RELIGIOUS ART | TALK OF WEEK

AOA NEWS
By Tahlib

"ABHAYA: AUNG SAN SUU KYI" (above) by James MacKay is one of 244 color portraits in an unprecedented new gallery show in Burma. "Abhaya" means "fearless, and is a hand gesture symbolizing peace, and dispelling fear. The gesture is made with the right hand raised to shoulder height, arm bent, and palm facing outward, and originated from the fifth Buddha, Amoghasiddhi who first used it when he gained "enlightenment" and later when facing an angry elephant who was calmed by the gesture. In each of the 244 palms is written the name of a Burmese political prisoner, and for us at Alpha Omega Arts seemed a fitting way to acknowledge the freedoms we enjoy in US during this Thanksgiving week. Listed below are the other news stories of the past week from the world of religious art. The stories are grouped by the five largest faith traditions, with an additional category for other/interfaith.

BUDDHIST ART:

• Theme for Burmese Human Rights Exhibit is Buddhism's "Fear Not" (Bangkok Post)
• Art As A Weapon Documentary Project Features Shepard Fairey (Stupid Dope)
• Hanoi's Dream in Canada Thru December 5th (Vietnam News)

HINDU ART:

• Hindu Temple Art is Part of Story in MET's Islamic Art Galleries (The Hindu)

ISLAMIC ART:

• Muslim Self Portraits Defy Stereotypes (Washington Post)
• Book Review: New Book Examines Relationship Between Fine Art & Islam (ABNA)
• Jordan's Nadia Dajani Creates Wearable Islamic Jewels (Arab News)
• "Art of the Arab Lands" is New Name for "Islamic Art" Gallery in NYC (Montreal Gazette)
• Houston Museum Highlights Islamic Gifting Over the Centuries (Voice of America)
• Muslim Women's Art Project of Australia Nears Ready (The Australian)

JEWISH ART:

• Chagalls Synagogues up for Sale at Sothebys on Dec. 14 (Russia Today)

CHRISTIAN ART:

• Indiana University Art Museum Returns Painting to Berlin Museum (Fox News 59)
• Tiny Church Beats Cathedral for UK's Biggest Art & Faith Prize (Guardian)
• Want Catholic Art in USA? Head to Bob Jones University (Washington Post)
• Bob Jones University Questions "Fundamentalist" Label (Christian Century)
• Vatican Cracking Down on Church Art, Architecture and Music (Vatican Insider)
• VIDEO: 2011 Brehm Lectures on Art & Faith (Brehm Center)
• VIDEO: Cutting Arts in Schools is Unacceptable in Portland (Christian Today)

INTERFAITH & OTHER ART:

• Colorado Art Museum Honors Patron Saint of Artists with "Windows to the Divine" (AOA News)
• 7 Suggestions for Congregations Seeking to Launch "Arts Ministries" (AOA News)
• Activist Painter, Scott LoBaido Paints Protest of Brooklyn Museum's Art Show (AOA News)
• Nude Islamic Artist-Activist Draws More Fire Plus Some Support (Telegraph)
• Egyptian Sculptor & Performance Artist Stages “Baptism in Black" (ArtInfo)
• Three Faiths in Art at London's RED Gallery (Independent Catholic News)
• VIDEO: Atheists Launch Campaign to Get Unbelievers to ‘Come Out’ (AOA News)

Get your daily dose of Alpha Omega Arts on Facebook and/or Twitter, or just come back each day. There's always something new to talk about in today's interfaith world of art.