Make it Better: Comparing, Consuming and Revising

Josh GastinFeatured, General Thoughts, Literature & Poetry Leave a Comment

I’m writing this on May 29th, which marks exactly one month since Forefront 2017. If you weren’t able to make it, Forefront 2017 was the festival and conference where we combined workshops and learning with some of the most amazing art and performances I have ever experienced. I walked away feeling more full and inspired than I could have hoped …

Caught Between Happy and Sad: The Anatomy of a Bittersweet Ending

Josh GastinFeatured, General Thoughts, Literature & Poetry Leave a Comment

The best stories share a unique characteristic. It’s not a specific type of plot or a certain set of characters; what sets these excellent stories apart is their mastery of the bittersweet ending. This applies to more than just monuments of classical literature. Les Miserables and War and Peace leave the reader drifting in emotional limbo for days afterwards, but …

Glorifying God through Secular Art

Zachary OsinskiFaith & Theology, Featured, Music & Sound Leave a Comment

There is a gulf in the Christian community between sacred and secular art and culture. Sacred music and art is safe to interact with — no chance of upsetting God or becoming too immersed in the world there. What the Christian community fails to realize, however, is that secular art and culture and God are not mutually exclusive…

Introductory Thoughts on Christians in the Arts

Richard ChristmanFaith & Theology, Featured, General Thoughts Leave a Comment

As a Christian and a creative — someone who must be producing something original (often multiple things at once) in order to feel purposed — I often take time to consider my place, both in Christianity and in the arts community. Even though I surely consider myself first a follower of Christ and second a creator, I find myself often …