Archive for the ‘Beauty’ Category
Who is JR?
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Who shot JR? I mean, who is JR?
Nobody knows. Or at least the majority of the world doesn’t. But here’s what we do know:
- JR’s art gallery is enormous. It’s the world.
- JR recently covered rooftops in Kibera, Kenya, with blown-up photographs of the women who lived there.
- JR chooses people on the fringe as subjects and models.
- His first large-format postings began appearing on walls in Paris and Rome in 2003.
- In 2006, he launched “Portrait of a Generation,” huge-format portraits of suburban “thugs” from Paris’ notorious banlieues, posted on the walls of the bourgeois districts of Paris.
- In 2007, with business partner Marco, he did “Face 2 Face,” which some consider the biggest illegal photo exhibition ever.
- JR creates pervasive art that spreads uninvited on buildings of Parisian slums, on walls in the Middle East, on broken bridges in Africa or in favelas in Brazil.
- He is the 2011 TED Prize Winner. Deservedly so.
- JR has inspired me.
JR’s website.
JR’s 28 millimetres site
New York Times slideshow of JR’s recent project. (Must see…)
Prayers of The Saints
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About three or four years ago, I began reading and studying the lives of many of the great forefathers, foremothers, leaders, and saints of the church. People like Blaise Pascal, Thomas Merton, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Teresa of Avila, Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, Thomas a Kempis, Augustine, Julian of Norwich, George Fox, John of the Cross, and others.
As I’ve studied and learned from these people’s lives, I’ve noticed my own faith journey take on a richer and more substantial depth – for probably two reasons: One, I was raised in a Pentecostal environment that tended to put a much heavier focus on what God was doing “now” as opposed to what God had done hundreds of years ago.
Secondly, the more I’ve learned and studied these great followers of Jesus, the more I’ve come to realize that the majority of them have struggled with many similar challenges that so many of us struggle with in regards to our faith today. Imagine that! As young, emerging leaders, our struggles and challenges with faith, church, humanity, and God are really not as unique as we might be tempted to think they are.
Now of course, are some of these people controversial? Yes, of course they are! And for most of them, more so today than when they were alive. To the fundamentalists, that’s a problem. To me, it’s actually quite an encouragement. 
All this to say that this weekend we are starting a new series at The Orchard entitled, “Prayers of the Saints”. The series was inspired by a music project of the same name that I discovered about a year ago from the folks at Trinity Anglican Mission (formerly Trinity Vineyard) in Atlanta. The project is a series of prayers from various saints that have been turned into songs. You can purchase the album via iTunes here.
Over these next few weeks we are going to sing, pray, and learn from these prayers. I can’t wait. They are both personally challenging and theologically rich. We’d love for you to join us. Or you can follow along via The Orchard’s podcast here.
Loving You Some A.D.D.
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Love Blaine’s transparency in this recent post. Reminds me of why his is one of only a handful of blogs I’m adamant about reading on a very regular basis.
My friend, Mike Foster, is in Bangkok with his family for a couple of months. I’m enjoying his tweets and posts. But I’m jealous too. 
Finally finished watching Julie and Julia last night. Watched the first half a couple of weeks ago. It was a fun movie. Quick fun fact: I was in NYC when it was being filmed and accidentally walked onto the set.
Video: Octopus Ballet. Um…wow. Amazing.
Excited to have the opportunity to work with Jarrett and Jeanne Stevens at this year’s STORY Conference. I’ve loved getting to know these guys. There was a solid connection from the moment we all met. Also loved having them at The Orchard a couple of months ago. You can download their talk here. BTW…love the direction STORY is headed this year.
Irish Hipster-Theologian, Peter Rollins was at Mars Hill (Rob Bell) this past weekend. Enjoyed listening to most of Peter and Rob’s conversation.
Innovation Cultivation. It’s the title of this post from The Orchard’s very own Larry Boatright over at the Origins blog.
I’ll be honest. I’m a sucker for cool hotels. I especially love finding affordable, non-chain, boutique hotels whenever I travel to major cities. Loved staying at this one on a visit to Austin last year. Speaking of hotels, truth.travel is a great blog from the folks at Conde Nast Traveler. Great photos too.
That’s it for now. Thank you for weeding through my A.D.D. Time for some Adderall.
Nice Curves
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Loved the article in this month’s WIRED magazine about Bill Zahner and his work designing and creating steel & metal facades for some pretty impressive buildings. Check it out if you get a chance.
(Images, Top: Experience Music Project in Seattle; DeYoung Museum in San Fransisco. Bottom: Cooper Union in NYC; Art Gallery of Alberta in Alberta, Canada)
While reading the article, I was reminded of the excellent use of space and creative facade work I saw last week while visiting NewHope Church in LA where my friend Charles Lee serves as Lead Pastor. Here’s a photo of their space:
They did a great job of taking this small, plain, rectangular space and giving it a fresh, clean feel – which undoubtedly impacts the experience side for those gathering in the space. Great job NewHope!
Let’s be inspired by the curves!
PS – Gotta watch this time-lapse construction video of Cooper Union.
PSS – Also worth a look – Zahner’s showcase site: Hands of The Artists
Thursday Art Inspiration
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RxArt - a NY based non-profit that brightens up spaces in hospitals. Here’s a recent project. Inspiring, isn’t it? Stop being so afraid to mess up those white walls. Remember, design matters.
Looks like street art is making it’s way into The White House. Love it.
This is called Falling Garden – it’s a collaboration of Swiss artists. Truly breathtaking.
This is a photo documentary from American photographer Mikael Kennedy about a kid who refers to himself as ‘the polaroid kidd’. It’s impacting. You can read the story here.
Love these paint splattered photographs from Dutch photographer, Sebastiaan Bremer. (btw – you’ve got to click on Bremer’s site – the splash page is amazing!)
Now go create.
Compelled to Love
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When then, eternal Father, did you create this creature of yours?…You show me that you made us for one reason only; in your light you saw yourself compelled by the fire of your love to give us being in spite of the evil we would commit against you, eternal Father. It was fire, then, that compelled you. Oh, unutterable love, even though you saw all the evils your creatures would commit against your infinite goodness, you acted as if you did not see and set your eye only on the beauty of your creature, with whom you had fallen in love like one drunk and crazy with love…. You are the fire, nothing but a fire of love, crazy over what you have made.
- The Prayers of Catherine of Siena
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