2 comments about Everything New and Who's Who in Clown Ministry: With 75 Skits for Special Days.

1. I found the book very helpful in my own clown ministry as I learned from the chapters on clowns from around the world and their tips they shared.

   If you want a good perspective on gospel clowning, get this book!




2. This book has the insite for those wishing to do or are already doing clown ministry work. It has interviews with top people in clown ministry today and some folks that are not that well know. Great insite into how others are doing it today. This book also has wonderful skits you can use on your own or with a group. Our "Fools for Christ" group has used several skits with great success. This is a highly recommended book in my opinion.

No comments about Christ All Merciful.

No comments about Visual art in the life of the church: Encouraging creative worship and witness in the congregation.

3 comments about Creation Out of Clay: The Ceramic Art and Writings of Brother Thomas.

1. Brother Thomas' is a beautiful work of inspiration. While he makes pots, he also writes of his philosophy, partly based in his faith, partly based in his talents for creation. His works are subtle, masterful, and demonstrate a love of clay. Lavishly illustrated, this work has been an inspiration for me. I find myself reaching for my sketchbook and pencil as I am turning the pages.
   
   This is not so much a "technique" book as it is a "this is how I make pots." But, it's a wonderful source of inspiration and ideas. I recommend this one to everyone who is in any way interested in the art and craft of pottery.



2. Brother Thomas Bezanson ,originally from Nova Scotia, is one of the great potters working in cermaics today. His work is notable in its use of color, resembling texture and color used in both China and Japan. He works in porcelin,and now lives and works in Erie, Pa.,not a noted hotbed of the arts. He was formely assocaited with the celebrated Monks of Weston Priory in Vermont. His work is easily accesible, and is on display in the Boston museum,among other places. This book, with its luxurious photos show the depth of the color that Brother Thomas achieves,the deep blends that have become his signature .Tea bowls, plates,vases all are lovingly illustated in beautiful full 4 color photographs.In this volume,he shows his deep indebtedness to the japanese and chinese artist who have preceeded him.Also his story is told along with his progress as an artist, and one can see, as a man. This is a beautiful book,lavishly illustarted which tells Br Thomas history along with the history of the pieces. Excellent, worth the cost and effort.



3. I found this book very enjoyable and uplifting. The writings of Brother Thomas and the photographs of his art work are exceptional. This is a book I recommend to any artist or anyone who enjoys man at his creative best.

No comments about The Invisible God: The Earliest Christians on Art.

1 comments about Fra Angelico: Dissemblance and Figuration.

1. At last a book that bridges the gap of ambiguity between Christian art and art history. Didi-Huberman's eloquent investigation of both the painter (a Dominican, Fra Angelico) and the context (a Catholic theology within the Dominican Order) provides an insightful interpretation of images that most art historians tend to treat clinically. Didi-Huberman is well versed in not only iconography, but speaks fluently on the sources that influenced the Dominican painter (Holy Scripture,the works of Plato, and the theological writings of St. Thomas Aquinas). I highly recommend this book for artists, theologians, and art historians. This is a book that can forever alter the interaction between viewer and image, and will hopefully incite an awakening in how we interpret and understand the paintings of Quattrocento Florence. The original French probably offers the best read, but I will continue to hope for more English translations of Didi-Huberman's work.

1 comments about A Guide to Navajo Sandpaintings.

1. This book is perfect for the novice, explaining the myths behind common sandpainting designs.

1 comments about Dictionary of Christian Art.

1. As a church architect, liturgical consultant and church geek, I love this book. I keep it at my desk, so that when I need to know, "How has the transfiguration traditionally been represented in Christian art?" or "What are the traditional Christian associations with violets?" I can look it up quickly, and quickly know enough to be able to do deeper research. Christian art and iconography are becoming a lost language, so that few of us can connect with all the layers of meaning in a piece of art that would have been explicit to earlier generations.
   
   I also find, with the extensive cross references, that I can easily lose track of time browsing in this book. I will start out looking up one entry, then become fascinated by the threads that connect it to other entries, or even just something on the same page that catches my eye.
   
   I wish the illustrations from Medieval, Renaissance and Counter-Reformation art could have been reproduced in color, as many of them are quite beautiful, but again, the point of this book is to give the reader a point of entry: enough information to know where to look for more. As such, the black and white reproductions merely whet the appetite.

No comments about Christian Boltanski: Advent and Other Times.

No comments about You-Choose-The-Ending Skits for Youth Ministry.