My Top Books:
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Till We Have Faces - C. S. Lewis A fictional retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche. Compare to Lewis' other works concerning pain and evil, The Problem of Pain and A Grief Observed. One of the greatest novels that no one knows about. |
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Mere Christianity |
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Man's Search for Meaning - Victor Frankl A very simple theory that developed in the testing ground of a concentration camp. Without meaning and hope, we die. |
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Art and Illusion - Ernst Gombrich If you have any interest in the question of representational art, this book presents the most cogent theory I've seen. It is an aid to thinking about your own work if you are a representational artist, as well as a valuable resource for art historians, perceptional psychologists and aesthetic philosphers. |
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Art in Action -Nicholas Wolterstorff For the most sensible view on the philosophy of art that I have found. To understand art, why not look at the purpose motivating it. Very clearly art is done for a reason and has a telos. Otherwise we wouldn't spend our energy on it. Art for art's ake is just untenable. |
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Summa Theologica St. Thomas Aquinas How much can we discern about God through the faculty of reason alone? Look into Thomas to find out. It is clear, common-sensical and does not stray into many of the extremes that can be found in Religous philosophy. |
An Essay on the Develpoment of Christian Doctrine
-John Henry Cardinal Newman
Lost In The Cosmsos
-Walker Percy
Orthodoxy
-G.K. Chesterton
The Confessions
-Saint Augustine
Magritte
-Suzi Gablik
The Salvation Controversy
-James Akin
Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic
-David Currie
Ten Philosophical Mistakes
- Mortimer Adler
Summa of the Summa
- Thomas Aquinas, Edited and Annotated by Peter Kreeft
Three Philosophies of Life
Ecclesiastes: Life as Vanity
Job:Life as Suffering
Song of Songs: Life as Love
- Peter Kreeft
Hail, Holy Queen
- Scott Hahn
Perelandra
- C.S. Lewis
Some great quotes from Perelandra:
"Be Comforted small immortals. You are not the voice that all things utter, nor is there eternal silence in the places where you cannot come."
"...A peopled world [is] no more needful than a world that is empty: but all are needless alike, and what all add to Him is nothing... Love me, my brothers, for I am infinitely superfluous, and your love shall be like His, born neither of your need nor of my deserving, but a plain bounty."
Thomas Cole and the Hudson River School
I love the Hudson River School. There is a marvelous love of nature as well as the glory that rises from it. The natural world is in a way sacramental. It carries in it something greater than even the sum of its parts.
J.M.W. Turner
The sky is alive in Turners landscapes. The color paellette is typically a simple red, blue, yellow triad, but the brilliance that comes from it truly creates the awe and wonder of the world.
Odd Nerdrum
Occasianally off-putting, Nerdrum is probably the greatest painter of our day. The texture, the drawing and the thoughtfullness of what is being said all come together into a powerful ouvre. I would recomend discretion at viewing his work though. It can often be grotesque and disturbing.
Michelangelo
What can I say that hasn't been said about Michelangelo. I truly believe he is the greatest artistic genius of all time.
George Inness
The end of the Hudson river school, but an emotive powerhouse. He has fascinating colors and a mood that few have ever captured.
Rembrant
Everybody loves Rembrant
John Singer Sargent
Like the Beatles of 20th century art, there are few representational artists who do not at least respect Sargents' work.
The Pre-Raphaelites
Like a stained glass painting the colors glow from the pre-raphaelites. The spirit of the work carries a beautiful depth, piety and sincerity.
Iconography
It is difficult for us to relate to Medieval icons these days, but the idea is wonderful. The icon painters viewed these as not representations but windows to another world. All art has some of this. Art looks beyond itself.
Fort Collins
April 2007
Musicians Richard Sada Berrelez and Dave Hopkins performing.
March 2007
