Why Art Matters to God

Brian Nixon : Apr 11, 2013
God Reports

[God] is not only the Great Artist, but also the object of our desire; the initiator of the process; and by His very nature defines for us beauty and creativity.

For those familiar with Chicago, you'd know that the city is full of magnificent visual art. From the Institute of Art to the Contemporary Museum of Art to sculptures spread throughout the city, Chicago is a hub for art lovers. Chicago is also the residence to the Poetry Foundation, the former home of noted architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, the childhood home of writer Ernest Hemingway, magnificent architecture, wonderful jazz clubs, and a thriving theatre scene. Art abounds in the Windy City. (Photo: Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor)

On a recent trip to Chicago, my family and I took in some of the art found in this great metropolis. Our first stop was at the Institute of Art to see the exhibit, "Picasso and Chicago." The exhibit is the largest collection of Picasso's work gathered in the U.S. in one place in over thirty years. 250 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and watercolors graced the walls of this magnificent building. We arrived at the museum when it opened, and left a half hour before it closed and didn't begin to see the entire collection the museum had to offer.

We also checked out the Museum of Contemporary Art, viewing the exhibition entitled "Destroy the Picture: Painting in the Void," featuring the fascinating art of British artist, John Latham (1921-2006) and others. Also at the MCA were musical manuscripts by noted American composer, John Cage (1912-1992). (Photo: Frank Lloyd Write's Robie House)

Additionally, we were able to see the Frank Lloyd Write House, the Ernest Hemingway museum and childhood home, the Poetry Foundation headquarters, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, the Sadao Watanabe exhibit at Wheaton College, and listen to Jazz at Al's Jazz Club. In short, we soaked in the art of Chicago.

So why all this talk about art? In a couple of words: art matters. And it matters on two different levels: theologically and anthropomorphically, or divinely and humanly.

Let's tackle the theological elements of art first. It's been said many times over that God is the Great Artist, the Master Creator. And it's true. (Painting: Picasso's "Mother and Child" at the Picasso and Chicago Exhibit)

But what exactly does this mean? Is God a beret-wearing, easel-carrying kindly gentleman painting all He can see? Of course not. But it does mean that inherent in God's person and character is the essence of creativity; the very basis of imaginative and inspired acts-including formulation and spatiality; all artistic endeavors are manifest in God's nature. I'm reaching here, but much like God is love, God can be seen as that which produces Art: the quintessence of revelation. God by His nature is ultimate Creativity. God and art are intertwined because God is equal to His nature.

The Lord states to Moses in Exodus, " am that I am." Here we find God stating that He is the center-the beginning-of all being, including beauty, inventiveness, goodness, etc. And part of God's nature is to create. Therefore, God arouses and motivates creativity in the world, what I'll call Theo-art, Eternal Art, and God-Art. He is not only the Great Artist, but also the object of our desire; the initiator of the process; and by His very nature defines for us beauty and creativity…

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