Did bunnies and chicks save mankind?

Learn the Ten Commandments

Apparently the pinnacle of Easter art now appears on womens feet; or at least a seeker might believe so, if they take Googles offerings to heart. Enter Easter 2016 art on the internet and almost all search results are now related to highly decorated human digits.

If that isnt kitschy enough, the ladies nails are covered with bunny faces and other pastel (and impious) froth. Now I have no grudge against perky pink things but are we in Japan? Following that are pages of things to color, cook, wear, paint, peel, sniff and buy, buy, buy none of it remotely spiritual and nary a cross or empty tomb to be seen for virtual miles.

Typical Google image for Easter

Not that the Google Info Cartel has all knowledge of existent religious art or probably much interest one way or another. Great machines stuffed with logarithms and random data decide what spews out the other end on the supplicants search screen. What Google results do prove is a low level of resurrection-related art production, exhibits, promotion and uploading in general.

Exasperated over the dismal lack of Easter matter, I tried Paschal art. Hmmmm. The mighty search lords Google and Bing dont recognize this rather common word for Easter and Passover. Both honor the looming retirement (in 2012) of a high school principal named Art Paschal, along with a few artists with the surname.

Most unfortunate is a lack of interest over the most significant event in human history an opportunity for eternal life for mankind. Things evaporating into internet oblivion are generally not being looked up or are politically threatening (or a sign you live in North Korea). Religious art exhibits in the West arent generally inflammatory, so sheer ennui is the most likely explanation left.

(Watch Polish installation with art banners during Easter 2006; film by Greg Rogala)

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Yet we exist in great numbers regardless of Google"s inattention, along with our painters, singers, musicians, dancers and poets. Many long to do something extraordinary for this highest holy day. Paraphrasing something a journalist said about another holiday: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Resurrection."

Highly publicized or not, local churches pull out the stops this time of year (literally in grand organ concerts). Classical and new works for theater, film, orchestra, dance, paint, embroidery and choir are available. Most are free where else can you find such a deal?

If they were putting out advertisements in Artnews, Easter services in galleries could be described as "immersive, interactive, multi-media, multi-sense, extra-dimensional" performances. They could add that in this show, G*d Almighty is invited to engage with humanity and often shows up.

Denizens of New York City are blessed with spectacular music and art 24/7, but this week musicians and artists will cluster in the city"s churches. Wondrous works are presented to aid in worship such as Britten"s "Rejoice in the Lamb," Bach"s "St. John Passion," art shows and interpretive ballets.

Straight-up threats of h**l and damnation rarely fire from our pulpits anymore, but Sheol will be exposed in painful detail on Maundy Thursday in New York City. St. John the Divine presents their annual dramatization of "The Inferno" by Dante Alighieri, which is a reminder of what Christ saved us from on Easter morning.

Illustration (detail) by Sandro Botticelli for Dante"s Inferno

Cecil B. DeMille"s 1956 "The Ten Commandments" made a resurgence, showing up at theaters around the U.S. for short periods this week just before Easter and Passover. ABC has been hosting the epic since 1973; and for those who can"t get enough, it appears they will again on Saturday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Competing with Charlton Heston is the new film "Easter Mysteries," an original, musical passion play seen (for the first time) through the eyes of the Apostle Peter. "Easter Mysteries" is produced and its music created by Tony Award-winner John O"Boyle. Unveiled at theaters on Wednesday, March 22, it will doubtless be available to buy or view soon.

Music is always with us on the greatest feast day of the church, but dance is still a rarity for some reason. Yet this art form seems the most natural manner to express overcoming the heaviness of death, burial and damnation: weightlessness, soaring and eventually the donning of immortal bodies. Dance can express some of these unique resurrection concepts better than any other art if it is done well and paired with the right music. At least that"s my opinion.

Gateway Worship Dance Team Easter performance 2014

Some churches are making a tradition of including dance on Resurrection Day and others are cautiously experimenting. I don"t know what they will do this year, but in 2014 Gateway Worship Dance team did a spectacular job without many professional artists or dancers in "Psalm 24 Easter Resurrection." choreographer Kimm crafted an expressive and rather complex dance with parts for accomplished dancers to young children. Dancers were backed by a live orchestra and choir. Stage right, a pair of visual artists worked on an Easter-related painting, ending it with the close of the dance.

In Kansas, the church spilled out onto secular stages this week at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. Wednesday"s liturgical dance "He is Risen!" is an annual event, performed by dancers from Barbara"s Conservatory of Dance Liturgical Dancers and Cleargold Worship Dance Ministry. Co-director Lacee Ebert described her feelings about her troupe: "It is a wonderful opportunity to use their entire bodies to praise and worship their Savior."

Dancers perform to both traditional hymns and contemporary Christian music, and hold a similar event for Christmas at the art center.

Obviously the church will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ regardless of slights by machine or man. Last year, Christians in Kenya observed a mournful Easter just three days after militant Muslims slaughtered and injured hundreds of their youth in Garissa.

Would more art have stopped it? Probably not, but it may have made a difference. Consider that ISIS uses hip hop and videos to entice killers and rapists clearly they have potential. Hollywood woos the hearts and souls of children to lose their virginity, faith and even their gender.

We will never know the full power of the arts for good until we enlist and back them to battle against the darkness of this world. Passover/Easter is a good season to begin.

Sources

Source: http://www.wnd.com/2016/03/did-bunnies-and-chicks-save-mankind/

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