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Sanctifying Art
Inviting Conversation Between Artists, Theologians, and the Church
Foreword by Bruce C. Birch
Series: Art for Faith's Sake
Imprint: Cascade Books
Deborah Sokolove is the Director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary, where she is also Professor of Art and Worship. She received her BA and MFA from California State University at Los Angeles; a MTS from Wesley; and a PhD in Liturgical Studies from Drew University. Before coming to Wesley as Artist-in-Residence in 1994, she taught art, design, and computer animation at the university level. Her book, Sanctifying Art: Inviting Conversation Between Artists, Theologians, and the Church was published in 2013 by Wipf & Stock/Cascade Books; Calling on God: Inclusive Christian Prayers for Three Years of Sundays, co-authored with Peter Bankson, was published in 2014. She has contributed articles to ARTS, Image, Call to Worship, and Lectionary Homiletics; prayers for several Sundays in each volume of the Abingdon Worship Annuals since 2011; and for several books on religion and the arts as well as the "Art, Studio" entry in the Encyclopedia of Sciences and Religions. Her paintings have been shown locally and nationally, and are represented in numerous collections. Sokolove is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the North American Academy of Liturgy, Christians in the Visual Arts, and is on the Board of Directors of the Society for Religious and Theological Studies. She is a Steward of Seekers Church, an intentional Christian congregation in the tradition of Church of the Saviour, where she serves on the worship-planning group and frequently preaches and leads worship.
"Sokolove brings to this volume her unique combination of qualifications as artist, curator, teacher, and liturgical scholar, rewarding her readers with a comprehensive overview that is engagingly written and pleasantly free of technical language. This important book is a true pleasure to read and will be essential reading to anyone interested in bridging the gap between the arts and the church."
--Margaret Adams Parker, Artist and Adjunct in Religion and Culture, Virginia Theological Seminary
"Eloquent, insightful, and discerning, Sokolove testifies to the power of art as a means of grace, clarifies the relationship between art, beauty, and justice, and urges churches to call on the artists in their midst. Experts and neophytes alike will draw wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration from this stellar work."
--Kimberly Bracken Long, Associate Professor of Worship, Columbia Theological Seminary
"Deborah Sokolove boldly and powerfully calls us to task for failing to be dialogical and, most importantly, for failing to realize that only in the richness of conversation with the artist can the fullest meaning of a work be derived. Rich, engaging, and provocative, this work will make a difference!"
--Wilson Yates, President Emeritus, United Theological Seminary
"Deborah Sokolove has given us a rare gift. She has articulated her belief in the value and purpose of art in language that is fresh, convincing, and--perhaps most of all--accessible to and respectful of a lay reader. This is obviously a work of love, and it is a great joy to read!"
--Robin Jensen, Professor of the History of Christian Art and Worship, Vanderbilt University
"Sokolove has brilliantly accomplished what she set out to do--change the conversation between artists . . . and the church. She convinces us, with her readable and persistently grace-filled style, that the church can no longer continue to misuse art or think of it in problematic ways. Too much is at stake, namely, the fullness of our life together in Christ."
--Denise Dombkowski Hopkins, Professor of Biblical Theology, Wesley Theological Seminary
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