poem, each scene, even each cake(!) should lend a clue to who He was, who He is, and who He is gonna be!!!

If you are an artist, your art is VALID and QUALIFIED and NECESSARY. Your work has the potential to shape culture, communicate truth, mold generations, and validate emotion - so JOIN US! Hold hands with other artists and watch the world change by simply doing what you love to do - it's that easy!

arts mountain resources •

Local Theaters • Support the Local Arts!!!
http://www.centrestage.org/
http://www.peacecenter.org/
http://www.warehousetheatre.com/
http://www.greenvillelittletheatre.com/
http://www.scchildrenstheatre.org/

Dance
Master's School For Creative Arts
Ballet Magnificat!

Music
John Mark McMillan
David Walker

Visual Arts
Eric Hurtgen
Jessica Libor

Writers
Donald Miller

Books for Artists
Walking On Water by Madeline L'Engle
The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkerson