The loose ends

So for all of you who didn't know, I made it back home fine. I spent two weeks traveling in Germany and Turkey. It was good to have those two weeks, mostly to process the semester. Processing, I have decided is not only important, but also often overlooked. I was, admittedly, quieter than I usually am, but there were many thoughts flying through my head. I've decided to post some poems I wrote. I use poetry as a processing tool, much like I use art in certain situations. Both of these poems, I am sure, came out of the many visits to cathedrals and churches in Italy and thoughts on the Church. I am currently taking History of World Christianity and it is fascinating to see my thoughts on the Italian Church in context.

Cortona
Cigarette smoke and guitars
Fill our holy place. Brazen
Sparks shatter our dome.
We have lit our own rolled incense
And candles to lift our unsilent prayers.
The Hymns that pour into our cathedral
Are sweeter than any choir.

This is our sanctuary, and now we choke
On tears of forgiveness as we speak
Confessions and do penance for sins
Uncommitted. We must pack our relics
And graven images from this long
Pilgrimage into unworthy suitcases
And embrace our crosses to carry
Them away, never to forget this self
Made church, this body of believers.


I wrote this next one after a visit to a Church in Pienza. It was actually one of my favorite churches that we visited. I suppose it is distinct in the fact that it was incredibly sparse and thus reminded me of protestant churches. It is actually really unfortunate that the protestant tradition has done away with artwork within the church. (Really guys, we need to bring GOOD art back into the church. It will be a difficult task considering the watering down of Christian art... Christian art is now unfortunately usually equated with bad art, and also unfortunately, most of the time, in the modern context this is very true.)

The Altar
In this dark corner, I found God.
I was waiting for him. Every Cathedral tried,
Vainly, to capture that glory. I waited for Him
In Mary’s empty arms. I looked
In Christ’s stretched and mangled body. I looked.
He sagged under the weight of prayers unanswered.

But here in this corner
There was no sacrifice,
No cup, no cross.
And there, my heart laid itself
On the altar. It sought silence.
It sought to stop beating
So it could beat again with renewed
Vigor. He was not in the storm,
Or the lightening or the earthquake
But in the still whisper.



Anyway, I never said it was good poetry, I just said it was poetry. These are the best that came out of my processing poetry.

NOW on to something completely different!

This semester, I have been adjusting to life back at school and trying to finish out my time at Westmont strong. Thus far, it has been mostly successful.

I just got into my Senior Show, which is very exciting, considering it is a competitive event and four out of our 18 senior art students did not make it in. I encourage you all to come visit and see our Senior Show which will be up in Reynolds Gallery until May 8th.

http://www.westmont.edu/_offices/arts_at_westmont/arts_calendar.html

You all should go. It will be a great show with my fellow seniors. I've seen some of the art which has been submitted, and I have to say that I am very excited. I did some excellent charcoal drawings and I encourage everyone to come see those, at least. They are phenomenal, if I do say so myself. What I submitted for my senior show was a continuation of a project that I began in Cortona, so again you should all come up and see it. Westmont is beautiful and the art is fantastic!

Thank you all for reading of my adventures. I am working on setting up my own website, which hopefully will have its own blog section. This may take some time, but be looking for that update! Thank you all.