The Humanities Center welcomes Dr. Katie Kresser, Seattle Pacific University as our Faith & Imagination Lecturer, Thursday, March 19, at 3:30pm in 4010 JFSB. Her presentation will explore why art matters and considers how taking art seriously can unlock fundamental truths and shape cultural formation. We hope you’ll join us. Refreshments will be served.
Title: Speechless: Art, History and Primal Knowledge
What is art? Why is the study of art history important? According to the philosopher Jacques Maritain, art is crucial because it captures “preconceptual” insights – knowledge that can’t be reduced to terms or labels. Similarly, for the artist Paul Gaugin, true art activates “the most intelligent part of the intelligence,” closest to the source of pure inspiration. It was this connection to deep, “preconceptual” insight that allowed figures like Leonardo da Vinci to make discoveries relevant in a wide range of fields, including engineering, anatomy, geology, architecture, and of course, painting. So, if the thing we call art is this important, is our efficiency-based contemporary culture missing something? This talk will explore the epistemological benefits of taking art seriously, and it will suggest modes of cultural formation that can help us leverage our deepest potential and tap into fundamental truths about the universe.
About our guest:
Dr. Katie Kresser (PhD Harvard University) is a professor of Art History and Visual Studies at Seattle Pacific University, where she is also a Theological Integration Fellow. She is the author of dozens of articles and three books, and she writes popular blogs for sites like Magis Center and Christian Scholar’s Review. She is also a frequent podcast guest, featured most recently on “Visually Sacred,” sponsored by the Foundation for Spirituality and the Arts. Dr. Kresser’s research focuses on the artistic process, art theory, and the connection of art to theology. Her newest book, “Church Beautiful: Sacred Art and Spiritual Healing,” is available for preorder from Cascade Press.
