Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts

Matthew Williner from Wheaton College gave a lecture that investigated junctures in the history of Christianity in which visual art played a role in transcending disagreement and fostering church unity.

Malcolm Guite preaches in Goodson Chapel during the mid-day service.

Malcolm Guite lectures on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and reflects on his own time at Duke Divinity as visiting artist-in-residence.

A concert with poet and singer-songwriter Malcolm Guite, joined by Duke Divinity School faculty and students.

Malcolm Guite's opening lecture focuses on "Three Responses to 'Love'", reflecting on George Herbert's poem and how it has continued to inspire and influence both poets and theologians.

Part 3 of 3 highlights Jeremy Begbie and London pianist Cordelia Williams performing "Visions de l'Amen" by Olivier Messiaen. The piece, comprised of seven movements that trace the seven movements of creation and new creation, was played on Maundy Thursday as a part of the Easter at King's festival. An "Illuminating Messiaen" photography exhibit was displayed behind Begbie and Williams and also at Corpus Christi Playroom in Cambridge, England. The seven winning photographs were selected from categories corresponding to the music’s seven movements.

On Wednesday evening of Holy Week 2012, Irish poet Micheal O'Siadhail presented a series of poems based on the Servant Songs of Isaiah. The poems were performed in Clare Chapel at Cambridge University as a part of the Easter at King's theology and arts festival. DITA Director Jeremy Begbie responded to one of O'Siadhail's variations with his piece, "O you whose love laid out our skies," performed by the Cambridge-Duke Voices, and conducted by Toby Young. In Part 2 of 3, Professor Ellen Davis offers commentary on the project.

During Holy Week 2012, the Duke-Cambridge collaboration led by Professor Jeremy Begbie of Duke University Divinity School met at the Easter at King's celebration. Part 1 of 3 highlights the meeting that took place between Cambridge Scholars and Duke Scholars to discuss Scottish composer James MacMillan's new Passion setting.

Dr. Robin Jensen of, Professor of the History of Christian Art and Worship at Vanderbilt University, lectures on Early Roman Christians during the "Paul Through Ancient and Modern Eyes" conference.

Scottish classical composer James MacMillan gives a public lecture on his new St. Luke Passion, framing and introducing the April 13 U.S. Premiere of the piece, as well as providing insight into composing as a Catholic Christian. The lecture is followed by a response from Cambridge Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity Sarah Coakley. This lecture was part of a larger series of events, "Sounding the Passion: Encounters in Poetry, Theology, and Music," sponsored by Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA), Duke Divinity School, Duke Chapel, Duke Music Department, and Duke Council for the Arts.

Members of the Duke-Cambridge Collaboration reflect on working with eminent Scottish classical composer James MacMillan on his new St. Luke Passion. This panel was part of a larger series of events, "Sounding the Passion: Encounters in Poetry, Theology, and Music." The series was sponsored by Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA), Duke Divinity School, Duke Chapel, Duke Music Department, and Duke Council for the Arts.

Cambridge Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity Sarah Coakley, St. Andrews Professor of Systematic Theology Alan Torrance, and Cambridge Regius Professor of Divinity David Ford, each speak about their vision for the future of theology. An audience Q&A follows. This panel was part of a larger series of events, "Sounding the Passion: Encounters in Poetry, Theology, and Music," sponsored by Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA), Duke Divinity School, Duke Chapel, Duke Music Department, and Duke Council for the Arts.

Scottish classical composer James MacMillan gives a public lecture on his new St. Luke Passion, framing and introducing the April 13 U.S. Premiere of the piece, as well as providing insight into composing as a Catholic Christian. The lecture is followed by a response from Cambridge Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity Sarah Coakley. This lecture was part of a larger series of events, "Sounding the Passion: Encounters in Poetry, Theology, and Music," sponsored by Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA), Duke Divinity School, Duke Chapel, Duke Music Department, and Duke Council for the Arts.

Cambridge Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity Sarah Coakley, St. Andrews Professor of Systematic Theology Alan Torrance, and Cambridge Regius Professor of Divinity David Ford, each speak about their vision for the future of theology. An audience Q&A follows. This panel was part of a larger series of events, "Sounding the Passion: Encounters in Poetry, Theology, and Music," sponsored by Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA), Duke Divinity School, Duke Chapel, Duke Music Department, and Duke Council for the Arts.

Members of the Duke-Cambridge Collaboration reflect on working with eminent Scottish classical composer James MacMillan on his new St. Luke Passion. This panel was part of a larger series of events, "Sounding the Passion: Encounters in Poetry, Theology, and Music." The series was sponsored by Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA), Duke Divinity School, Duke Chapel, Duke Music Department, and Duke Council for the Arts.

Celebrated Irish poet Micheal O'Siadhail offers a reading of his work in this intimate evening performance. The performance was part of a larger series of events surrounding the Duke-Cambridge Collaboration, "Sounding the Passion: Encounters in Poetry, Theology, and Music"; and the series was sponsored by Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA), Duke Divinity School, Duke Chapel, Duke Music Department, and Duke Council for the Arts.

Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA) and Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church present a collaboration between three top-notch artists—priest, poet, musician Malcolm Guite; award-winning folk singer-songwriter Steve Bell; and DITA director and musician Jeremy Begbie. Three days of public lecture/concerts, readings, and theological discussion at Duke Divinity School and Blacknall culminate in a final evening performance in Goodson Chapel.

Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA) and Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church present a collaboration between three top-notch artists—priest, poet, musician Malcolm Guite; award-winning folk singer-songwriter Steve Bell; and DITA director and musician Jeremy Begbie—for a fresh and energizing exploration of the arts, discipleship, and Christian imagination. Here, the artists lead morning worship, with poetry by Malcolm Guite and music by Steve Bell. Jeremy Begbie preaches.

Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA) and Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church present a collaboration between three top-notch artists—priest, poet, musician Malcolm Guite; award-winning folk singer-songwriter Steve Bell; and DITA director and musician Jeremy Begbie. These three friends gather with members of the community to show us how to “play” within the possibilities of poetry and music, in composition and performance, to make sense of the world, wrestle with Scripture, and re-imagine Christian life.

Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA) and Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church present a collaboration between three top-notch artists—priest, poet, musician Malcolm Guite; award-winning folk singer-songwriter Steve Bell; and DITA director and musician Jeremy Begbie. These three friends gather with members of the community to show us how to “play” within the possibilities of poetry and music, in composition and performance, to make sense of the world, wrestle with Scripture, and re-imagine Christian life.

Kim, a Ph.D. candidate and an associate fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, presents a lecture entitled “Sculpture, Iconoclasm and Re-formations of the Spirit: Phenomenological and Theological Reflections on Michelangelo’s Last Pietà.” The lecture explores aspects of Christian political and spiritual life during the Renaissance while marking evolutions in Michelangelo’s own theological and artistic understanding.

Cairns, poet and essayist, reads at Duke Divinity School from selected works, including "Recovered Body," "Compass of Affection," and a soon-to-be-published collection, "Idiot Psalms." A brief audience Q&A follows, with the reading of a final poem.

Three scholars with specialities in diverse but overlapping disciplines meet to discuss T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets" in light of modernism, theological hermeneutics, and the work of painters Makoto Fujimura and Bruce Herman. Herman and Fujimura give responses to the lectures, followed by audience Q&A, with Dr. Ellen Davis of Duke Divinity School moderating. (Note: Due to a technical lapse during Dean Hays's lecture, part of the lecture was lost. The recording has been edited at this point.) Speakers include: Michael Valdez-Moses, Duke English Department Gennifer Weisenfeld, Duke Department of Art, Art History, and Visual Studies Richard Hays, Dean of Duke Divinity School

Drawing on resources as wide as the phenomenology of Merleau-Ponty and the films of Wes Anderson, James K.A. Smith articulates and illustrates a philosophical account of the imagination that is less "romantic," suggesting how this yields new frontiers for engagement between theology and the arts. He then responds to audience questions.