Hope presents Christian art influence

Hope College partners with the Saint Benedict Institute to present the lecture “‘Gold Out of Egypt’: Christian Art and International Influences,” by artist Daniel Mitsui, on Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. in the Fried Hemenway Auditorium of the Martha Miller Center for Global Communication.

The Apostles of Jesus were instructed to go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.

In every nation, Christianity has encountered a different culture, and worked to establish its own belief, with it Mitsui, a catholic artist, will discuss the ways in which the conflicts and concords between religions, cultures and nations are expressed in Christian religious art.

Mitsui also will examine the ways, historically, in which Christian artists have claimed elements of Classical and Islamic art as their own and will argue the necessity of their continuing to seek inspiration from foreign art.

There will also be a discussion of the dangers of treating the art of a single nation or culture as the basis of Christian aesthetic identity.

Mitsui specializes in ink drawing and his meticulously detailed creations, done entirely by hand on paper or vellum, are held in collections worldwide. He is inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts, panel paintings, prints and tapestries; as well as by the Arts and Crafts movement, biological illustration, Japanese woodblock prints and Persian art.

The event is being co sponsored by Hope programs including Asian Studies, International Studies, the Department of Religion, the Department of Art and Art History, the Center for Ministry Studies and the Cultural Affairs Committee.

The Saint Benedict Institute is a ministry of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Holland.

It seeks to promote and nurture intellectual work done from the heart of the Catholic Church, to foster an ecumenical community of Catholic Christians and friends committed to the renewal of culture.

Hope seeks to aid in the formation of intellectually and spiritually mature Christians by making available the riches of the Catholic tradition to Hope and the wider community.

More of his work can be seen at danielmitsui.com

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCES — Hope College partners with the St. Benedict Institute
to host lecture on “Gold Out of Egypt” that explores Christian art in relation to other cultures and nations. (Hope College)

The public is invited. Admission is free.

The Saint Benedict Insitutue has given previous lectures throughout the year and students and faculty are encourgaed to attend.

More information can be found at saintbenedictinstitute.com