RELIGIOUS ART | NEWS OF WEEK

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By TAHLIB

After 69-years working to build a "utopian" community where the racial & religious divide no longer existed, The National Conference for Christians and Jews in Cincinnati called it quits this week. "Utopian communities" were mostly 19th century experiments led by lofty personalities with idealistic and impractical visions; but while the founders may fade from view, they still leave behind design markers to remind us of their intentions. In Cincinnati, the "National Underground Railroad Freedom Center" is the marker for the NCCJ; and in NYC the forgotten communities of the Shakers to the Separatists of Zoar live on in the exhibition "Utopian Benches" (above), featuring works by wood sculptor Francis Cape. Creating markers of Utopia is my NEWS OF WEEK.

In other religious art news from across the USA, and around the world:

• Buddhist Art of Week: Parable inspires Jayme McLellan's "Jealousy of Clouds". [More News]
• Christian Art of Week: Republican budget risks symposia like "Sacred Spain". [More News]
• Hindu Art of Week: New research on how painful rituals increase charity. [More News]
• Islamic Art of Week: Boston's innovative exhibit on Qu'ran at fine art museum. [More News]
• Judaic Art of Week: New research on repressed emotion and Jewish artists. [More News]

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