Welcome to Artists' Work B.e.n.c.h.

Welcome to the new e-magazine/blog for Artists' Work B.e.n.c.h., the Inland Empire's Christian fine arts organization! We hope you will find this to be a useful, enjoyable and worthwhile resource. Here are the newest items in the blog. Just click on the titles to go to the articles:

Christian Songwriters' Showcase

Introducing the Book Club

The Psalms Project--get creating!

The December Master Class: Getting Beyond Cliched Art

Fine Arts Bible Study, Part 1

Fine Arts Bible Study, Part 2

Extra Credit: How to Protect Your Original Work

Poetry Corner: Heaven's Snowflake

The Cafe (where we share interesting Fine Arts related links we have found)

Local Profile: Studio On Location

Artist Profile: John "Drumbo" French

Artist Profile: Lynn Yoder, a passion for painting

Happenings: Local announcements and things to do

Also, don't forget to vote in our poll on the right hand side of the screen and tell us what kind of artist your are! So, brew a cup of coffee, herbal tea, or whatever you like, and stay a while. This page will be updated monthly with new articles and interviews. Enjoy!

You are part of a growing group.

Strap Perfect

So, what is Artists' Work B.e.n.c.h? This is a place for Christian artists in the Inland Empire of Southern California to mix, network, relax, share, and learn. What types of Christian artists?

1. Visual arts (sculpture, painting, glass blowing, etc.)
2. Dance (performing, choreography, etc. )
3. Music (playing, writing, learning, singing, etc.)
4. Creative writing (poetry, stories, etc.)
5. Drama/theater (acting, playwriting, directing, etc.)
6. ??????

Artists Work B.e.n.c.h. is for Christian artists: simply, people who are Christians and who are also artists. Some Christian artists make art exclusively for Christians, but many use their talents in secular ways as well (writing screenplays for television, jingles, playing in a philharmonic orchestra, acting in a community theater, displaying their paintings in a gallery, etc.) All are welcome here.

Christians follow the Creator of the Universe, and therefore should be the most creative people in the world. The church has historically been the patron of great artists. Hildegard, the writer of the very first opera, was a nun. Michelangelo, Donatello, Edward Hicks, and many others made art for church and used church subjects.

But, today, Christian art is not considered "forward" or "interesting" in many circles. This reputation is well-deserved in most cases. Christian art has become a punchline. In our own little way we hope to change some of that perception.

What does Artist's Work B.e.n.c.h. stand for?
B=BUILD new Christian artists, ministries, avenues.
E=ENCOURAGE Christian artists to use their talents.
N=NETWORK with Christian artists, churches.
C=COORDINATE opportunities for Christian artists to use/exhibit their talents.
H=HELP Christian artists and help churches utilize artists.

This group is for people who fit one or more of these categories:
1.) Just starting out
2.)Being used mightily for God
3.)Frustrated
4.)Seasoned professional
5.)Curious
6.) Talented amateur
7.)Wanting to learn/improve
8.)Not sure if God can use your talent
9.)Good enough to teach others
10.)Wondering if your talent (flower arranging, calligraphy, photography, etc.) even qualifies as art.

Christian artists--unite! Let's be creative, interesting, and forward thinking enough to lead the artistic world, while still making quality pieces that reflect our worldview.

Introducing the Work B.e.n.c.h. Book Club!

Start now! Save your pennies. Put it on your Christmas list!

Artistic and Creative Christians, you are not alone!

We encourage you to study the Bible first and foremost. But, we also want you to educate yourselves and get inspired by some of the great thoughts great thinkers think. Really! Or, perhaps you will be repelled by those very same thoughts and thinkers.

That's why we're starting the Work B.e.n.c.h. Book Club.

• We will choose a book quarterly, starting with the first quarter of 2009 (January-March).
• We will encourage discussion on the Web.
• We will also strive to provide places in the Inland Empire where people can meet face-to-face and discuss the books.
• Participants will obtain and read the books during the first two months of the quarter, and the discussion will take place during the third month of the quarter (discussion questions will be posted). For instance, this first quarter, you have January and February to get the book and read it. All discussion will take place in March.
• All books will have something to do with Christians and the fine arts.
• Suggestions for upcoming books for the book club can be sent to epistrophy@aol.com. No promises, but we do take your suggestions seriously.

Now, are you ready? Drumroll please!
.
.
.
.
.
.

The first book is Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts by Steve Turner.

You can get the book at

• Berean.com for $11.44 plus shipping (free shipping for orders over $40)
• familychristian.com $13.99 plus $0.99 shipping (yes, 99 cents on any order, any size)
• christianbook.com for $9.99 plus shipping
• amazon.com for $10.40 plus shipping (free shipping for orders over $25)
• and many other stores, both actual physical stores and online.

Artists Work B.e.n.c.h. is not affiliated with, nor do we promote any bookstores. If you purchase online, you purchase at your own risk.

Worshipmusic.com plugs the book this way:

Imagine art that is risky, complex and subtle!

Imagine music, movies, books and paintings of the highest quality!

Imagine art that permeates society, challenging conventional thinking and standard morals to their core!

Imagine that it is all created by Christians!

This is the bold vision of Steve Turner, someone who has worked among artists--many Christian and many not--for three decades. He believes Christians should confront society and the church with the powerful impact art can convey. He believes art can faithfully chronicle the lives of ordinary people and equally express the transcendence of God. He believes that Christians should be involved in every level of the art world and in every media

Yet art and artists have not always been held in high esteem by conservative Christians. Art rarely seems to communicate clear propositional truth, rarely deals with certainties and absolutes. And the lifestyles of artists too frequently seem at odds with the gospel. So the arts have often been discouraged among Christians.

Throughout this stimulating book, however, Turner builds a compelling case against such a perspective. He shows that if Jesus is Lord of all of life and creation, then art is not out of bounds for Christians. Rather it can and should be a way of expressing faith in creatively, beautifully, truthfully arranged words, sounds and sights.

This stirring call is must reading for every Christian who has been drawn to the arts or been influenced by them.