An article by Jason Goroncy, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Whitley, was recently published online by the ABC.
Jason’s article titled ‘Openness to the world: Wes Campbell, and his disturbing illusions of peace’ explores artist Wes Campbell’s ‘material’ interpretation of the world around him through three lenses – that of attention, imagination and participation. Jason’s reflection addresses the question: what is the world that Wes’s paintings take for granted?
Wes Campbell is a theologian, artist, and (retired) Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia.
“Wes’ work embodies the conviction that good art attends deeply to creation. It broadens our horizons, it enriches our capacity to see, it alerts us to dimensions of reality gone unnoticed and for which words are simply not enough” Jason states. “Artists see how things are with the world differently, but no less truthfully, than do scientists. It seems to me that if we are to walk in our world well, and justly, and with mercy, then we cannot do so without the kind of re-imagining of reality and of human society that artists promote and invite. Here the work of the arts and the work of spirit find deep confluence. The work of spirit is the work of imagination, and the work of imagination is the work of theology.”
Jason has a fascinating way of interpreting art and texts, encouraging you reimagine and consider from another perspective. This is one of the many reasons his students enjoy his classes so much.
This particular article is fascinating and we encourage you to read more here: Openness to the world: Wes Campbell, and his disturbing illusions of peace – ABC Religion & Ethics