Counting down to Paris ...

As we are preparing to move to Paris for Chris to study at the Ecole Normale Superieure, I have realized what a gift I have been given to have ten months in Paris to spend my time however I would like! And so, in order to take full advantage of that gift, I have created a study plan for myself. The hope is that I will build a foundation in my thinking regarding Christianity and art throughout time and also develop the habit of self-discipline!

I am excited about using all that Paris has to offer as well as the surrounding area to get a hands-on look at how Christian thought and art developed through time. Roughly, in the fall, I will be studying the ancient times to 500 A.D. In the winter, I will move onto the medieval period and then finally in the spring and summer my studies will focus on the more modern era.

I'll use this blog as a way of documenting and holding myself accountable to really carrying out my somewhat ambitious plan of study. Your comments are welcome, as it will make my studies more fun and meaningful.

Sister Wendy

First, good news - We got our visas!

And now, let me introduce my favorite living nun .... Sister Wendy.

I happened to stumble on her tv shows produced by the BBC on netflix. Chris and I have become big fans. We enjoyed watching her on her European travels and now I am watching her history of painting. I am hoping to get the book on the same subject (Sister Wendy's Story of Painting) as I think it should compliment my chronological study of the Christian tradition. Here is a taste of her European tour: Sister Wendy's Grand Tour: Rome

A new artist ...

June 2010

A new artist ...

As Chris and I are preparing for France, we are watching quite a few French films. A recent one that we really enjoyed is called Seraphine. It is based on the true story of a common French woman, Seraphine Louis. As she was inspired by her faith and the religious art she found in her church, Seraphine taught herself to paint, using unusual ingredients for her paint, including animal's blood and wax. Her work was exhibited in Paris in 1932 in an exhibition called "The Modern Primitives." You can find the movie on netflix.

Here is some of her artwork: