Nathan E. Lewis

What is the five letter word Brooks Haxton refers to in the following poem?

The wedge sank five times into the clay,
and a word, which had been spoken in a breath,
lay still until the gods’ names were forgotten.
Then, when strangers took the tile in hand,
while stars sailed into the dark
beyond the world, the dead tongue
in the clay began to speak.

(Miguel Hidalgo, Mexican Revolutionary Immortalized in the murals of Jose Clemente Orozco)

Powerfully controversial and painfully prophetic, Jose Clemente Orozco’s murals in the center of Guadalajara champion freedom, the common man, truth, and courage. When we take mission teams to Guadalajara to support the gospel through relief for the poor, children’s programs and relationship building with our Mexican friends, we reserve several hours to view the murals of Jose Clemente Orozco. Continue reading »

My son, Everett James has completed 15 pen and ink drawings of women and his art teacher, Kathy DeArmond Mier has arranged for them to show at Kettlemen’s Bagels in Southeast Portland through April 30. Everett is fourteen years old, a talented musician and budding artist. I am proud of his work and give glory to God for his skills and love of art. Kathy Mier, along with her husband, Gary, own and operate Gallery 7126 in the Pearl District. Visit their gallery sometime soon and several times a year to appreciate their rotation of local artists. Encourage Everett by dropping by Kettleman’s on Friday, March 7, between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m.

The faces of the actors gaze upward searching for God in the midst of their sufferings, offering in the middle of an expertly and artistically directed and produced film a credible presentation and answer to the problem of pain and suffering in the world. Director of “Mother of Mine,” Klaus Haro, along with the screenwriters open the film with first time actor, Topi Majamiemi, 10 years old, looking up at the stars. He portrays the life of Eero, one of 70,000 Finnish children who were evacuated from Helsinki during the Russian invasion during WWII. Swedish families opened their homes to the children. Eero’s father died in the war and so his mother consented to send her only child, Eero to Sweden. The story reveals tragic personal life upheavals caused by war that many of us who have lived during times of peace would never imagine. Eero’s gaze is drawn to the sky several times as bombers fly over his home. In these scenes, Eero looks skyward with the normal curiosity and fears of a child during wartime. Director Haro’s insightful contribution is to add strategically placed scenes in which Eero and others looks upward in hope. Continue reading »

Are you critical of cubism or other forms of modern art as it departs from realistic depiction? Raphael’s ““The Alba Madonna” c. 1500 has some pleasing realistic parts to it, but it is the symbolic, non-realistic parts that make it a meaningful painting. The Christ child holds a cross in his hand and his focus is upon it. In the Gospels, the adult Jesus is intent upon his passion. When did he come to a realization that his first Advent would include the crucifixion? As the infinite Son of God, did he not know about the cross prior to his incarnation? As a baby, did he know about his role as the sole propitiation for the sins of the world? When did Jesus possess a messianic realization? What first century mother under the yoke of Rome would allow her baby to play with a toy cross, the implement of capital punishment? Mary’s gazes through the cross, “pondering these things in her mind.” Is she lost in thoughts stimulated from the reading of the book in her lap? Or is she thinking about her son and his miraculous birth and life mission? Continue reading »

Don’t miss Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art: Treasures from the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam on display at the Portland Art Musuem, June 2 - September 16, 2007. Dust off your complete works
of Francis Schaeffer and use the index to locate each comment he makes about Rembrandt and the art that flowed from the Reformation. Continue reading »

Have you seen “Stranger than Fiction?” Each of the main characters in the end must change, putting the interests of others before his/her own. The hero discovers that he is not the author of his own story. He discovers the identity of his omniscient narrator, tracks her down and pleads for his life - a parable of prayer. His life is in the hands of another, under the control of the author. Through it all love flourishes.

Kim Alphandary painted “The Holy Family’s Escape Into Egypt,” using Luke Powell’s photograph of an Aghani family, the mother on a donkey with a child hidden at her breast. Her title for the painting is simply “Mary and Joseph,” (you can view it at analogizing.blogspot.com.) Kim told me that I should check out Luke’s web site. She considers Luke to be one of the best photographers she has ever discovered. I have been visiting www.lukepowell.com and have been moved by Luke’s photography, especially of the people, the children, of Afghanistan. This past week I contacted Luke and he sent to me the following excerpt from an essay he has published, explaining his work.
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This past week I had the privilege of connecting with Kim Alphandary (she is the sister of Evergreen member, Sally Mehler). Check out Kim’s painting at http://www.unknownnews.org/050712a-ka.html. Kim asked me to collect some Christian prayers to accompany her painting in her art show in Los Angeles this coming January. I gladly did so and have enjoyed interacting with her. Kim does not claim to be a Christian and readily admits her ignorance concerning the Christian faith and Scriptures. I am drawn to her sense of justice and her mission to promote peace and safety in the world. She is a journalist writing mostly about South American political issues. She is also a painter and she is presently working on a series for this show in early 2007. Continue reading »

Pagan: So, you are standing outside the museum today protesting the featured exhibit of NEA art?
Christian: It’s an abomination to my God and to my faith.
Pagan: I think that would be its purpose. There are a few of us around who don’t particularly revere your God or share your faith.
Christian: Does that give you the right to publicly desecrate God? What about freedom of religion?
Pagan: I believe that the exhibit is protected by the freedom of speech. By the way, what kind of art do you like?
Christian: Oh, I’m not much interested in art. This is the first time I’ve been to this museum.
Pagan: You mean, this is the first time you have actually stood on the steps of the museum. Give me some examples of 20th century art produced by your Church that would make a fine exhibition in this museum.
Christian: (pregnant pause) I don’t rightly know of any. Our church doesn’t encourage the arts.
Pagan: By the way, most of the art in this museum, the featured NEA exhibit excepted, was patronized by the Church in past centuries. You should go inside sometime soon, I mean, after the NEA art is gone. Here’s a complimentary pass to use at any time.
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