On Art or "Art"?

Philosophizing on the "art" ...

Donna says, "I LIKE it," and everyone wants to know if Tim LIKES it, but really that is all irrelevant to the most important question: SHOULD we like it?

Now, I am curious about whether or not Tim likes it. It is a piece of trivial information that will amuse me, and if he wants to hang it in his office that's his business. I will not judge him for it.

I can't. I LIKE music I shouldn't like. I LIKE food I shouldn't like. And I even LIKE art I shouldn't like.

I think.

But I wonder if the inscription on the painting shouldn't read:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight -- because my painting sure isn't.

Isn't beauty objective? And shouldn't we all agree that even if we don't know what it is that there must be some objectivity somewhere, perhaps beyond the limitations of our fallen minds, that determines whether beauty is actually beauty.

Consider the work of art that was partially funded by the NEA: a crucifix in urine. (Write me for a link).

Now let's think:

1. It would be easy to denounce this "art" as non-art because it is blasphemous. Most Christians would agree.

2. Now, supposing the artist takes the crucifix out of the jar and just presents the urine. Is it art? Is it beautiful because some people "LIKE" it?

3. If a person says that it is beautiful and that he LIKES it, on what grounds can you tell him that it is NOT beautiful?

4. Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder?

I don't think so. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder a lot of people are going to be disappointed when they get to heaven. The reason we will all find heaven the most beautiful place is because we will all be so radically changed that we will finally be able to see and understand objective beauty.

I find it fascinating that everyone is asking whether or not the "art" is LIKED. But no one has answered whether it SHOULD be liked.

Perhaps the "art" is actually art and I am ignorant of true beauty. I'm prepared to admit that. I have listened to many people tell me that classical music, for example, is yukky noise. They're ignorant. Beauty is not in the eye -- in this case, the ear -- of the beholder/hearer. Nor is ugliness necessarily in the eye/ear of the beholder/hearer.

Therefore, I could be the one that is wrong. Maybe I am so pitifully marred by sin and ruin that I cannot see beauty even when it smacks me in the face. Maybe Donna is not "worldly" as she jokingly referred to herself, but instead her brother Bob is ignorant.

That is quite possible.

On the other hand, if visual art can be justified merely on the basis of being "liked" why can't certain kinds of music be so tolerated?

I confess to have erred with food and music in the same way others err with art. I confess to being a lover of ugliness.

Beauty cannot be determined by corrupt affections. In truth, only God is the determiner of beauty. In our fallenness it is the perpetual quest of the redeemed humanity to learn beauty (among other things, of course).

But as I said before, I confess to being a lover of ugliness. I confess to not even knowing what real beauty is. That's why grace is amazing.

God shows grace to people who offer to Him things that they think are beautiful much as a loving parent receives the artwork of his toddler. In some sense it is the relationship of the "artist" with the one for whom he is drawing that makes the "art" beautiful, but it doesn't change the objective standard. My daughter's artwork will never be in a museum for outstanding art just because I LIKE it.

But here's the kicker: my daughter's art work should NEVER be in a museum for outstanding art even if MILLIONS of people LIKE it.

Today, we live in a world where millions of people LIKE things that are, well, ugly.

We also live in a day where millions of people don't know what beauty is anymore.

Therefore, we are back to the question posed much earlier in this saga, now expressed with two questions:

I, Bob, find a part of me that likes the art. Is that because I am part of a culture that like ugliness?

I, Bob, find a part of me that disapproves of the art. Is that because I am part of a culture that is ignorant of beauty?

I confess to not knowing for sure.

If it were hanging in my office I could never get much study done. I'd be pondering this philosophical question and searching my soul incessantly.

Tim's Ordination

Just a few photos to give you a glimpse of the day. One of my more verbose siblings will give a longer version--if they don't, I will, promise!

Our Saturday in Plymouth

We took my parents to Plymouth today for a tour. It was a good day.

Birthday Celebrations

Wednesday night we invited all the church people to come over for cake and ice cream to celebrate Micaiah's golden birthday. As you can see, "5" was the magic number.


Last night we trekked into Greenville (it really feels like that now!) to enjoy a birthday dinner and presents with Auntie Donna.

Then we enjoyed a little tee-ball outside with Micaiah's new tee-ball set.



And now to get ready for the next big event! The first round of family arrives for Tim's ordination today, and we've got A LOT to do!

Happy Birthday, Micaiah!!

5 Years old on the 5th! You are growing up just tooooo fast!!!
We love you. Hurry to France for birthday number 6!

Birthday breakfast in bed

The first time through Happy Birthday, he didn't even notice.

The second time through Happy Birthday. "Leave me alone. What could be better than sleep?"

After a pause, some tickles and kisses, we sing again!

Breakfast in bed is fun. I like being 5!

"My" Girls

I had the teen girls over for lunch today. We are reading Lies Young Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh. It is excellent so far--we're only on chapter one! :-) We had a great time together. We then started getting prizes, etc. ready for our Family Fun Fest coming up on June 14. They were a huge help and got a lot of work done--a big load off my shoulders.

Aren't they cute?

Yikes...he's scaring me..

...my baby's growing up!

Memorial Day in Spartanburg

Happy "French" Mother's Day, Mom!

I think this baby needs to feel his Grandma's arms again :-)

Amber's Engaged!

Amber got engaged last night! The wedding is scheduled for August 16!

Amy Sutter's Bridal Shower

Well, the Texan theme pulled off beautifully! We showered Amy with gifts on a cowgirl theme since she is moving to Texas. It went very well thanks to my cohort in crime, Judy Hurst! Ruth graciously allowed us to bombard her home, so soon after her return, so that it was close and some of the older ladies in the church could make it. We were about 35 people and had a great time. We made Amy make a cake with no recipe and it actually came out very good!

For more pictures of our event go to http://picasaweb.google.com/bixby.dorubi/SutterShower .

A true Bostonian!

We had a small celebration for Micaiah's 5th birthday on Saturday night. He now sports an official Boston Red Sox cap!

Goodbye Tim and Ruth

Tim and Ruth and the kids drove out of our driveway for the "final" time on Sunday. We've enjoyed have them in our neck of the woods for the past five weeks.

While you all were playing...

Today was a work day at our house.

We worked inside and out.

I have been under the weather, so Brenda and the kids did the bulk of the work. They are precious.

With Chris & Lydia in Vermont

Our service last Sunday was in Charlestown, NH, which is just across the Connecticut River from Vermont. Chris and Lydia took Monday off of work to spend with us. We arrived just before lunch on Monday and just relaxed and talked for hours. In the evening, the ladies and kids went to a park while the men went to a Bible study with the men of their church. It was great to see them "on their own turf" and to catch up on all their news. They really expended a lot of energy playing with M & M! We had a great time with them, and we highly recommend to the rest of you paying them a visit in the beautiful "Green Mountain State."

A day in the Country....

We had a delightful day visiting "White Pines" National Park as a relaxing day off.  Visit FB for more pictures of our day. We finished up at George's for supper and changing the oil in the car.  The kids loved playing in his garage!

Touring Boston!

The subway ride

I think this was Micaiah and Miriam's favorite part of the whole day--riding the "train!"

Sites on the Freedom Trail
We enjoyed walking, and walking and more walking! Some of the sites included Park Street Church, site of D.L. Moody's conversion, Paul Revere's house and statue, several cemeteries where notable figures are buried, Bunker Hill Memorial, and lots more!


USS Constitution --"Old Ironsides"
We enjoyed touring several levels of the USS Constitution which is still comissioned as a Navy vessel. The oldest commissioned ship still afloat in the world, it was first launched in 1797. The security to get in was worse than an airport, but we enjoyed the free visit! Another favorite of Micaiah's!

Excursion to Quebec

Last week we received the unexpected opportunity to visit with some friends in Quebec. Ever since we knew we were coming to the New England area, we had toyed with the idea of going into Canada. At a missions conference in the beginning of April, we met the Rousseau family, home missionaries to St-Hyacinthe, Quebec. Since we didn't have a meeting last Wednesday, and since we were going to be visiting with Chris & Lydia Bixby in Vermont (more on that later), we contacted them about the possibility of heading up to Canada for a brief visit with them. The Rousseaus graciously invited us to spend some time with us, and insisted on taking us the two hours further from their place up to Quebec City. It was a strange feeling to drive to a city on this side of the ocean that speaks only French! Quebec City has a very European feel to it. We really enjoyed being there. Tim also had the opportunity to preach in French last Wednesday evening at L'Église Baptiste Maranatha. It was a great experience. Click here to see a web album of pictures from our visit to Quebec.

Two Years Ago We Started the Blog!

Aunt Donna, we want to see if the tree has grown, if it is still alive, if we should hire Grandpa and Nephew to do some landscaping and tree-planting in our yard? Post a picture!

This picture was posted May 15, 2006.