Capturing wonder through the arts

Following his TheoArtistry research on the nature of wonder, photographer Michael Thames considers art and art-making as a way of encountering the wonder that awaits us within, and beyond, our world. Wendell Berry once wrote that it takes us several hours to actually inhabit a place which we can pass by on the road in … Read more

Finding home with poetry (and potatoes)

In this final reflection on their TheoArtistry partnership, Marjorie and Mariah explain how friendship, poetry, sketching, and potatoes deepened their theological exploration of home and belonging. Read poems from Mariah and Marjorie: “Where I’m From.” Both Marjorie and I have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to discuss theology and the arts with each other and the … Read more

Working with wonder

TheoArtistry researchers James Ursell, Michael Thames, and Jen Schmidt have experimented with a variety of techniques and approaches to the concept of ‘wonder.’ Here, they discuss the nature of their project, their perspectives on working in creative collaboration, and how TheoArtistry has influenced their relationship with art. Our TheoArtistry project began with the word ‘wonder’. … Read more

Spirituality in Creativity (Part 3)

This three-part blog series presents a joint contribution from one of our TheoArtistry partnerships: Ewan Bowlby, Emily Fleming, and Hannah Palmatary. These reflections have emerged from their recent immersive performance of original poetry and musical compositions, entitled “Spirituality in Creativity: A TheoArtistry Collaboration.” Meditating on spirituality and the body in the poetic form has proven … Read more

Spirituality in Creativity (Part 2)

This three-part blog series presents a joint contribution from one of our TheoArtistry partnerships: Ewan Bowlby, Emily Fleming, and Hannah Palmatary. These reflections have emerged from their recent immersive performance of original poetry and musical compositions, entitled “Spirituality in Creativity: A TheoArtistry Collaboration.” Twenty-one years of playing the violin is enough time for music to … Read more

Spirituality in Creativity (Part 1)

This three-part blog series presents a joint contribution from one of our TheoArtistry partnerships: Ewan Bowlby, Emily Fleming, and Hannah Palmatary. These reflections have emerged from their recent immersive performance of original poetry and musical compositions, entitled “Spirituality in Creativity: A TheoArtistry Collaboration.” Spirituality is a complicated, contested idea, that will inevitably mean different things … Read more

Sketchbook Stories: Art-Making and the Inner World

In this contribution, Mariah Ziemer shares how her own work as a visual artist affects her inner world of thought and feeling, therefore shaping her spirituality. Specifically, she explores how drawing helps her process the idea of liminal space and moments of tension. Mariah studied studio art and theology at Biola University (California, USA) before … Read more

Mindfulness and Everyday Aesthetic Experiences

In this contribution, James Ursell considers whether aesthetic experiences contained within our daily lives may echo the Buddhist practice of mindfulness. The intersection between religious experience, theology, and aesthetic practice is a core interest of the TheoArtistry student-led collaborations. James is a final year PhD student at the University of St Andrews and works on … Read more